Sorry to do this guys, but I need some information so I can make a decent decision about what to do here. I'm kind of stuck.

Can anyone give me a ballpark estimate of what kind of power I'm looking at with this (everything is fresh and redone):

3970010 350 block
Flat-top pistons or slightly domed
Ported and polished 081 heads (58cc)
Stock dual plane aluminum intake
Rochester 4bbl cc q-jet
Hedman 1 5/8" headers
Full 3" exhaust minus cat conv. plus flowmasters
Moderate hydraulic cam (havent decided yet)

Like I said I just need a ballpark estimate. The reason being, is well, my 305 is done for for now. Pulled it out, needs bearings. I dont even have money for the 305 to get rebuilt as it is, but the way I see it is that (having been given a free 350 engine), I may as well get the 350 block machined and rebuilt, and throw my 305 heads and everything else on untill I have the money down the road to get some better heads, intake, etc. The 305 was a roller block, I just bought a new Comp 270HR for it (damn those things are a lot), I had everything together and noticed something was knocking, so the cam has about maybe an hour or so on it. I can't reuse it in the 350 so I will be taking a loss there, cause I'll have to go hydraulic cam in that. I just want to know what kind of gains I am looking at over what I had before, for what I am spending and what I am getting. I need to do this economically, but I want it done right (bottom end) so I dont have to mess with it down the road. I figure I may be saving money in the long run by going the 350. I really only have about $800 tops to spend, I figure I should be able to get all the maching done with that, I think I have someone to help supervise on assembly on my own. Please give me your opinion.

Later,
Ben

 

If you're the one doing the assembly, I'd say you'll be lucky to make over 190hp. That is, if it doesn't throw a rod the first time you crank it.

 

Well I just talked to my mechanic tonight, he is helping me build it, so it is under his supervision.

I want to take advantage of an opportunity to learn while at the same time, doing it right. So it WILL be done right.

 

ttt
anyone?

 

I don't understand your reply at all, Kevin (unless you know each other and know something we don't ).

I certainly wouldn't use domed pistons. Flat-tops are going to put you in the 10+:1 CR territory as it is, unless you unshroud the valves a little (increases chamber volume) and use a thick composite head gasket.

With a 270-like cam, a good exhaust and good air cleaner, you should easily be in the 275 flywheel HP range, probably close to that rear wheel HP.

 

Maybe he had a bad experience himself while trying to do something similar, I dont know, but that wasnt really the answer I was looking for (Kevin).

Excellent, thats what I was looking for, five7kid *sorry*. Short honest answer. I'm going to go ahead and do the 350 block, that way I have "room to grow" down the road when I can get some better heads.

 

Asking for HP estimates without cam specs reveals a frightening lack of knowledge...so instead of estimating HP, I estimated your mechanical ability and formulated my reply. You said "please give me your opinion" so there ya go.

Don't want to invest time doing a little research, you'll end up with a real crapper of an engine...just do a search on username SlowMaro for a recent example.

 

Sorry for being vague. Like stated above, I DID HAVE a 270H Comp cam for the 305. One thing I had to decide was whether to use an older hydraulic (non roller) block which was given to me, in which case I'd have to get a different cam (set), but more than likely would be very similar spec-wise with the 270h, but probably larger (in terms of performance-wise, yes I realize that roller and regular hydraulic cams have different profiles), so I thought I'd use the 270 for a lower-bound (or base, if you will) standard to estimate what I'd be seeing out of the motor. On the other hand, if I decide to wait until I can come up with a roller block (350), which I think I will do now since I already have the money invested in this cam, and have the lifters and all, then I will be using the cam I've already purchased (yes, the 270H).

I dont want to be rude and start an argument over something so stupid, but I dont see how you can judge my mechanical ability over some bit of information which I may have left out or led you (unknowingly and honestly) by. Sorry for that. Just because this is my first time building an engine also does not mean that I'm a complete dolt when it comes to mechanical ability. Even if I had little ability, you still gotta learn somewhere dont you? I seriously doubt that you were just born with instincts and built-in knowledge on building high performance engines, but I could be wrong. Anyways, I stated above that I have good supervision. As a matter of fact, he's the BEST guy I know at it. I know, you'll probly say "well that aint sayin much, just from lookin at what kind of ability you have"...well, trust me, he knows his chit.

Oh and by the way, I've got a LOT of time invested researching this, so much so that my school grades are severely suffering, if that is saying anything. As a matter of fact, I've read through quite a few of/or consisting of SlowMaro's posts. So dont lecture me on research please. I'm not just blindly purchasing cams/parts and throwing them together and thinking I've got some good ****. Like I said though, I AM trying to do the best with what money I have for the time being.

I think I asked a completely legitimate question, compared to some others on here I've been seeing as of late. I shouldnt have to write an essay to explain myself, but I didnt want to give you the wrong impression. Once again, sorry for the confusion, and now I must go to work before I'm late. No hard feelings.

Later,
-Ben