jlc84cam350

i currently don't have an engine in my 84 camaro, its ready for an sbc, and i found a good running 350 4bbl out of a 77 monte carlo, with a turbo 400 tranny, the guy wants 300 for the whole car, would this be any good. The engine wouldn't stay completely stock, i want to put in a cam kit, carb, headers, intake manifoil. WOuld this engine be a good base?, and will it be a straight fit, accept for tranny i know i will have to put a special cross member and a drive shaft, apart from that would it fit right, i would also like to take the radiator from that car too.

Auggie

You know why don't you just do a simple compression test? That would give you some idea as to the condition of the engine.

Auggie

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Sure, it'd be as good as any other 70s smogger motor.

Throw away the pistons, heads, cam, intake, carb, and exhaust; what's left is ... as good as any other 70s smogger motor. Which will be, the block, crank, rods, maybe the damper and flexplate, and assorted tin.

Most likely not a Turbo 400... although it's by means impossible. Just not real likely, given that the rest of the setup doesn't need it, and it's a certain amount of hassle to swap one in for the 350 that was originally there. Go to this web site here for help with identification.

Auggie

Well, maybe he can't afford to do that??

Auggie

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

And, that would make any deficient parts better, and the truthful answer ABOUT THE PARTS any different, how??

Auggie

Beats me!!!

Auggie

jlc84cam350

yha, i have a hard time also believing its a th 400 bolted to the engine, iam guessing its more of a turbo 350, but just the engine its self runs good, it don't smoke or anything and pulls decent, but this engine is just as good as any other 350 of these years aye? I Just want to play a bit with it, id like to be able to push at least 300hp when i am done, do you think it would take much. As i said, i want to change cams, carb, intake manifoild, and the headers, do you think it can reach 300 doing all these things. Plus it will be dual exhaust, hopefully helping me get more hp. What other cheap stuff can i do to gain some more. I don't want to invest too much money in this, i don't want to spend more than 1500$ on this engine to make it go.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Well, given that it made 165 to 180 HP when it was new, ..... 300 is a bit of a challenge.

The thing working the hardest against you with those old smogger turds, is the HEADS. They had about 8.2:1 compression. If you can get a set of 305 heads, even if they still have the weenie 1.84" valves in them, that one thing BY ITSELF will get the compression up into the useful range. Get casting 416, shouldn't be hard to find at all. If you have the $$$, get a set of 1.94" intakes cut into them, and the bowl blended right behind the valve seat.

Don't go overboard on the cam. On the other hand, don't try to cheap out. A good quality, modern cam like the Comp XE262 or the Lunati Voodoo about the same size (I think it's the 60102? maybe) would be about good with the rest of that combo. Get a Performer or a ZZ4 intake. If you're buying a carb, get a Holley 6210.

That combo should do 325-340 HP if the exhaust is good.

jlc84cam350

OK , its seems to be a nice combo that would work pretty good, i had also come up with one, thing is i live in canada and the spot i live in, we don't have any speed shops, and the places that do sell high performance parts overprice them alot, so i wanted to get most my stuff on ebay, here is the combo i had just check it and tell me what you think

1. COMP CAMS 268 HIGH ENERGY SBC CAM K-KIT #K12-210-2 --> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/COMP-...QQcmdZViewItem

2. 82-92 Chevrolet Camaro SBC Hooker Header 2460HKR --> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/82-92...QQcmdZViewItem

3. WEIAND SBC SB CHEVY 327 STEALTH INTAKE MANIFOLD 8150P --> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WEIAN...QQcmdZViewItem

4. HOLLEY CARBURETOR 750 CFM DOUBLE PUMPER --> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HOLLE...QQcmdZViewItem

As for exhaust i wanted to put true duals, with what i believe are called bullits, don't remember what company makes them but i do know they sound nice, illegal to use on the road lol, but out here the laws aren't strict. And i will put catalyst but will empty them out. As for the heads, i just don't know what to use, i don't want to spend a fortune on heads, i know they will probably be the most expensive part, but would also be the most usefull for getting me power, what choices do i have in their.

blimko

iTrader: (1)

would the junk lo3 swirlports on my 350 serve the same purpose as "uping" compression for the sake of this conversation? or is there another stocker head out there that would better suit my 350? its a stocker.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

The XE262 is a better cam for this application than the older cam.

Cams cost literally PENNIES in the grand scheme of things. It's real easy for any "savings" to disappear in a couple of weeks of increased gas consumption. Resist the temptation to "save money" by using an inferior cam, just because you can get it "cheaper".

Dual exhaust is a waste of time on these cars, in most cases. Gievn what you're building, that's especially true. Spend your money somewhere else. Like heads. The best heads to use, if you end up running the 70s smogger short block as it sits, are the ones I already posted. If you rebuild the short block, the choices might be different, based on (among other things) what pistons you use.

