Thread: 350 build up help

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OK guys I am new here... have searched and can't find what I am looking for... so here goes....
I have a 72 nova that I am in the process of building up. I have a 350 engine that I am going to build to put in her. I want a good street engine that will run on pump gas (93 pump gas) idle in traffic and be dependable for 100 years with good power. Power is secondary to good street manors but I still don't want to build a slug and of course money is a factor. My question... what parts do I need and what kind of power can I get? I don't much about cams and all but I want a good lick so it sounds good and runs strong. I know most of your power comes from good matched heads and cam. So give me what kind of pistons, crank, heads, carb, distributor, and so "stuff" I need to build a good 350 please. Like I say 72 nova, 700r4 trans, good street manors and runs strong. Thanks for the help. Kevin

Hmmm I can recall a motor, that would suit you that was put out in an article a few years ago. How much do you want to spend on machining and parts ?

They used stock chevy parts a good matched cam to run with the chevy open chamber iron heads, had a broad torque curve and the whole idea was to achieve 1 HP per cubic inch which they did, and the motor was built with the criteria that it run in a street car with good street manners.

Originally Posted by super10brss

OK guys I am new here... have searched and can't find what I am looking for... so here goes....
I have a 72 nova that I am in the process of building up. I have a 350 engine that I am going to build to put in her. I want a good street engine that will run on pump gas (93 pump gas) idle in traffic and be dependable for 100 years with good power. Power is secondary to good street manors but I still don't want to build a slug and of course money is a factor. My question... what parts do I need and what kind of power can I get? I don't much about cams and all but I want a good lick so it sounds good and runs strong. I know most of your power comes from good matched heads and cam. So give me what kind of pistons, crank, heads, carb, distributor, and so "stuff" I need to build a good 350 please. Like I say 72 nova, 700r4 trans, good street manors and runs strong. Thanks for the help. Kevin

What gear do you have? what is your stall speed?

no gear yet, no stall.... probably going to run 3:42 or some where there abouts, and stall nothing to high... but what ever, give me your thoughts on what I need. Also southerner... find that article! thanks guys Kevin

If you aren't looking for something with over the top power then you might want to look at some of the crate engines that are offered with 350-375 hp, and you have the benifit of a warrenty. It sort of takes away all the fun though.

I would use the 350 block and build a 383. It is not than much more expensive and the power increase would be significant while still retaining good street manners:

Eagle or SCAT rotating assemby with flat top or dished pistons (depending on your heads) for $1200-1300. If you have to bore your block, you will have to get new pistons anyway, and you should by all means put aftermarket rod bolts in your rods and have them resized; and if you have to have the crank turned--well you can see how the new assembly makes sense in the long run.

You don't say whether your 350 block is a roller block or not, and what kind of heads you are planning to run. Without knowing this, it is not possible to make any recommendations.

lynn, don't think my 350 is a roller motor. About the heads, don't know what I am going to run. I thought I could find a list with this part... that part... so on and so forth for this cost and this horse power.
Kevin

Okay found that article, it is from a 1994 issue mag. This motor is best used with a gearing of 3.08 to 2.78 ratios for a fun to drive car.Even at 1500 rpm the engine produced 312 ft/lbs of torque and dipped slightly at 2000 rpm and then quickly regained ground and leveled off, making approximately 380 ft/lbs from 3500 to 4250 rpm. Final tuning and jetting changes saw the HP figures at 364 HP at 5500 rpm and 396 FT/lb at 4000 rpm.

This article lists all parts, right down to distributor timing and type of spark plugs ! So it is pretty detailed if interested let me know.

Oh yeah, running 2 bolt block, cast iron chevy crank, 487X head castings (common) machined down to a 70 cc chamber giving a static compression ratio of 9.8 to 1 with TRW flat top L2417 flat top pistons. The static compression ratio is high but the excellent cam matched with this engine gives a bang on dynamic compression ratio.

This article is big so who wants it up on the forums ?

I DO I DO... now thats what I am talking about. post her up southerner. Thanks Kevin

Originally Posted by southerner

Okay found that article, it is from a 1994 issue mag. This motor is best used with a gearing of 3.08 to 2.78 ratios for a fun to drive car.Even at 1500 rpm the engine produced 312 ft/lbs of torque and dipped slightly at 2000 rpm and then quickly regained ground and leveled off, making approximately 380 ft/lbs from 3500 to 4250 rpm. Final tuning and jetting changes saw the HP figures at 364 HP at 5500 rpm and 396 FT/lb at 4000 rpm.

This article lists all parts, right down to distributor timing and type of spark plugs ! So it is pretty detailed if interested let me know.

Oh yeah, running 2 bolt block, cast iron chevy crank, 487X head castings (common) machined down to a 70 cc chamber giving a static compression ratio of 9.8 to 1 with TRW flat top L2417 flat top pistons. The static compression ratio is high but the excellent cam matched with this engine gives a bang on dynamic compression ratio.

This article is big so who wants it up on the forums ?

Not trying to take anything away from the southerner but I would never put any money in a stock head when you can buy brand new cast iron heads for less than $ 600 already with screw-in studs and guide plates not to mention they are much stronger and will make more hp.
I also doubt if you need forged pistons for what you are doing.
I would try a set of Hypereutectic instead.

Originally Posted by erik erikson

Not trying to take anything away from the southerner but I would never put any money in a stock head when you can buy brand new cast iron heads for less than $ 600 already with screw-in studs and guide plates not to mention they are much stronger and will make more hp.
I also doubt if you need forged pistons for what you are doing.
I would try a set of Hypereutectic instead.

I agree this article was printed in 1994 so forged pistons were cheaper then. And you can also get a good set of rods cheaper than rebuilding the old chevy rods. And there wern't that many aftermarket heads around either. BUT... The only machining jobs on the heads were a 3 angle valve job and the heads planed, and the valve guides redone.

What I will do is get the article formated and and up under heading 350 350 HP buildup.

Okay thread and photos is up and running

350 Horsepower 350 engine buildup

Choose your weapons from this list. It has been a while since I linked it on here, but it is still the best list I've ever seen for building a SBC.http://www.ryanscarpage.50megs.com/combos1.html

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Choose your weapons from this list. It has been a while since I linked it on here, but it is still the best list I've ever seen for building a SBC.http://www.ryanscarpage.50megs.com/combos1.html

Some of these builds look very good.Other builds use to large a cyilnder head.Be carefull not to "over head" the engine.

Now that the tread is back up again, did you get a look at that 350 HP thread ?