wondering if many people have ran this setup. in the jegs catalog it says block must be zero decked. does that mean that it must be stock deck height or does the deck require machinging. how do i check for 0 deck clearance. let me know opinions on systemax II. i thought it was nice because i could bolt on about a 100 more horses to my 350 for 1300 dollars.

 

I know that not a lot of people have this setup but someone has too.

 

Zero-decked means you put your crank, bearings, rods & pistons in the block and bring each one up to TDC and measure how far down the top of the piston is from the block "deck". You then disassemble it and have the block milled off enough to make that measured dimension zero. They say you need to do that in order to have the compression ratio they advertise.

Their "system" seems more popular with the 5.0 crowd. There are enough parts out there for SBCs that you can produce a much greater improvement in power for the same or less money. Of course, it all depends upon what you're starting with. In your case, I'd expect less of an improvment over what you've already got.

 

what would you recomend for that kind of money. so if i was to get that system i could get away without having it zero decked.

 

What's your starting point to which you're adding these equines?

With what your sig says you have, ported 305 heads with 1.94/1.60" valves would add at least 100 horses compared to a 350 with 882 heads.

 

Revlimit has this setup. He installed it on a 91 L98 block (converted to flat tappet cam). I dont think he Dyno'd it or anything, but its pretty damn powerfull. I bet it would put a spanking on my blown 91Z (stock L98 w/ S-trim @ 6psi). Maybe try PM him.

 

i am done with my 305. I actually have my 305 in the process of switching to vortec heads that i have. i am building a 350 for my car and when i swap motors i will be putting the 305 in an s-10. basically my plan for this 350 is to have something that is semi low budget 420-450 horses and little work. i just want to drop a reliable motor that i can have decent power with and build my suspension and chassis and do my interior. i plan on having the motor for 2-3 years why i finish everything else and then build a more radical one and swap the old 350 into another project.

 

A guy on sethirdgen.org (Jeremy I believe is his member name) ran that setup on a Firebird he had- I think it was on a 350, he said it was the most bang for the buck induction setup he could find at the time. You get a pretty decent set of aluminum heads, Lunati cam and
Holley intake for 12-1300 bucks or so. If you build it to their spec as far as CR and such it will deliver the advertised claims.

I never personally saw the car but he said it ran low 12's with a 3000 or so stall and slicks.

 

i have that exact set in my living room waiting for the rest of the parts to my 350 build.....

the box claims 200hp on top of stock numbers.

i ordered harland sharp roller rockers to go in the heads and will be running the stock lower end after i send the motor to the machine shop for work... the cam is supposed to deliver a lopey idle.

i can't wait good by tires

 

are you going to go to the track once you put that setup on. anyone got any times on this setup.

 

definitely, as soon as i can im heading to the local 1320... not very local tho...

 

you will have to let us know how it preforms.

 

"0 decking" a engine block involves preassembling the pistons ( at least one of each bank) , rods, bearings and crank and measuring the piston quench clearance, then machineing the block decks as required to get the piston to come right up to the top of the decks at TDC.

This will ensure the engine has the right compression ratio and quench clearance with a felpro .039-.041" head gasket.

A stock 350 normally has the pistons .025" below deck and uses a thin .015" head gasket. But they vary.

Many replacement flat top pistons do not have the same compression height as stock, so the piston will be even further down the bore at TDC on an stock non-decked block.

Some well equiped shops have a block checker gig to check deck height. Most don't. So the only way they can check and verify deck height with a certain piston is to pre- asemble and measure.
It makes a difference. It's all in the details.

 

thank you for that very detailed information. i understand a lot better now. now id like to see some dyno numbers with that setup.