Tech,
I was hoping you may be able to help me with something on this 350 engine I am wanting to swap into my 63 Chevy II wagon. The wagon has a great running 327 that supposedly only has about 20,000 miles or less but for some reason it seems the cam in it is too huge of a lope and burning VERY rich to the point that it smells in the cab and your eyes will burn very badly. Also while in gear at stops it almost stalls out but doesn't. I swapped carbs on it, changed plugs (need to check timing again but doubt this is why it's lopey and rich). Instead of swapping cams on it and not really knowing the mileage, I have a 350 I pulled out of an S10 I had with a V8 in it that looks to have VERY low miles (guy said 50 miles only). The cylinder walls have no ridge and look clean, etc.
Anyways here is what I plan to do. I am selling my daily driver (Honda) this weekend to a buddy of mine at the fire dept and using the $3500 I am getting from it to put into this 63 wagon. The heads were taken off of the 350 and it needs new lifters, cam since I dont even know what it is, and push rods. I want to buy a new cam kit and maybe even just get all new heads for it. I just need help to decide on what top end kit to buy and what my overall compression should/will be. The pistons are flat tops with the relief indentions in them for the valves. If I email you detailed pictures do you think you may be able to help me out on what I should do and what you think about the engine?
My plan is to use this car for a daily driver and I am trying to push about 22 MPG city and 25 or so highway. I have a TH350 tranny that I am just going to use since I dont have money for a 700R4 and I will be looking for a 3.08 gear or possibly a 3.28 (I believe that is a Chevy gear?). I just want a good reliable engine/tranny combo that will get decent MPG and keeping it simple. I have an Edelbrock RPM intake manifold and a Weiland intake manifold (I will find out the exact one) that I can use. As for carb I am not sure on that. My guess is a plain Holley 600cfm tops.
I'd appreciate any info here since I am going to have money coming up in about 2 weeks and trying to plan out if it's worth me getting this wagon going for a daily or selling it.