350 with 305 heads

Hello All,

My brother and I are in the middle of an engine rebuild and have run into many issues with the 350 TBI Casting number 14093638 (VM144151) with the 14102193 swirl port (Pre Vortec, post old design heads). This engine was bought to be put into a 1979 C10 truck that is running the original mechanical fuel pump, the main goal here is not to build a racing motor, but a very strong low-end torque machine that can haul boats and other heavy loads easily. We are going to keep the mechanical fuel pump and would like to keep the intake that will accept a quadrajet or holley 650.

The issues we have run into with this engine seems to be that very specific time period where GM was mixing and matching parts trying to get rid of old inventory before rolling out the Vortec designs.

Our most pressing issues are: The 14102193 heads and valves are in very rough shape, so we have the ability to buy 305 HO heads casting number 14101081. We know these are 58cc heads and with a very mild cam, would this be too much of a change in the combustion chamber size?

Also, attempting to source a Master rebuild kit has been most challenging. The cam that was installed in this motor has no, and I mean No markings other than on the oil pump side and it is labeled BC 155.

At this point, we need some help from any of you that have experience with this setup. What is the cheapest, easiest way of getting this motor up and running? Vortec heads, 305 swirl port heads, 350 swirl port heads? What cam will work with this as it is set up as a roller cam and does have the one piece rear main seal. Did anyone find a decent master rebuild kit with close to stock parts? I have pictures or can get pictures of any and all casting numbers or measurements of the internals.

Thanks for all the help guys,

Richard Pursley

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Originally Posted by jimbobjones

My brother and I are in the middle of an engine rebuild and have run into many issues with the 350 TBI Casting number 14093638 (VM144151) with the 14102193 swirl port (Pre Vortec, post old design heads). This engine was bought to be put into a 1979 C10 truck that is running the original mechanical fuel pump, the main goal here is not to build a racing motor, but a very strong low-end torque machine that can haul boats and other heavy loads easily.

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Richard, I'm sorry to tell you that you are setting yourself up for one of the worst disappointments of your life. As an old fart, I have been there, done that, been there, done that, been there, done that, been there, done that many many times and I know one thing. A SMALL MOTOR WILL NOT GET IT DONE. You need to be thinking big block.....no, you need to be thinking FAT block........

500 inch Cadillac, 472 inch Cadillac, 454 or 502 Chevy, 455 Buick, 455 Olds, 460 Ford, Lincoln or Mercury, 440 Chrysler or the towing favorite, a six cylinder Cummins diesel pirated from a Dodge truck ......
Cummins Horsepower & Torque by Model Year
Starting in 2001, they really jumped up the torque and by 2007, it was making 650 lbs/ft. Talk about smokin' some tires......WOW.

One of the trickest swaps I ever saw (about 30 years ago) was the complete front end drivetrain of a 500 cubic inch Cadillac Eldorado complete with trans and diff grafted onto the front frame stubs of a full-size Chevy pickup with Chevy sheet metal. Front wheel drive with a twist......

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF AN ENGINE SWAP.
I can refer you to readily-available books that will explain every detail.

There is a 1976 Eldorado just sittin' under a tree, about 15 miles from my home. I wish I were a younger man.

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Tech, I saw the front end of one of those grafted onto a car hauling trailer. They had a full size Chevy truck cab on it; very bizarre contraption but he swore it drove fine and was a great car hauler.

Back in the old days (when I was a teen) 305 heads on a 350 would give you an increase in compression, today there are many alternative choices for a SBC to give you great flow and performance. Sometimes technology is a good thing.