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Aug 19, 2017
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I bought a 1985 monte carlo (base model) and the vehicle came with a 305sbc but was replaced with a 350sbc 010 block supposedly from a truck. I currently habe the vehicle in my shop and noticed the transmission was leaking. I am only 18 with little to no experience working on cars. My goal for this vehicle is to be able to daily drive it but also have a whole lot of horsepower to the point where I won't have the feeling for more power. (Probably around 800 hp) my question is
should I take out the 350 and transmission and fix it than put it back.
Is 800 hp to unrealistic for a 350 sbc? Rather should I swap out the 350 for maybe a big block,
But with a big block how big can I go untill I run into space issues?
I was also wondering where the location of all the Air conditioning components were and how to get rid of all of the extra weight here and there.
Just to put it in perspective I work 10 dollars an hour at some sh*t restaurant so money is not abundant but I really wanna do an excellent job on this car so that I don't have to do all my work over again. Sorry for the length of this post but I just need some knowledge on the car I bought. Thanks
 

zdeckich

Master Mechanic
Jun 23, 2013
460
346
43
Fort Worth, TX
800hp on a 350sbc is going to be super hard (impossible without boost). 800HP in general isnt hard all depends on how much you want to spend and how reliable you want it to be. I make a tad over 600rwhp on my CTSV coupe and run 10.70's how fast are you wanting to go? why 800hp? what are your goals. To me you can never have enough power. but 800hp and make it streetable and reliable can easily be $20k or more. keep in mind with that kind of power, you need drivetrain to handle it and even the right suspension set up and chassis setup. ever driven a car that makes 400rwhp? 400rwhp is alot of fun on the street and would be no slouch. But 800hp on a NA motor would be tough to do. You can build a BBC even a SBC with boost or even a LS motor with boost will get you there. Just not cheap.
 
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Aug 19, 2017
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800hp on a 350sbc is going to be super hard (impossible without boost). 800HP in general isnt hard all depends on how much you want to spend and how reliable you want it to be. I make a tad over 600rwhp on my CTSV coupe and run 10.70's how fast are you wanting to go? why 800hp? what are your goals. To me you can never have enough power. but 800hp and make it streetable and reliable can easily be $20k or more. keep in mind with that kind of power, you need drivetrain to handle it and even the right suspension set up and chassis setup. ever driven a car that makes 400rwhp? 400rwhp is alot of fun on the street and would be no slouch. But 800hp on a NA motor would be tough to do. You can build a BBC even a SBC with boost or even a LS motor with boost will get you there. Just not cheap.
800hp on a 350sbc is going to be super hard (impossible without boost). 800HP in general isnt hard all depends on how much you want to spend and how reliable you want it to be. I make a tad over 600rwhp on my CTSV coupe and run 10.70's how fast are you wanting to go? why 800hp? what are your goals. To me you can never have enough power. but 800hp and make it streetable and reliable can easily be $20k or more. keep in mind with that kind of power, you need drivetrain to handle it and even the right suspension set up and chassis setup. ever driven a car that makes 400rwhp? 400rwhp is alot of fun on the street and would be no slouch. But 800hp on a NA motor would be tough to do. You can build a BBC even a SBC with boost or even a LS motor with boost will get you there. Just not cheap.
I would love for it to be as reliable as possible and I was thinking about going with a supercharger. Is there a thread/post of someone installing a ls engine into a '85 monte carlo?
 

zdeckich

Master Mechanic
Jun 23, 2013
460
346
43
Fort Worth, TX
There is several on here doing a LS swap on a gbodys. But just slapping a blower on a ls motor wont just make 800hp.
 
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565bbchevy

Geezer
Aug 8, 2011
9,590
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For someone that is 18 and has no mechanical experience and makes $10 an hour I would say 800 horsepower is very unrealistic.
I would work with the 350 you have and start with bolt ons to increase power, as stated any significant increase in power is going to require a stronger trans, rearend and upgraded suspension, brakes, safety equipment etc. which adds up very quickly in cost.
 
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TURNA

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
Jul 24, 2009
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19,990
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Socialist NY
Unless you are $$$$$$ RICH $$$$$$ 800 hp is VERY UNREALISTIC being you have little to no experience working on cars.

There are tons of people with lots of experience and still can not come close to that number let alone be reliable.

Then there is an entire different aspect.

18 no experience and 800HP equals dead in a ditch or wrapped around a tree.

Don't take it the wrong way.

But before you start building 800HP engines get your hands dirty with what you have now.

You are 18 a have a lot of years ahead of you and plenty of time to build that 800HP monster!!!

And when you do twin turbo that b*tch!!!
 
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I'm doing a fender exit exhaust but with a butterfly valve installed so that on the street I can have the exhaust lead out the back and when on the "track" I'll open it up to fender exits. Has anyone else had a similar idea about this or am I the only one?
 

565bbchevy

Geezer
Aug 8, 2011
9,590
12,611
113
Michigan
I'm doing a fender exit exhaust but with a butterfly valve installed so that on the street I can have the exhaust lead out the back and when on the "track" I'll open it up to fender exits. Has anyone else had a similar idea about this or am I the only one?
I would say leave the fender exit exhaust for the drag cars, you can put electronic cut outs on the exhaust under the car if you want the open header sound but personally I feel loud cars only sound good when they have the power to back it up.
 
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fleming442

Captain Tenneal
Dec 26, 2013
13,046
24,214
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One of the worst sounds in the world is a cutout on a y-pipe (hi, GTO clowns!).
Seriously, 800 is a lofty goal without deep pockets (unless daddy has some ).
 
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