Thread: 260hp 350 crate motor

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Just a comment from the low end of the HP scale. I marvel that with a 3.55 ratio rear and a 700R4 transmission my SBC350 seldom gets above 2500 rpm in daily driving due to the trans shifting gears. Even though 5500 rpm should be possible I have only seen a max of 4500 rpm by holding the trans in third and not allowing 4th to kick in. My cam is a very mild regrind of the stock 1977 Z28 cam with about 0.010" more lift. The point I am trying to make is that a dual plane intake is better for low rpm torque and I have a Edelbrock Performer RPM rather than the Performer. It seems to me that the Edelbrock Performer RPM is a good compromise between a single plane intake and the more restrictive Performer. I am using the Edelbrock 600 cfm carb and can get 17 mpg with the 3.55 rear and still have a good low gear with the 700R4. I did shave the heads to get about 9:1 CR and had the exhaust ports smoothed out on the 882 heads and opted for a three angle valve job along with a 0.030" overbore cleanup and flat top eyebrow pistons, just a basic 350 rebuild with slight improvements. I had to use shorty hugger exhaust manifolds due to tight frame restrictions but longer headers would be better. I do not have a quarter mile time and can estimate my HP at only about 290 HP but I have to restrain myself at lights in the presence of local patrol cars and I can easily jump ahead of almost any other local cars on the highway accelerating from 50 to 70 mph for passing quickly so I almost never see the tac over 2500 rpm. My roadster weighs 2800 pounds with me in it and including heavy Model A bumpers. Again the point is that unless you are planning to use a 4.11 ratio rear you are better off designing your drive line for low speed torque rather than screaming 5500 rpm. Just my take on the daily driver situation.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientis/teen rodder