Ok. I found a guy on ebay, $999, + $100 shipping:
Shortblock: rebuilt 357 chevy (.040 over???)
new cast pistons, dish avail. 8.5:1 w/ my TF aluminum 66 cc heads, forged rods stock, cast crank, cast everything else, roller block, 2 bolt, 1 peice rear main, peanut type cam (i'll put in a blower grind), timing chain, new gaskets Milton pump? I think he uses some old tested parts and etc. I think that's it. \
**** It's going w/ TF 2.02's 66 cc, vortech non intercooled blower,
Superam, blower cam ( i have to buy). Anyway, I'll be running 10lbs boost or or less if i have to. What are your opinions? I REALLY CAN"T SPEND MORE THAN THIS> is it ok? running it on 94 oct. thanks -Justin
***update, the milton pump is $75 extra, and he will use ARP bolts too for extra.

 

I would say its as OK as it can be considering the cast pistons. Remember, you can help yourself by running a "comp" cam with a 110 lobe instead of a 112-114 blowercam. The overlap can help protect the cast pistons as well as the headgaskets. It doesnt really cause you to lose anything considering you are trading some cylinder pressure for some exhaust scavenging.

 

yeah, but he says the hyperperutetic that he offers are $200 more and weaker than the cast. I know they are lighter. I don't believe he will do forged.
Your cam idea is right on! thanks, anybody else?

 

you could get really protective and run a circle track grind, I ran a 150 nitrous shot on mine and ran 11.90's (see the video in my signature) the cam was 236’ @ .050”, 286’ Adv (.001”), .490” lift (.523" with my 1.6's), and 106* LSA. A note: This is an extreme example, so I dont suggest you go as severe. the new owner has since jetted up to 175 and gone with a similar sized comp "nitrous cam" (with wider lope sep and almost no overlap like a blower cam) and has not gone any faster exept a few 10ths of an MPH in the 1/4. Something to think about.

 

listen, you want a motor that will withstand some power and boost? Copy what blownbird did:

stock crank
stock rods
ARP bolts in the rods
TRW pistons
Trickflow heads
stock TPI setup
vortech s-trim
blower
the good gas

^^^eventually went 10.90 once and went a lot of 11.00s

 

yeah you will even be ahead of the game because you already have the superram right? the forged TRW blower piston is not only one of the strongest off the shelf piston around but also one of the cheapest to buy. I wanted to say what he just did for a while. It is our standard answer to the question which is posted almost weekly about how to build a (take your pick): blower, nitrous, turbo shortblock. the stock crank can take it, any 350 block you have can take it, the rods with ARP rod bolts can take it, and the pistons can definitely take it. Why spend your money on any cast piston motor if you will just toss it later?

 

EXCELLENT INFO!!!!!!! I was actually thinking along those lines tonight on the way home. I think you're totally right. My block will probably go .040 over, if that's ok. I need the pistons,... iwill use my stage 1 rods over if able, cast crank, beraings etc. Thanks very much, shouldn't cost me too much. Origianlly that's what i wanted to do, but the builders kept "upping" the price and the parts. I guess that's what they do. thanks.,,, btw, i know everyone asks the same question, but I actually need to know, because I 'm gonna do it! I always do., thanks

BLOWNBIRD, can you email me,...munks@optonline.net, OR reply here,...just had a few questions about the setup, being that I have all the stuff already, just needed to know what cam to use, and what computer you used (mine is factory MAF). also, what compression did you run? and how much boost? (intercooled or not?) I have 66 cc heads,....trick flows, read the post it'll tell you what i have. thanks very much -Justin

 

Well, personally I'd be a little weary of a .040" over block. That either means it didn't clean up at .030, which meant major piston failure, or it's on it's second bore. Either way it's got some miles and or abuse on it. I might be skeptical about how straight the deck and crank bore line is. Make sure it was at least magged if not pressure tested.

If his hyper pistons are weaker than the cast, then they must be absolute junk. Either that or he doesn't know his elbow from a hole in the ground. Just my opinion, but I'd pass on this one. I'm a big fan of the local machine shop. They can generally put together a short block that will be more suited to your application, and a lot of times come with a warranty. Plus they're good for getting you odds and ends and will charge whole sale for parts since you're paying for their labor.

 

yeah, i think i'm gonna go that route, but again, I just tallked to them, and they keep tryin to "up" me. but thanks for the advice. I'm probably going that route. The only other thoght would be that L98 new bottom for $1100. anybody else?

 

FYI....TRW aka Speed-Pro doesn't make pistons in .040 over, just .030. So you have to have a block that cleans up @ .030

 

oh man, that means i'll need a new block too proobably. Mine is already .030 over,., unless it cleans up. Maybe the l98 shortblock for $1100 brand new will end up better? hmmnn choices chioces. I'd just have to get a cam for it.

 

What cam did he use???