i sold both of my camaros, the 91 RS, the 89 iroc, then bought a 87 iroc. so im startin over again, and i want it done the right way.

this is what i want to do: tear out all the emisions, computer, and that slow POS carburated 305. i want a healthy gm performane parts 350 crate motor in its place, speed demon 650 cfm carb, hooker competition headers, hooker catback etc, the little things.

i was looking at the base 350 HO motor. its $2095 and has 330 horses and 380 ft/pounds. ill put an edelbrock performer RPM intake on it, and the rest of the settup above, how much power should i get? and most importantly, will i be able to beat mustangs?

i didnt think that would be enough power. is it? will i need a new trans? i would get a hughes th-400 and a "soft hit" converter from them too. help! any suggestions needed!

 

I wouldn't go with a full crate set-up but more like a short block (crank, cam, pistons, rods). It's the partial ZZ pn12561723 that you want (I think about $1600) then add some good heads and cam or have GM put a HOT cam in it, if it isn't too much. Deck the block to .010-.005 too depending on what heads compression you come out with. I'd probly go with some good aftermarket heads like twisted wedge or Darts or RPM's or even victor's. This way you get top quality parts for about the same as a complete HI-PO crate. Throw in a MSD digital 6 and maybe even forged pistons if the ZZ doesn't come with em. Plan on spending about $3-4k on a good engine if you want performance. I'd go with a t-56 tranny or Richmond 6-speed rather than a th400 with only 3 gears. If you do go with only about 400 or less HP a well built th-350 with a shift kit and cooler will do fine. But I'd rather have overdrive (and I got a th350 with 2.73 gears and it gets up there on the highway). KB pistons website has a formula to calculate compression.

 

With the rpm and a 650 holley you'll probably make 330 hp. That intake, carb and headers is what GM basicly used to get their figures fraom.

Steve

 

Yes, that motor will make the advertised 330 hp w/ that setup. That rating was w/ a 650 carb and a GM dual plane Vortec intake manifold (which is very similar to the RPM) and headers.

That engine does have a fairly weak cam though, you could step up to the CompCams XE 268 cam and easily push up to 350 or more hp...

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Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

 

yeah, i dont want to build a motor with forged pistons and crank, since this is definately not gonna be a crazily high HP motor. i want to use that long block, the edelbrock rpm intake, speed demon 650 carb, and hooker headers. for a cam should i just use the edelbrock cam that matches the intake? how much power wil i get if i had that? if not, what other cam suggestions can u give me? (specific part #'s if possible) thanks so much!

=) and since mine is gonna be under 400 HP, im prolly gonna end up with a TH350. =) thanks!

 

the edleborck cam im refering to is #7102.

 

anyone have cam suggetions . . . . . ?

im lookin at edelbrcok 7102, comp cams XE 268, will these fit and are they a good choice for a daily driver who wants to race on the street and sometimes on the strip :-D

[This message has been edited by STL1994 (edited May 22, 2001).]

 

The blocks of the HO and ZZ motors are the same BUT the cranks/rods/pistons differ. IMO, the 350HO for the price with a swapped-in XE268 cam and RPM manifold WILL MAKE 370hp with a 750cfm carb. Probably close to the same with a well setup 600-650cfm. you WILL need new valve springs, though, and go with the HotCam springs from SDPC2000.com, like 30bucks. AND, unfortunately, the valve guides MAY have to be machined down for the XE268 lift, but that is dirt cheap. I like the Xe262 better, almost same topend with more overall torque. Plus, the crate motors don't like high rpms too much, anyhow. So, throw in some gaskets costs, too, and you'll be happy for cheap. With a warranty, too. Oh, the timing chain is tootie-fruittie so might as well get one of them while cam swapping. you'll see what I mean when you see that cam. you could sell the crate cam/lifters/timing chain, too, for a little... Like real little.

 

the gm crate motor that you're looking at, is a 75 and older car or truck/suv motor. the iron vortec heads are about the only thing on that motor that you could want, my suggestion is the zz4 350 motor from gm, they have a kit for that crappy 305 4bbl, its like $5700, but it comes with everything including the zz4 and a trans upgrader. you'll probably want a new rearend diff, cause if yours is stock its only like a 2.75 ratio, that sucks

 

Nothing wrong with the 350HO, I have it. Did a complete engine swap for $3000. New everything including TB unit etc. I have the RPM intake but didn't have time to do a cam swap. I had to get my engine in the car and running in a week. Had to take it back to school on a 540 mile test drive. The zz4 isn't the best bang for the buck. It has better flowing heads for a race car but for the street the vortec heads will flow a lot better under 3000rpm (been proven). The zz4 has the hypert. pistons compared to the cast HO. Depending on your future mods this can be important or not. I'm really happy with my swap, didn't cost too much, gets great gas milage and was my best option.
$5700 is a LOT of money, I saved $2700 and that $2700 could be used for the cam, intake, rear setup, slicks, suspension mods, and a N2o kit if you wanted.
I agree with wanting something other than stock trans and rear. The stock rear will hold up as long as you don't use slicks. I'm running with 3.08 gears and I really don't mind the gears. I have 3.73s on the way but for a street car with only a few ETs on the 1/4, I'd go with 3.42, 3.73 if I had stick.
The good thing about the zz4 is you can bolt up the TPI setup. Like you said, the vortec heads will need a special intake and you have to use either carb or TBI.


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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website