My current motor is a tired 350, headers, 650 double pumper. I've been very happy with it, but have an option coming up.

Locally there is a newly rebuilt l31 longblock taken 0.030 over, but rebuilt for stock applications. The buyer backed out, so it's dirt dirt cheap.

Beings the 330HP 350HO uses the heads from this longblock, I figure I can swap in a healthier cam to make equal if not better power than that motor because of the roller setup.

I'd like to do this as cheap as possible. So, I'm thinking keep the stock (or new stock) roller valvetrain components other than the cam. Keep the lift max at .450 so I don't have to mod the heads, toss a cam that's comparable if not a bit hotter than the 350HO.

I'm thinking I should make as much if not more power than the 350HO for the low cost of the longblock + cam + new carb intake. What do you all think? Any cam recommendations?

 

It sounds like a wise decision if you can get it that cheap. The GM 330 crate is basically what you are looking at right now providing the rebuild is't a collaberation of junk or used parts. Assuming a quality build, you basically have a brand new motor and a cam with matching valvesprings that should equal if not surpass the power ratings GM gave that crate.

 

I've only really only come up with one more downside to this. The Vortec block shouldn't have the provisions for a mechanical pump. This is pretty minor to me. There has to be something I'm overlooking here or I would think this would be a more popular thing to do.

 

well, you'll also need a new intake manifold, but it is a relatively common swap. well, i mean people put those heads on 350's all the time.

 

I have one of those blocks sitting in my spare bedroom and it has the mechanical fuel pump housing, but I just don't think it is drilled out. I wonder if you could have that one drilled to accept a mechanical fuel pump.

 

go cheap on the cam and use a stock lt4 cam(i bought mine for $35). use a professional products rpm air gap knock off intake and you could have a cool little motor for very little cash outlay.good luck......

 

I'm glad this will likely work out how I'd like it to then. I had thought of the intake deal, but for some reason I thought I'd said it and hadn't.

Doesn't the stock lt4 cam have just a tad too much lift for unmodified vortec heads?

Perhaps the numbers I've seen for the lt4 lift are using the stock lt4 1.6 rockers. I really don't have any problems spending around 100 on the cam if the rest of this goes as well as I expect it to.