Ok, time to throw in my 2 cents. I agree on quite a few points that Pencero made. But It's your motor and your money, that's what it boils down to. First know the strengths and weaknesses of the small block Olds.
Strengths of this motor are it's longevity due to superior metal blocks and rotating assembly. This motor also is the most efficient GM engine design with a carburetor PERIOD. (The year 1990 proves this when it was the only engine with a carb and still had superior efficiency verses GMs other V8s that had FI starting in 1987. And it was pulling heavy Fleetwood Cadilliacs If anyone wants to argue this, start another post.)
From 1985 down, All Olds motor were the same basic design. Any of these low compression motors no mater the size, (lets leave the 260 out of this.) can be successfully boosted if done right. The last Turbo Olds small block I saw was putting out 600hp at the wheels and it was barely street friendly.
Now the weaknesses, The '76 350 you speak of can take and still be reliable under boosted conditions. (FI is your ONLY option for that statement to be true.) Then the fact it is a 76 non windowed main engine means the block is good, but not the rotating assembly. You would at the very least, need a Nodular iron crank to take reliable power even at 400 hp. Yes I know that the plain iron cranks can take up to 500 hp, but those are not under the strain of boost. The last Nodular cranks were installed in small blocks approximately up to 1973.
All this means your limited to under 400hp. Which can be made with just the FI alone. 400hp can also be made easily with Performer RPM kit. (Carb, Cam kit and Intake.)
The biggest weakness of the Olds small block is the LACK of knowledgable tuners to make it produce good power.
Example, The famed W31 350 was a sneaky project from Olds to stay competitive in racing after they shot themselves in the foot by changing the stroke of the 400 BBO in 68. Any owner of a original W31 will tell you that he beat several big block cars. All the power numbers were illusions, except the time slips. The illusion faded in 1970 because too many W31s were running as fast as big blocks in the NHRA during the 68-69 seasons. That is the reason the car that was supposed to show case the W31 in '70 (The Rallye 350) barely had he motor installed in them. Having a 1970 Rallye 350 with a W31 is very rare. Most had the plain high compression 350.
My point, If the factory can tune a small block to keep up with a big block, then why do most builders/ tuners today say "just get a big block" or " The small block Olds can't make or handle that kind of power".
Unless your trying to build a screaming 600hp 350 motor, it doesn't need to be W31 spec.
Strengths of this motor are it's longevity due to superior metal blocks and rotating assembly. This motor also is the most efficient GM engine design with a carburetor PERIOD. (The year 1990 proves this when it was the only engine with a carb and still had superior efficiency verses GMs other V8s that had FI starting in 1987. And it was pulling heavy Fleetwood Cadilliacs If anyone wants to argue this, start another post.)
From 1985 down, All Olds motor were the same basic design. Any of these low compression motors no mater the size, (lets leave the 260 out of this.) can be successfully boosted if done right. The last Turbo Olds small block I saw was putting out 600hp at the wheels and it was barely street friendly.
Now the weaknesses, The '76 350 you speak of can take and still be reliable under boosted conditions. (FI is your ONLY option for that statement to be true.) Then the fact it is a 76 non windowed main engine means the block is good, but not the rotating assembly. You would at the very least, need a Nodular iron crank to take reliable power even at 400 hp. Yes I know that the plain iron cranks can take up to 500 hp, but those are not under the strain of boost. The last Nodular cranks were installed in small blocks approximately up to 1973.
All this means your limited to under 400hp. Which can be made with just the FI alone. 400hp can also be made easily with Performer RPM kit. (Carb, Cam kit and Intake.)
The biggest weakness of the Olds small block is the LACK of knowledgable tuners to make it produce good power.
Example, The famed W31 350 was a sneaky project from Olds to stay competitive in racing after they shot themselves in the foot by changing the stroke of the 400 BBO in 68. Any owner of a original W31 will tell you that he beat several big block cars. All the power numbers were illusions, except the time slips. The illusion faded in 1970 because too many W31s were running as fast as big blocks in the NHRA during the 68-69 seasons. That is the reason the car that was supposed to show case the W31 in '70 (The Rallye 350) barely had he motor installed in them. Having a 1970 Rallye 350 with a W31 is very rare. Most had the plain high compression 350.
My point, If the factory can tune a small block to keep up with a big block, then why do most builders/ tuners today say "just get a big block" or " The small block Olds can't make or handle that kind of power".
Unless your trying to build a screaming 600hp 350 motor, it doesn't need to be W31 spec.
I feel your pain.
