Mild 350 build up questions.

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Oct 24, 2002 | 08:49 PM
  #1  
I have acquired a 350 nickel block from a mid '80s Suburban.
I'm looking to get low to mid 300s in HP and Torque.

My plans include:
Vortec heads
Mild boring (if needed, otherwise honing)
Flat top pistons (9.0 to 1 CR?)
Stock crank
I'll call Comp cams or Crane Cams for a camshaft
Stock computer controlled Quadrajet (adjusted to 750 cfm)
Headers (not sure whos yet)
I intend to keep her emmissions legal.

Questions:
Should I get the Chevy intake or an aftermarket intake (possibly Edlebrock?)?
Will the computer handle the 350? The car is an LG4.
What would a good, technical book be to put this together? I'm looking for torque specs and the like. I do have the shop manual and will use those specs if I can't find anything better.

Thanks for the help.
Transmission questions are next.
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Oct 25, 2002 | 06:38 AM
  #2  
use the shop manual, very good chance you'll have to burn your own proms, i'd use a weiand intake and stay away from edlebrock stuff. i doubt your block is nickel, cast iron is a more realistic metal for the block. if by chance you got the only nickel block gm built sell it for scrap, it'd be worth a good bit and could help off set the cost of your engine build up project.
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Oct 25, 2002 | 07:29 AM
  #3  
Clarification
Not 100% nickel, Mortec states that the block casting numbers indicate a block with nickel in it. I think it has 1% tin and 2% nickel, as indicated by the Mortec page.
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Oct 25, 2002 | 08:03 AM
  #4  
oh ok the high nickel blocks, suspose to be more desireable but i'm not sure it'll make any differances to you or most anyone else. it is a good point if you have a block to sell.
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Oct 26, 2002 | 06:37 PM
  #5  
Vortec heads? To the best of my knowledge, Weiand doesn't make an intake for them. As for GM or Edelbrock, Edelbrock makes the GM Vortec EGR q-jet manifold, so wherever you get the best price.

Vortec heads & emissions legal? You'll have to plumb exhaust up to the intake manifold since the Vortec heads don't have the exhaust cross-over passages.

Cam? Better keep it under .420" lift, or you'll need some more work on those Vortec heads - springs, cut down the valve guides, etc.

I just don't get the fasination with Vortec heads. All the above hassles, and you'll be spending as much or more than you would to port L98 heads or buy & pocket-port World S/R Torquers, w/o any gain in performance with Vortecs over those other two options. Plus, L98 and Worlds don't require any special parts to be emissions legal.
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Oct 26, 2002 | 08:03 PM
  #6  
I'm pretty sure that the Vortecs with the EGR intake and the heat riser headers will make the car emissions legal. The heads that came with the 350 were 882's, which I have heard are poor flowing heads. The Vortecs are a decent flowing head for little money. They are about $100 cheaper per head. I'll look into what it takes to make it emissions legal.
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