Have a 350/290 hp crate motor short block core with 4-bolt mains and pm rods. Is this engine suitable for a performance buildup or should I unload it? (Yes, I did do a search).

Thanks.

 

Depends upon your goals and budget.

With good heads and cam, it'll put out decent power and stay together. Probably don't want to spin it over 6000 RPMs, though.

 

Vortecs? What cam would you recommend? Thanks.

 

More data needed:
Is it a roller block?
Do you intend for it to be smog legal in Ca?
What induction system will you be using?

 

Roller block: I'm going to have to scrape some crud off the block to get a p/n. Is there another way to tell?

smog legal in Cal: Yes.

Induction: carb or tpi.

Thanks.

 

slap on a weiand 144 blower, would be perfect

 

If the block is assembled, one of the simplest ways to check for hyd roller is to check the pushrod length. If it's roller the pushrods will be about 7-1/4" long and if it's flat tappet they'll be about 7-3/4".

I don't know if there's an induction system that's compatible with the vortecs that would be smog legal in Ca, IIRC there is not.

For my own engine, I'm just going to use a 350 roller block with flat top pistons, an LT1 or ZZ4 cam, and the original TPI305 heads modded to work with the larger dispacement engine. And then use the stock TPI on that to get me through the smog test. Since it came with TPI, I have to keep it that way.

A hi flow TPI base with some large dia runners is legal, so is a super ram.
If your car came carbed, then stick with that, it offers the greatest potential for your $$ as a legal mod.

 

A blower? Tempting...tempting (checks wallet for money). Okay, forget that idea.

Thanks for the info.

 

Well...I have the "260hp" Goodwrench 350 in my 84 TA. With the mods in my sig...im shooting for 12's with a 3450lb race weight. Its been done before. Its a good starting point, if you run some good heads and good cam. Preferably 64cc or smaller to get that compression up.

 

BTW, yours is not a roller block. It is cast with a 2 piece rear main seal, and flat tappet (non-roller) cam.

 

Maybe I don't get out enough, but I thought the 290 horse version is a fairly recent addition to the stable. Not out long enough to have crud built up in/on it.

The 260 horse Goodwrench, however, has been around a long time. Not that it makes much difference, as the cam is about all that's upgraded to get the extra 30 gross equines.

Also not sure how long they've been using PM rods in those engines. How sure are you that your shortblock has PM rods?

 

I can't say I'm sure about the pm rods, I'm going by what the seller told me. I still haven't gotten the grime, dirt and grease cleaned off the block so I can check the p/n. That's a project for this weekend.

I just noticed "Hecho en Mexico." Probably not the 290 hp version, more like 250. Now that I've narrowed it down I've done a search and found all kinds of info.

Thanks for the help.