i have a 87 iroc z that came with a carbed 305 but got swapped with a 350 from around the 70's looked up the casting number and its apparently somewhere around 185 horse (embarrasing as that is) but id like to give the motor some well needed ***** and i have some ideas but im just curious to peoples opinions on them so far i was thinking of getting. the edelbrock performer package, k&n 14-3" aircleaner (but id like to have the edelbrock chrome top), mallory hei distributor. i already have msd 8.5mm super conductor wires, and i have crane aluminum roller rockers. Now i think that would make a difference in ***** fo my 350 but im jw other peoples opinions. im not about to put a blower or nitrous on the car, and ill one day put aluminum heads on it but im more looking for more obvious and easy mods but pack a punch like externals, and valve train being the only internal that id even think about doing. but id like to here other guys opinions about my ideas, and their own for making my 350 more respectable

 

For the money the edelbrock kit is the way to go. Cam, intake, carb makes very good power and its all desinged to work together, I have used there kits for years and have had very good results from there products. Plus you leave yourself open down the the road to add a set of there aluminum heads to the package and it will all work together, they claim close to 400hp out of there full power package. Also get a good set of headers, and a aftermarket exhasut system, no sence in putting more fuel into the engine if it has no were to go. and it would be worth wile to upgrade your ignition system, summit has there street and strip ignition for less than $350 dollars and it includes coil, ignition box, and billet distributor! hope this helps.

 

Edelbrock cams are 20-30 year old grinds. You'll do much better with a modern grind. "Made to work together"? Right, 25 years ago. Edelbrock makes good intakes and okay heads, and probably acceptable nitrous kits, but their carbs & cams are little more than continuing to grind out old tech.

K&N is an expensive way to let more dirt into your engine.

 

hey thanks sgreen3 for ur reply. The thing with me and my camaro is, is that i could technically put some real money into it and it would be incredible, but im not that well off money wise for that sort of power. So the edelbrock package's just seem like a good deal and a good way to get more power, i could always later just mix different parts in for more power or build a motor from the block up to be a really mean motor but for now i just want it to be respectable and more fun for driving around.

 

Try some 305 heads. These should bump up your compression into a decent range, and they flow well with a little work.

 

As long as they aren't LO3 305 heads.

 

whats your budget first of all.

Second what kind of shape is your bottom end in?

Changing stuff like rocker arms won't get you any power...

If you are serious about bumping up the horses...heads and cam is where all the power is made.

 

you can bump up to a bigger intake valve like a 2.02 or a 2.05,i would go with a 2.02 for the street and the 2.05 for the stripthat should give you a decent increase in HP and the bigger valves should compliment the bigger camif you still want more then you should find a really good machine shop and get your heads ported and you intake port matched to your headsif you want to save some money you can port your heads and intake yourself if you take your time, all you need is an air die grinder and a set of sanding cartridges you can get at home depot

 

I've done this. A late-'70s 350, plus edelbrock cam and intake, into '84 camaro, using stock, low-output '84 Exhaust system, including exhaust manifolds. Not great, but I ran out of money. I used a regular 700R-4, and a 3.42:1 non-posi rear, and a set of BFG Radial T/As, size 235/60R15. Which, by the way, don't belong on the front of these cars. These tires hate the strut's stick-slip tendencies. Anyway, Felt great through first and second, letting it shift itself at 4500 rpm. 2000 rpm @ 65 mph with the lockup kit from Painless Wiring. I wouldn't consider any other gear. But no traction problem until I tried a B&M TorkMaster 2000. Perfect. Lost the car before I could do headers with Y-pipe and a 3" catback exhaust.