Hey, I plan on building up a 350 and I'm lookin around for a short block in my area, and I found a guy selling a 1969 350 V8, and a 1974 350 V8. This makes me wonder, what year range should I be lookin for? I'm lookin to go non-CC carbed with this motor, with a Weiand intake and a Holley carb, and hopefully hookin it up to a T56. Are all the years for the most part the same and will work, or should I be lookin for late 80's blocks that closely match the year my car was made? Thank you!

 

if you want a roller cam, you need a 87+ block.. same for one piece rear main seal.. i think.. might want someone to double check me on the seals..

older blocks need retro lifters for roller cams, and use 2 piece rear main seal stuffs.

 

87 and up Block with roller and one piece rear seal is your best bet for a build up.

 

Thanks. So would my best bet be to wait for a 87-up Camaro or Firebird to be parted out locally and check the junkyards around here for what I need? I've already got a stand and I'm pickin up a lift today, getting a block is the next step!

 

The 87-up blocks also have the right bolt pattern for the T-56 flywheel, which means you don't have to buythe expensive Centerforce one or get one machined.

The newer block is definitely the way to go in your situation.

 

u can pull one from a truck and have a 4 bolt main instead of 2. no need to pull jus from a camaro or firebird.

 

One other thing to think of with the older engines you are looking at. Have they been rebuilt before? If so, how many times? How far were they over-bored?

 

yea, i was going to say the same thing..... you can pull ANY small block chevy, and truck motors even have the chance of having 4 bolt mains...

 

And all this would apply the same for building a TPI, correct? Same with the heads, 87-up?

 

The choice of TPI or carb doesn't really impact the block. But it's simplest if you get a TPI base and heads that use the same center intake bolt angle.... 85-86 and the Vette/ZZ4 alumium heads have all 6 intake bolts on each side parallel, 87-up have the center 2 at a different angle. There's a different TPI base for each of those apllications.