I’m looking to buy a ’70 Camaro with a 454 CI LS7 Big Block V8. History on wikipedia shows it being an option on the ’70 Camaro, but are there any other years later that offered that? I’m trying to stay away from when the HP/EPA cuts came in, and I know the ’70 Camaro was spared, but I am worried about the engine.

Also, what were the pitfalls of this engine? A family member told me they 454s had a tendency to blow. Is that true?

Any help or direction you can provide would be amazing… Thank you!

 

The LS7 454 is a very rare aluminum head high performance engine, doubtful that's what it has unless it's a crate engine and even then it's quite expensive. No LS7 is a smog motor,not sure if they made any in '71 or not but regardless it's a 500 hp beast.
I don't believe there was ever a 1970 Camaro that came from GM with a 454 of any type let alone an LS7,the LS7 may have come in a few Corvettes and SS Chevelles. There were some dealer installed 454 Camaros from places like Baldwin Motion and Berger but even those were LS6 cars, same engine but with iron block.
1970 Berger 454 Camaro - Rare Custom-Built Big-Block Coupe - Super Chevy Magazine

Nothing wrong with a 454,solid engine with loads of torque even in the smog years. I have one in my '78 pickup and it's been nothing if not reliable for the past 15+ years. About the only down side is they drink a lot of gas.

 

Just looked in a Chevy history book I have and it says the 460hp LS7 was supposed to be an option for the 1970 Corvette but none were produced and the Chevelle never got one either just the 450 hp LS6. Camaros got the 396 option in an SS (actually 402 cid ) that year but no 454s.
Some say there were a few Corvettes with it,some say just one was built,mostly it was a crate engine you could buy from GM.

 

x2. I never heard of a 454 offered in a factory 1970 Camaro. Just the 396.