Thread: 350 with 305 heads

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Originally Posted by jimbobjones

My brother and I are in the middle of an engine rebuild and have run into many issues with the 350 TBI Casting number 14093638 (VM144151) with the 14102193 swirl port (Pre Vortec, post old design heads). This engine was bought to be put into a 1979 C10 truck that is running the original mechanical fuel pump, the main goal here is not to build a racing motor, but a very strong low-end torque machine that can haul boats and other heavy loads easily.

Richard, I'm sorry to tell you that you are setting yourself up for one of the worst disappointments of your life. As an old fart, I have been there, done that, been there, done that, been there, done that, been there, done that many many times and I know one thing. A SMALL MOTOR WILL NOT GET IT DONE. You need to be thinking big block.....no, you need to be thinking FAT block........

500 inch Cadillac, 472 inch Cadillac, 454 or 502 Chevy, 455 Buick, 455 Olds, 460 Ford, Lincoln or Mercury, 440 Chrysler or the towing favorite, a six cylinder Cummins diesel pirated from a Dodge truck ......
Cummins Horsepower & Torque by Model Year
Starting in 2001, they really jumped up the torque and by 2007, it was making 650 lbs/ft. Talk about smokin' some tires......WOW.

One of the trickest swaps I ever saw (about 30 years ago) was the complete front end drivetrain of a 500 cubic inch Cadillac Eldorado complete with trans and diff grafted onto the front frame stubs of a full-size Chevy pickup with Chevy sheet metal. Front wheel drive with a twist......

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF AN ENGINE SWAP.
I can refer you to readily-available books that will explain every detail.

There is a 1976 Eldorado just sittin' under a tree, about 15 miles from my home. I wish I were a younger man.

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