Thread: 350 build-up question heads?cam?fuel injection?

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I have a 1971 Camaro that I will be pulling the engine out of and trans so I can get my trans fixed and detail the engine compartment. Since the engine will be out, I plan on doing some work to it, it is in need of some new gaskets and a clean up. Here's what I got now

4 bolt 350 block bored to 355
Chevy pink rods balanced
new crank
srp forged pistons/rings
Edelbrock Performer RPM hyd. cam
2.02 fuely/camel hump heads
Performer RPM intake
Street avenger 670 holley carb
approx 9.5 comp ratio pump gas
basiclly the short block(bottom end) is all new and good, just looking fot the top-half build.

I may want to get some new heads and possibly fuel injection to make it run smooth, I am sick of carbs and tuning and letting the car warm up, etc.

I was thinking about the Performer RPM heads and the Performer RPM pro-flow fuel injection system so everything matches.

I was told alot of different things to make more power for only a little more money (not including the injeciton unit)

I was told to go with Dart pro1 heads and possibly a different cam to maximise the power instead of the Edelbrock cam/heads. Would this be a good idea?? if so what heads/cam would you recommend.

With the injection in mind if I dedide to replace the carb set up, does the Edelbrock Pro-flow system work well on a set up like this. I like injection for numerous reasons, driveability, cold starts, efficiancy, etc. This unit looks fairly simple to install, use, tune, etc.

My other details which would probablly help deciding cam/heads are,
turbo 350 trans and a 4.11 gear, which I may swap for a 3.73 gear for slightly better hwy use, and the torque converter is about a 2300 stall approx.

The main use for this car is a nice cruiser that is dependable, yet quick. It is not going to be strictly a race car, only want to go to the 1/4 mile track a few times a year.

Any ideas on what to do??? I know there will be two main discussions, which heads/cam, and the induction part of it. Let me hear your ideas.

anyone??
???

If you are going to go with the Edelbrock FI system, then I would use their heads. They flow well and are reasonably priced. I would look for a cam from one of the major cam companies--CompCams, Lunati, Crane, Crower--call them and get recommendations for your engine with the FI. Edelbrock cams are okay, but the aforementioned cam companies are ahead technology-wise. Compare their recommendations and go with the one that is closest to the average of all four.

And before you buy a cam, call Edelbrock and ask what cam specifics that they recommend for this setup....Fuel Injection likes a different lobe center spacing than does a carb.

mike in tucson

Basically, you need two cars. I know it's what people want:
A street car with high efficiency and good mielage, but you should also be able to race it occasionally. This won't work out really well. Period.
This is because of the two different useages you need:
For a street car you need high torque at low RPMs, for a race car you need high power at high RPMs.
For high torque you need heads with a smaller intake runner volume to get a higher port velocity and better mixture of the fuel and air, but you don't want runners too big, they will kill the low end torque because of the loss of the above mentioned port velocity. For racing use you need a high volume of mitxture, which is only obtainable by having big runners. Same appiles to carb and fuel injection.
An engine is basically an airpump. A racing airpump needs to pump a lot of air in a short time, a street airpump has to pump a small amount of air in a longer time (for efficiency). There are compromises, but a compromise is never the best of both worlds. You might get just about affordable mileage and track speed of under 15s. But you wont get 25mpg in a 12s car. Many have tried that
One way to get about this is of course quite simple: If you really only want to race it occasionally get a set of cylinder head studs and buy two different top ends and a timing cover which allows for cam change without lowering the oil pan. Then you can change from street to track and back in half a day and have the best of both worlds. You just need a stout bottom end, which won't hurt a street car either.
In a Camaro you have the space to work on it nicely. And don'T forget: There's more to ETs than the engine: Suspension, tires, weight, trans...
Just my thoughts...
Max

Thanks. I may get the edelbrock heads and FI and already have the rpm cam, and edelbrock says it's a nicely matched combo and should have some balls, but a nice driver.

I am still open for other ideas, especially the heads/cam, but I really want the fuel injection. For only a few hundred more dollars, I could get a different cam(not sure which one, and the dart pro1 heads, which I was told will outperform the rpm heads by quite a bit. Not sure what to do, it will be over a month till I order parts. keep the ides coming. thanks all!!!

The best flowing heads on the market are made by AFR. Their 180 heads would work great on your 355. Check them out at www.airflowresearch.com/180sbc_sh.php.

Originally Posted by rumrumm

The best flowing heads on the market are made by AFR. Their 180 heads would work great on your 355. Check them out at www.airflowresearch.com/180sbc_sh.php.

I will second this.
If I want to build a 400 to 425 hp 350/383 these would be my first choice.