Thread: New to the small block 350

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Working on building my first small block 350. Have never touched one of the motors personally. All my experience is from working on my L36 in my firebird. Going looking for a block today (hopefully 85 - 95 model). Having a machine shop bore it .030 over and then ordering an Eagle Rotating Kit, something similar to this http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ESP-B13404L03068/ . Wanting about a 400 HP daily or maybe just weekend driven 383 stroker. Problem is, I don't know what cam to go with as I see many for these motors. Don't know the supporting mods needed for the cams (guessing aftermarket springs is a good start). Wanting to do a carb build so need to figure out what kind of intake set up to do. Then I hear people talking about boring the blocks and honing them and so forth. Just wondering if you all can help point me in the right direction? I will be having machine shops do most of the work to the motor so no worry there

The small block chevy is a work horse and takes a lot to hurt it. I would get a few books to start out with . I have one that I remember they have engine combos for racing engines , mild to wild. Ill get the name later tonight. Check with Summit or other speed shop and you will see the SBC books about 15 dollars each.
Can you give more specifics? Is it a daily driver or is it a weekend bruiser, big difference. 400 horses no problem. what kind of vehicle you pushing , how heavy? Tranny, gears, etc.

What kind of vehicle, weight of said vehicle, rearend ratio, transmission? These things need to be sorted out before engine is built including cam selection, heads, etc.

Thinking of dropping it in an 86 silverado. No trans yet, any suggestions? Wanting to be able to drive this thing around at least 3 days a week. It's not a gorcery getter so want see a lot of miles but I don't want a full blown race car either. Plan on having heat / air / radio. I'm not sure about gearing, my car has a 3.42 so something along those lines. I don't know maybe a 3.73?

Look for book, John Lingenfelter, Modifiying Small Block Chev Engines.

http://www.motorbooks.com/store/user...ges/122836.jpg

personal website:
http://www.lingenfelter.com/

Depending on what you want to build, blower motor, naturally aspirated, efi, stroker, etc. you'll have to know that first to get the right combination of internal components.
For example, a blower motor has low compression 7:1, requires large chamber heads, 76cc. Naturally aspirated higher compression motors 9:1 require smaller chambers 58cc - 64cc. Once you decide on what you want to achieve a good engine builder can go gather the correct componemts for your application.

Here's a photo of my .30 over 355 SBC with B&M 144 blower, Holly 700cfm double pumper. At present it produces 400hp using mild cam & cast iron 76cc chamber 882 heads. These heads do not flow well so I'm replacing them with roller rocker AFR aluminum heads 75cc, 220cc intake, which will see another 30+hp. Will have to change out some of the internal parts to accomodate the change. Such is the nature of the beast.

http://www.angelfire.com/super/1950b...udeFrame10.JPG

Thanks for the link, checking it out now. Beautiful engine btw. I'm pretty set on doing a 383 Stroker. I don't know enough about superchargers to go that route. Only thing FI wise is I know a bit about turbo's but don't really want to do that for this application.

It might be best for you to buy a Built Short Block Like this . I would not go to Large on the Camshaft for a Street Truck build with A/C and 3.42 Gear . And with a Set of 72cc Heads that engine would run well on 89 Octane Fuel .

http://www.competitionproducts.com/p...number=SB383-L

Why not either copy a GMPP 383 setup or just buy one? For simple money, you can have 425 horsepower IN A KNOWN package...not some hodge-podge combination

http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Chev.../ZZ383-425.cfm

Simple motor, simple parts, available everywhere, GM already did the longevity testing, etc. A bunch better than finding that the cam you bought in the local park was the wrong one!

mike in tucson

That's not a Bad Idea . But you would want the more Milder G.M HT-383 for that Truck . Not a Real Cheap engine at $4.365.00 but cheaper then that ZZ383 with it's Larger Camshaft and C/R better suited for a Street/Strip Car .

http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Chev...V8s/HT_383.cfm

Originally Posted by robot

Why not either copy a GMPP 383 setup or just buy one? For simple money, you can have 425 horsepower IN A KNOWN package...not some hodge-podge combination

http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Chev.../ZZ383-425.cfm

Simple motor, simple parts, available everywhere, GM already did the longevity testing, etc. A bunch better than finding that the cam you bought in the local park was the wrong one!

mike in tucson

Might copy the idea, as far as just buying the whole set everything built, I don't have the money to go do that all at once. They sale camshafts at the park? Hmmmm I was trusting what summit racing had listed for 350s and buying there? Go figure!

Originally Posted by tango

It might be best for you to buy a Built Short Block Like this . I would not go to Large on the Camshaft for a Street Truck build with A/C and 3.42 Gear . And with a Set of 72cc Heads that engine would run well on 89 Octane Fuel .

http://www.competitionproducts.com/p...number=SB383-L

Yeah looking for a mild camshaft. Looking into 72 cc heads now, thanks for the link

In general terms, if you have a 350 bored 0.030 to 0.060" over using flat top pistons, a 280 duration, 480 lift hydraulic cam with vortec heads and vortec dual plane intake with a 750 carb, you will have an always reliable, occasional screamer street machine.
I would run headers and a turbo 700 tranny with 3.43 rearend gears. If you have to change rearend carriers because of having highway gears, change carriers to run 3.72 or 3.90 gears. The overdrive tranny will allow you to run larger number rearend gears.

That's some good build info 18436572 . But the Vortec's need some Mod's done to them when you get over 470" Lift . And the 280dur 480" Lift camshaft will perform well but watch were the .050 Dur and Lobe C/L is . For the Street Find one 226 or Under with 110-112 L/C . Most are around 230 dur at .050 108-110 L/C They tend to be Less Streetable Load up and Vacuum is reduced . Here is a 355 with a camshaft much Like you are talking about . It has real good power in my car . But Vacuum is on the Low side for Power Brakes .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkK0Wu9QEys

Hey 18436572, this guy gave me the same idea over at fullthrottlev6 who has built some 350's. He said go with Vortec 64cc heads I believe. I think that the cam he mentioned is an xr264 which is rated Lift .487/.495 and doing a dual plane intake with 750 carb. The 64cc vortec heads I found are good to up to like .500 lift on summit racing. Thanks for the ideas for the tranny. Not sure what headers I'm going to use. Noticed some are 1 1/2 n other are 1/58" so not sure which way to go. Doing long tube headers and dual exhaust. Checking out the style muffler I want right now. I don't want anything single chamber that's gonna just scream. May go with something by magnaflow or flowmaster hushpower mufflers, still not sure. I want to be able to drive it and actually carry a conversation with people riding with me lol

You many want to ask Comp Cams what Camshaft they think would be Best for a 355ci or 383ci with Vortec Heads in a Pick up with Power Accessories and auto Tran with 3.42 Gear . You will want the 1 5/8" Headers for the 355 .