Engine suggestions.

[Phoenyx]

Well I think my 305 is on it's way out. So it's gonna be time for something else.

Now that I've already blown most of my extra cash on the car and suspension, this is gonna have to be an economy build. So I'll tell you my plan, and any advice or pointers will be great.

I want to find a used but solid 350 (no smoke or strange noises). Then I want to strip off the top end, oil pan, water pump and cam. Then do the following to it:

-new oil pump and pick up
-new cam and springs
-gear drive (yeah... I know lol)
-new water pump (maybe an aluminum one)
-gasket match the heads
-performer intake
-rebuild a quadrajet from a 400
-new or rebuilt ditributer (and all the other ignition parts)
-new feul pump
-stock manifolds

This will be behind a stock TH350 (will also be putting a stage 2 shift kit in) backed by my 3.73s and 24" tires. How does it sound so far? Now, what cam would you suggest? I want the biggest I can run with stock heads and manifolds. And what about the carb? I have been told that running a 400 carb on a mild 350 works good. Anyone else agree with this?

I hope do be doing this over the winter. Should really wake the car up, I hope lol.

 

[dan2286]

Might as well do all the freeze plugs while the engine is out.

 

[Phoenyx]

Oh yeah, and a new block heater too.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I would run a Quadrajet off a 350, not a 400. The only difference between the two is that the one off the 400 will be stinky rich at part throttle compared to the one off a 400. BTW, I don't think the SBC 400 ever used a 4 bbl stock. My Q-jet is off a 1979 Chevy van 350 and it works fine with my mild 350. I did make a few minor changes, but nothing exotic.

As for the cam, it needs to be matched to the compression ratio and heads you decide to use. Off hand I really like the Comp XE 262 I have in my car. It has a wide LSA which helps to build dynamic compression and build low and mid range torque.

 

[jrm81bu]

BTW, I don't think the SBC 400 ever used a 4 bbl stock.

Sure they did. I think that is all they came with at least in the trucks. But I don't think I would worry about trying to find one. Just pull one from a 350.

 

[Phoenyx]

Well I already have one from a 70s 350, I just need to rebuild it. That will make things a bit cheaper lol.

As for my compression, I will have whatever a stock 350 has.

Also, I was just wondering. Is there headers that will bolt up to the factory exhaust pipes? I quite recently spent over $700 on my exhaust. And I don't wanna hack it up. Then I might put a set on.

 

[High Roller]

With them gears, and small tires you'd be better off going with the RPM intake, or better yet the RPM Air-Gap then the performer. Quadrajet will work. Hard to say what cam without your compression!

Save your money on getting the gear drive, instead put money towards a good Cloyes dbl roller timing chain.
Typical issues with gear drives include...

Bent or broken camshaft. Bend will occur between the 1st and 2nd journal.
#1 Cam bearing excessively worn on the top (12 o'clock) position.
Siezed #1 cam bearing. All others will be fine.
Excessively worn #1 cam journal. All others will be fine.
Excessively worn #1 main bearing. All others will be fine.
Bent or broken crankshaft snout.

 

[Phoenyx]

But would a stock (un-rebuilt) bottem end, stock heads, and manifolds work with an RPM manifold? I want to eventually build up an engine with the Performer RPM set up. But was thinking the performer because of my heads and manifolds.

 

[High Roller]

with 3.73's and 24" tire at 60mph you should be about 2950rpm's that's screaming then for a stock smog engine. It wouldn't be bad if you had an OD trans. The RPM Intake will be fine at them rev's.

I re-read your 1st post, sorry I had thought you were totally re-building the engine. But maybe save more $$ till you can atleast get better aftermarket heads, and a couple hundred for a stall converter, then you'll have a quick car. Sorta like the build did for friend Charley's '79 ElCamino, just need him to get a posi and some street gears like 3.08 instead of them stock 2.41's

 

[Phoenyx]

I thought about getting better heads. But I plan to do a total rebuild on a 350 next winter (Performer RPM set up), so I don't wanna spend money on heads for this engine. I just want to do this one so my car makes it through the winter. But who knows, maybe I can get a good deal on a used set for now.