I'm gonna be starting a 377 build up for the formula this summer and was wondering if I need a new carb or can I just use the Q-Jet? I want to switch over to a Demon or some type of squarebore for the manifold selection, but it doesn't seem like a straight forward project. Are the Q-jet manifolds decent for a motor that size built to rev to about 8000?

 

If it will really rev to 8000 RPMs, you're looking at about 900 CFM or more to feed it. There are q-jets that will do that, but not yours.

Your stock q-jet, if properly set up, will feed that engine to about 7000 RPMs.

 

So then do I have to lose all the computer stuff in order to get it rev that high?

 

I'd be more concerned about how you're going to hold the internals together reving that high, and how you're going to get the car moving when it won't have any guts below 3000 RPMs.

6500 is a much more reasonable goal, which the q-jet will most likely support.

 

Ok, I did a bunch of reading and the general consenesus i came up with is that destroked engines will rev high. I don't know if this is true. I want to build an engine that will have high-rev hp for the highway and that type of driving. i don't care about loads of torque down low just enough to keep me moving. is the 377 a bad idea? I've only built 2 engines and neither were destroked so I really don't know about this.

 

377 is really a specialty racing engine. Sure, it can be made to run on the street, but no SBC that revs to 8000 RPMs can realistically be considered a street engine.

You can think of a 377 as a .155" over-bored 350 (knowing you have to use a siamesed cylinder wall block to get there). The bore/stroke ratio influences RPM behavior to some extent, but cam/induction/exhaust affect it a lot more.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "high-rev hp for the highway and that type of driving". An engine that cruises at 75 mph and goes up hills in OD with decent fuel economy is better achieved by a properly built/set-up 350 or 383.

 

What I meant by that is that on want to have power in the top-end. So I can accelerate faster from 50 and up. Right now my car gets to about 75 and then gradually goes to 85 and then slowly past that. Does this have to do with the revving? Would a 355 work as a more streetable engine?

 

In the long run, a 350 is going to be much more ecconomical and practical. a soild built 350 or 383 will get you from 75mph to 85mph a whole lot faster than your 305 does now.

 

I'd get a new carb. I ran my Q-jet for a short time, and the car ran, and ran well. But when I finally got the 770 Holley on and right, it smoked the Q-jet. TONS more power.

 

Your q-jet wasn't set up correctly.