Thread: Suggestions on whether or not I should buy this 350 small block? And what to do after

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Background: Haven't actually worked on cars much but I'm not new to using tools or general maintenance (I have down a teardown of CBR 600 bike engine in college before so it's not like I have no idea. This is just MY first actual project). However, I've always wanted a slightly larger project and I think I might have found one.

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So the images are of a 350 engine being sold in my area. As stated, I'm still new to actually working on vehicles so I need your help to determine whether this is a good engine/project or not.

1. I don't have a car this would go into and I haven't looked at that yet. I don't want to go down the rabbit hole before I've even done anything so vehicle comes last. Like I said, the 'project' here is just tearing an engine down and building an engine backup. I wouldn't mind just having an engine sitting in my room for a few months or even years before I can use it.

2. I don't want this to get too expensive. Obviously this is an engine that needs to be cleaned and put back together but you know what I mean (i don't need racing or high performance parts. I don't mind using OEM parts or junkyard scavenging).

3. Power? I know this is contradictory with #2. I'm looking at around 350-400 HP out of this build. Now I haven't looked into how much the engine makes from factory. In fact, the posting for the engine hasn't been up for too long either so I just wanted to see if it was worth getting or not before someone else grabs it. Is this a realistic number though? I know the engine needs heads and intake so I figured I could put a little more money there and get some more performance out of it.

4. How much can i do by hand? I would prefer to do all of it if possible.


Thank you and let me know if you need more details. Again first time doing this so...

I'm not sure if you can safely bore out the sleeve if there is damage. It's at. 40 over already. There is a reason its $100. Find something that doesn't have internal damage.

To me that's a lot for a busted engine short of heads

Same here, small block chevy with no heads and intake and a hurt cylinder is really a boat anchor.
For what you want to do, find a better starting point.

I would pass and find another. Son and I bought a 350 with radiator (carb to intake) out of a 74 chev trk. He got his experience rebuilding it. Turned out
the engine had never been bored & crank never turned. It's running today and
he has built a 355 and a 383 since then. Good luck, and look around craiglist etc.

Too bad you weren't closer. I have a running 350 in a 80 C20 you could hear run before I yank it for $300.

the worst thing I see is the condition of the threded deck holes for the head bolts------it is a roller lifter block which is a plus, the .040 over not a problem because you can easily go to .050 or .060 over------the condition of the crankshaft hpoefully is good and maybe standard sized but I would replace rod bolts and resize big ends



and it has flywheel and oil pan!!!!!!!!

i have a 460/c6 for 750 . rebuilt standard , rv cam , performer intake . built for a truck but never installed.

Walk on by.

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