Thread: 355 build help

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so i am building a new motor for my car it's looking to be like a 355 tpi the car is an 88 camaro irocz

my bottom end is in the machine shop right now the guy wants 900 to do the whole bottom end and put it together with a new kit
is that a good price?

i have a set of dart iron eagle heads i bought them off my friend who does a lot of racing he said they are ported. the springs are huge in comparison to the stock heads
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DR...010P/?rtype=10 (the heads that i have)
heres the part number since summit doesnt have the heads now
10310010p

this is what i need from you guys
cam
rocker arms
length of pushrods
maybe new intake base
anything else i forgot just mention it please

i need the car on the road once the weather warms up so if i can hold off on getting a different intake by siamesing this one i will

also what is better mail ordering a chip or learning how to tune it

the car is going to be my daily which is why i am staying with tpi because i have to pass nj state inspection i am on a budget but its not real small i also have a new rear end with disc brakes and an eaton 3.23 posi unit nd i have the adjustable brake pressure

I dont know what all you are having done with the bottom end for 900 BUT I just got back my bbc short block where the machine shop ground the crank, bored the block, put in new pop-up pistons, and assembled the rotating assembly for 1000.
As far as the cam and stuff, I would go with a 262 or 268 duration with around 450 lift. Stock push rods and rockers will all work well.
Keep us informed on your progress, and
thank you for your service!

900 is a great deal if the kit has 600 dollar piston and 120. dollar rings .you did not really say what your getting in the kit for parts .but i could see were 1/2 of that $900.could be for machine shop work .as someone that machines and build s engine s its not hard to burn 500+. on labor

you welcome and thankyou for the responses i apologize the machine shop is going to clean and sonoflux the block then bore the block 30 over they are also going to cut the crank and put it all back together with flat top pistons its not anything performance but better then stock
now my only thought is that the springs on my heads are too strong for stock pushrods and rockers

You need more info on them Dart iron eagle heads . Sounds Like they have Heavy Roller Camshaft Springs . Yes you don't want them for a Street Engine with a Mild Hyd Camshaft . Is this a 5.7 350 OEM Roller Camshaft Block ? And are you planing to Run a OEM Type Roller Camshaft ? Also them Dart iron eagle heads have a different Bolt Pattern then Your G.M TPI Intake does . You will need to make some Mods to make it fit .

The early TPI's have the same 12 bolt patterns as the Dart heads have.

well i talked to my buddy and he said to only get a roller cam with the springs that are on it because of the stiffness he said a flat tappet cam will grind down the lobes

roller cam is a good way to go thats about all i build but valve springs do not cost much so i would not build your engine around a set of valve springs.springs for a solid flat lifter cam is about the same spring i use for a hyd roller

Originally Posted by 1gary

The early TPI's have the same 12 bolt patterns as the Dart heads have.

Them 1986 TPI Intakes You are Talking about are Very Rare . 1987 on are a different Bolt Pattern . Just a Heads up so you know what your up against .

As for Valve Springs yes they can be changed as needed . But no need to run over Kill on Valve Spring tension even on a Mild Roller Camshaft Build . Look at the Springs used on the Chevy Roller Engines . They are not that Heavy

chevy roller cam stop pulling at a low rpm most all the time no need for much spring with oem valve train . you will never hurt your self with a spring from 135 to 145 lbs and 300to350 open on a hyd roller a weak spring can get you in a lot of trouble if there getting the tar beat out of them... thats how i build them

Originally Posted by tango

Them 1986 TPI Intakes You are Talking about are Very Rare . 1987 on are a different Bolt Pattern . Just a Heads up so you know what your up against .

As for Valve Springs yes they can be changed as needed . But no need to run over Kill on Valve Spring tension even on a Mild Roller Camshaft Build . Look at the Springs used on the Chevy Roller Engines . They are not that Heavy

I tried his link and got a error code so I couldn't see which iron eagle part number he has.I looked at the Dart catalog and found a yr range of a standard intake that ran from 1955 to 1986 with two models having self aligning rockers.Then a year range from 1987 to 1995 that fit those intakes with center bolt valve covers and self aligning rockers.The yr range that he would have a problem would be from 1996 to 1999 that is a vortec intake.Without knowing I would guess he doesn't have either the very early models or the late models mainly because the second one is more common.

