siguy2k

So I've got a 350 bored .40. Edlebrock performer intake, holley 750, 882 heads. Going to get a set of magnum 1.52 roller rockers and looking at cams. I plan on upgrading heads in the future also. I want the nice loping idle and good power band. Was looking at the comp thumpr but it has .500 intake lift. Is that to much for these heads?

8Mike9

Not very good heads to put money around, I'd suggest waiting, finding better heads, and go from there.

PS

Loping idle type of cam, isn't going to make you happy, unless you have stock shares in a gas company

Suggest you rethink your build,,,,run the current heads with a mild performance cam, and plan for the future

siguy2k

What would be a good street choice? I'm very new to high performance piston engines. I've got a rx7 so I know rotary motors well which have no valve train lol. Thanks for the advice.

8Mike9

The 882 heads have a large (76?cc) chamber, small ports, etc...in effect, just smog heads...if you are stuck on using them, and you want to spend money for an AM cam, (but please don't, for shipping cost I'll send you a roller cam from a factory TBI truck engine)..you'll want to look at something like an "RV" grind.

Thing is, just don't spend hard earned dollars around those heads, you'd do much better just getting a set of LB?9 or L98 heads, with better flow, smaller )64cc) chambers, and running it.

Did you already put money into the heads to be rebuilt?
If so I see your dilemma, and that's cool...but wasting money on good rockers and cam, etc...is money ill-spent...jest use factory (free) stuff, until you gather the funds to do it correctly.

siguy2k

No there on the car running. Over the winter I plan on pulling it and checking out the bottom end as I've found some questionable things on the car already so I'd like to know just for peace of mind. I just figured if I could spend a couple hundred and get it some more power for the next month or so before winter I'd be happy. I've been doing a lot of reading and yea Idk if I even want to mess with them lol.

8Mike9

Save your money then...lotta factory stuff available to pep your engine up, and dirt cheap, with more potential...i/e as you're going along, using a set of heads that gain flow after porting, you can then run more cam, be street friendly, more power, better fuel mileage...win-win.

siguy2k

Thanks for the advice!

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

You need to ditch those heads ASAP. Forget cam lope. Do you know what compression you're running? Do you know your compression height?

Without knowing those things it's really hard to know whether even new heads and cam are a good idea. There are some engines that are just never going to make a otn of power because they're so compromised as far as compression and quench distances.

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

Do the LB9 heads really flow better than the old 882 castings? wow! I had thought about buying a 350 goodwrench engine later on and I believe they use these old 882 castings or something similar to it. may hafta rethink that. They claim getting 290 hp out of this engine but Im having doubts.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

With those heads and the extremely low compression they cause, any cam that causes "lope", will make the car go slower than stock. People been making that mistake for 40 years now, somehow the word never seems to spread.

Problem isn't so much "flow"; it's EVERYTHING ELSE about them, that sucks.

Stay REAL SMALL. "The RV cam" http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-k1102 or AT THE MOST "The Mild Cam" http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-k1103 are made for situations like that. And won't waste much money on something doomed to disappoint, in the meantime.

skinny z

Do you have headers?
At the very least that's something that can be carried over onto just about anything you might care to build. Getting a decent exhaust system is typically one of the first steps in the quest for more performance. It can eat up a fair amount of cash too depending on how deep you want to get into it.
Just throwing it out there.

siguy2k

Thanks for all the info. Yes I have headers. They are ran into 12" glass packs and dumped tho. I plan on re doing the exhaust very soon also.

midias

I ran those heads with a XE274 cam, upgraded springs and comp roller rockers. Compression was about 8.8:1. It was not ideal. It never seemed to run right. Ran a 14.1 in the 1/4 with a 5 speed and 3.73 rear. Eventually I changed heads and things got a lot better. So it can be done but you will probably be disappointed. Also forget the thumper poser cam.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

That 290hp is measured VERY VERY differntly than factory hp ratings (Which are regulated and have SAE standards that have to be met). The ratings on those crate engines are mostly magical unicorn numbers that they picked because they looked nice rather than having any real connection with how well the engine will perform. The Vortec L31 crate that is 255hp will outrun a 290hp Goodwrench 350 all day long.

hectre13

iTrader: (4)

I am running L05 Swirl Port smog truck heads running the thumpr cam.. if I could go back in time.. I wish I would have just spent the money on a set of vortec heads and a better cam! haha

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

Yea I ran a 350 w/ vortec heads with just minor upgrades,cam,headers, etc and it was pretty strong.It was 300-325 hp easy.Maybe I should just stick with that formula. I have just always wondered how those goodwrench engines ran because they seem like such a good deal for a brand new 350.

DeltaElite121

Just remember - a brand new 350 doesn't mean it's a "well built" 350. I've seen them run good, but that's in cars or trucks that lug around on the street. NOT performers, nor will they ever be. For the guy looking for a cheap replacement for their RV that's plug-and-play with no machine shop wait time, I guess you could consider it a "good deal"... but outside of that, not so much.