If you were going to start from scratch with a good looking 3rd gen Fbody that has a great suspension already and a nicely built little 305, what motor would you start with. I'm not collecting change for my build but also can't afford some 10k crate motor. As a matter of fact I'm not interested in crate motors at all. I want to build mine. Small Blocks are most plentiful and have a ton of power adders. Pontiac/Olds 400s are kinda cool to sport and Big Blocks just tear it up. This car won't be a daily driver so I'm not worried about gas milage but it has to be comfortable enough to drive around on weekends and to shows and stuff. I want a good amount of HP and torque but it probably won't see the track more than a couple of times a year. I'm more into the g-machine total handleing package rather than 1/4 mile setups. That new Gale Banks twin turbo setup for the 350 would be sweet but it on top of building a solid injected 350 probably is out of my price range. I don't want to start another one of these which motor is better debates. I'm looking for opinions on this particular scenerio. Oh and how would you go about getting the core? New? buy whole crashed car? junkyard/garage motor? ebay motor? Thanks. ---Rich

 

350

Junkyard or machine-shop-tested block. Best heads you can afford. Go from there.

 

350

cheap and very easy to make good power with

 

Check your local machine shops for a good SBC 400 block and crank, add some 5.7" or even 6" rods, forged pistons, and get a good set of aftermarket heads (don't waste your time with factory castings on a 400).