Swirlies are about the worst head you can use for any kind of performance, unless you carve the whole swirl ramp out of the intake. I would recommend avoiding them; and instead, if you want a center-bolt valve cover 305 head, get the 081 casting off of a TPI 305, LG4, or L69.

jlc84cam350

gas consumption wouldn't be much of an issue, since this will not be an every day driver, but for the heads, the best way to go is with 305 heads, casting 416? Apart from these ones what other stock heads could work, or are these the best i am gonna get for the money. Even if the head wason a fuel injected car, it wouldn't make a difference if it were going on a carbed engine aye?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

IF you're running the untouched 70s smogger short block.

If you're rebuilding it, then maybe not.

I'd suggest finding out EXACTLY what you've got and EXACTLY what condition it's in before buying any parts.

Heads don't care what control system mixed the air and fuel. In fact, many of them (416 and 081 included) were used on both carbed and FI motors from the factory. So no, it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference.

If all you're going to do is buy stuff off of eBay because it looks cheap, without any regard to whether it's the best or even actually the right thing for what you're doing, then any advice I or anyone else gives you is largely a waste of bandwidth.

jlc84cam350

ok thanks, i am going to go check out the engine this weekend some more, but i do know it runs just fine, its in pretty decent shape and has lots of life in, i just want to up it some more so it pulls better. I think ill fallow you advice and check out them 305 heads at a salvage yard, where is the casting number stamped on the heads?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Under the valve covers, between some of the rocker arms. Full # IIRC is 14014416.

dnk5chevy

iTrader: (1)

how about the 041 heads i have a set on my truck i've heard these are pretty good?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Yes, 041 is one of the good old double-hump heads. Those, 186, 492, are the best ones of those you'll find in junkyards. All those are about alike, probably the best there were until the 113 came out, and the Vortecs. 292 might be the best of that class but was only available as service replacement. Those were the ones we'd put on the top hobby sprints. They'd kick the 461s in the butt.

jlc84cam350

hey man, you wouldn't believe what one of my friends found me, and for only 350$, they are ready to install with valves and seals that are good as new. original 327 heads, which i believe are called double humps? Would these work on the monte carlo 350 engine? IF so they are as good as sold!!!

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Yes they will "work" on a 350.

However, they may or may not "work" IN YOUR CAR. If they don't have the bolt holes in the ends, you CANNOT put the accessories back into your car, just little ones like... the alternator, without buying $$$special brackets$$$$.

That's why you can get those older no-bolt-hole ones for dirt cheep; they don't fit any chassis that's been made in the last 35 years or more.

041, 186, and 492 are useful, and are generally worth about $600-750 a pair to people that want them. 461 and the other no-bolt-hole castings are generally not worth more than $200 a pair to anyone in any condition because there's so many of them out there looking for chassis to fit in.

Sounds to me like somebody is looking to take advantage of you on a pair of 461s.

jlc84cam350

I don't know what casting they are but, the guys says they are off a 66 nova, he has had the heads in his garage for over 15 years just doing nothing, he wanted to make himseld an engine sometime, but has no time, i asked him just for fun if he'd sell em, he wanted 500 at first, but i made him go down to 400, i am sure i get their with 350 i can take them home, my brother knows him personaly.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Won't make em fit your car, if they're ones without bolt holes....

jlc84cam350

hey man good newz, i checked em out yesterday, the head bolt holes are their, hell her left the blots inside the holes. That means they would work aye, i didn't check the casting # dho

Randy82WS7

i wouldnt buy the old 66 heads

personally i would go and buy stock take-off vortec 96 and up chevy truck heads and get a carb intake for them

can get the heads for less than that much from a yard and be better technology than those old school 66 ones

i would never give 300 and some dollars for old school heads, no matter what they were

not worth it

maybe 50 bucks though


they would be good if someone had a 66 to restore and wanted stock factory correct heads though

sure such heads were great, about 30 years ago before more modern technology was added to head castings




good luck

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

I'm going to assume you mean the holes are THERE? If so, then they're not 66 model heads. Bolt holes didn't exist in 66.

NO TELLING what they are without the casting #s.

Just because they happen to be in a 66 Nova right at the moment, or just came out of one, or have been in one at some time in their life, or the owner also happens to own a 66 Nova, doesn't make them 66 Nova heads.

Just because some 66 Novas came with good heads, doesn't make those good heads.

Just because they happen to be on a 327 at the moment, doesn't make them 327 heads.

In other words, NOTHING you have told us about them, is ANY indicator of their actual value.

NO good 327 heads cam with bolt holes, because by the time the bolt holes were introduced, the 327 had been relegated to gas-mileage low-perf fleet duty in the vehicle models that required the bolt holes. Kind of like the 305 vs the 350 in the 80s. Therefore, if they REALLY are true 327 heads with bolt holes, they are GARBAGE. I would not even pay $50 for them. In fact I would not accept them for free, I would decline them if offered, and insist that they not be deposited on my land. They aren't worth enough in scrap iron weight, which is all they'd be any good for to me, to be bothered with.

I pay people to come and remove piles of most casting #s from my property. In other words, they have NEGATIVE VALUE to me; they are a liability requiring the expense of disposal, not an asset to be sought out and acquired. There are VERY FEW INDEED that I will pay money to obtain.

Find out what casting # they are. Without that, all the rest of that drivel about 66 and 327 and Nova and $500, is just that.... drivel.