Thread: SB chevy 350 build. Have some questions

Tweet

Ok, I bought a chevy 350 four bolt main for 400 bucks and it is bone stock. It is a Vortec motor out of a 99 full size van. It was rebuilt when the sold it to me, but that shouldn't matter all too much as I have some plans for it. First off, I would like to get 350 to 400 hp out of it at least if not more. I am going to carb it and sell the intake that is on it. I want to stroke it and maby bore it too. I have seen stroker kits with forged parts on ebay that look like they should do the trick. I also want to run a turbo charger with 5-10 LBS of boost. I hear you need to knock the compression down to do so and run forged pistons and rods, correct? Also, what kind of gains would I get with the stroker kit? Any suggestions on a cam? I hear that you should go with a mild lift cam if you put a blower of any kind, correct? Also, do you think a 350's rod bearings will hold up to that kind of boost? Any constructive cridisiem is welcome. BTW, I am looking for low end from the powerplant and top end from the turbo. All thoughts are appriciated and thanks.

-Vance

also, I almost forgot. Any suggestions on what turbo would meet this need? Thanks

-Vance

Vance,
okay so let me get this straight.........you want to maybe bore maybe stroke and also disrupt the relationship to atmosperic pressure on your small block? There seem to be a lot of maybes and a shortage of info.
What is the motor to be used for? What vehicle, trans, rear end and ratio? There are a lot of variables and measurements that you NEED to understand before buying parts.
That being said....you did fine on the four bolt block. It is my opinion to buy all of my internal parts new from a local distributor, ebay scares me but it is up to you. Once you finally decide on the rotating assembly you need to mock it up. Check things like the piston to deck measurement for your squish area and also if you are out of square. CC your heads and have the valve job done. Work the math and get direct measurements..........
This is just the tip of the iceburg and you can never get enough knowledge but you can gain understanding if you slow down and learn how to do this right. Beware the magazine sales stories and the drunks at the bar, if you really want to know check out the guys who are running at the track. Ask a lot of questions and don't buy anything until you know exactly what it is you are trying to do and why!

There's nothing you can't do with your combo and your desires on this setup. Threearms kinda jumped te gun there "and in my opinion", the chastisement for something you haven't even built or considered was a touch un-warranted. Consider stroking it, cool, it builds your bottom end power. Turbo? great, builds your top end punch. The only thing that is crucial is your geometry. Stay within your boundaries with rod length and compression distance, etc. Do a bit of research online and get comfortable with what you can do and not do and then proceed forward.

I would check if what find of Connecting rod you have before you put any boost to it. If it a set of pressed powder metal rods it will not hold up to any boost or rpms. I would replace it with plder model stock rods.

Do you have a budget in mind for these mods? Horsepower costs $$$

buyer beware on the new parts listed on ebay, some of them are blems. parts that will work but may need aditional machine work to correct thier problem. go straight to jegs, summit, or local rod shop. the best bang for the buck is the scat line of parts, and as many others have said do your homework before buying parts. there are alot of do's and dont's with running a turbo and then wanting a lot of bottom and alot of top end horse power is a tricky combo. my advice is skip the turbo and save some headaches, very powerful high RPM top end, but sluggish on the bottom. but if that is the route you choose good luck!

Vance, it takes money to do this stuff. Don't get all huffy over me asking what your budget is, but just what is your budget?

OK, sorry about waiting so long, I have been a little busy the last week. My budget is around 2 to 3 k before the turbo. I WILL be putting a 383 stroker kit in it. It will be forged pistons and rods. More than likely externaly ballanced. I do not know if it will need bored yet or not. I will be sending the block to a machine shop to do the notches for the stroker kit, bore if it needs it, cleaning, magnafluxed, cam bushings installed, and everything mic'd. I will be runing a garrett turbo, but I am not sure what size yet. That is really my only big question for all of you guys. It will be a street Astro 96'(ya, you heard me). It will be all out done and I want to run about 10 pounds of boost at the most. I am thinking I will be knocking on the door of about 500HP with the boost.

-Vance