Because I am a stubborn old guy,I called Dart and confirmed the 1987 to 1995 heads will bolt on his intake without any mods.Even if he needed to mod the intake,it is a simple matter of oblonging the bolt holes.No big deal.

yep the older tpi heads are just the same bolt pattern just did a set for a corvette and pbm makes a head for the 12 and 8 intakes with the after market heads have screw in studs so you can use a guilde plates or self aligning rockers of course you have to use a heat treated push rod for the guild plates i done them both ways

Yes Pat the 80's Corvette only L98 Aluminum G.M Heads and TPI Manifold are the 1986 and Early Bolt angle . But I am sure you know about the 1987 and Newer F-Body / Passenger Car and Truck Cylinder Head and Manifold Bolt angle .

As for Valve springs I know the ones you use . I bought a set from you they are 125-130 Lbs at 1.700 install . He's talking about Iron Eagle Heads with what he calls Huge Springs . And with out known the part# of them Dart Heads it's anyone's Guess on a 1988 F-Body TPI intake bolting right on . But if you go ahead and just bolt on them Dart Heads with them Huge Springs may as well put Matching Huge 7/16" Screw in Studs Guide Plates Heavy Wall Hardened Pushrods Billet Steel Timing set and all the rest of that over kill of a Valve Train that you don't need for a Mild street Engine . Then why run Hydraulic Roller Lifters when Mechanical ones will give you more H.P power ?

Then after you get Done Bolting on all them High End Parts and Running all the Valves . Then see how that 1988 F-Body TPI Intake Bolt up . After spending all that Money and still going up Hill all the way on this Build . Just Google SB Chevy Tango and I will be more then Happy to help you Build it Right the 2nd Time for Less -> Roller or Flat Tappet COOL

well tango how many roller have you built this year? well there you go thinking you know what i use. i sold you some stuff laying around for a build that i did not use .i build MANY roller engines and use MANY types of springs any were from 1.250 dia to 1.650. them springs were of a stock wind spring base off a lt1. the darts heads set up at around 1.800 and can use a 1.440 dia spring yes you could make more power with the right solid roller cam . but who knows what he is building do you ?? all i said was the hyd roller cam is about the same spring as a solid flat lifter cam .no one said he needed 7/16 stud top and bottom all i said was that the heads are tap for 7/16 in the head you can use a 3/8 top and 7/16 bottom stud with or with out guide plates.NO one said you need a billet steel gear chain set but why not? i buy them cheaper then your going to set a good iron set . i do not like to go cheap on my builds when it comes to valve train . when there is less then $100.from buying better valve train parts it will get it. that were the back yard builder may used a 15.00 chain set and that fine. i build them for a income have a shop with my name on it so i lean to go with a better part if you think i can not build something that will run with less your very wrong grasshopper .. i can play that game with the best been there done that . yes i do know about the 4 intake bolts how do you think i mount the heads to mill them .i bore .deck. hone. mill put seats and guides rebuild rods this is how i make my living every week

Originally Posted by tango

Yes Pat the 80's Corvette only L98 Aluminum G.M Heads and TPI Manifold are the 1986 and Early Bolt angle . But I am sure you know about the 1987 and Newer F-Body / Passenger Car and Truck Cylinder Head and Manifold Bolt angle .

As for Valve springs I know the ones you use . I bought a set from you they are 125-130 Lbs at 1.700 install . He's talking about Iron Eagle Heads with what he calls Huge Springs . And with out known the part# of them Dart Heads it's anyone's Guess on a 1988 F-Body TPI intake bolting right on . But if you go ahead and just bolt on them Dart Heads with them Huge Springs may as well put Matching Huge 7/16" Screw in Studs Guide Plates Heavy Wall Hardened Pushrods Billet Steel Timing set and all the rest of that over kill of a Valve Train that you don't need for a Mild street Engine . Then why run Hydraulic Roller Lifters when Mechanical ones will give you more H.P power ?

Then after you get Done Bolting on all them High End Parts and Running all the Valves . Then see how that 1988 F-Body TPI Intake Bolt up . After spending all that Money and still going up Hill all the way on this Build . Just Google SB Chevy Tango and I will be more then Happy to help you Build it Right the 2nd Time for Less -> Roller or Flat Tappet COOL

As a swap meet vendor for over 20 yrs and buying auctioned used and blem Iron Eagles the stats are in favor of them being later than 1986 set of heads.Like you said,they are somewhat more rare.I am taking the fact of his yr car being what it is,the heads are a match.Btw,two models of those heads have self centering rockers not needing guide plates.

Come on Tango-it's give and take ant it???.