Looking for opinions on what I should fill a 350 block I have with and which heads.

Right now I'm very conflicted on what I want to do with my 86 Firebird. I have a L05 Truck TBI 350 block and heads, which are fairly complete and was completely freshened up less than 2K miles ago. The cross hatch pattern is still on the cylinder walls.

I have a 305 CC carbe'd (dead) motor in it now. I suppose I could just re-ring the 350 and slap it back together, but I have no idea how this motor would perform in a carb'ed vehicle. If I build it up at all I need to keep it $1200 or less, and of course I'll be doing all the assembly, etc.

Let me tell you all what it currently is missing. Complete timing set, Harmonic balancer, oil pump, intake, valve covers. Other than those it is a complete L05 with a flat tappet cam.

What do you guys think? Keep the rotating assembly and to heads and roller cam? Or new rotating assembly too?

BTW, I really can't spend any money on exhaust unless it comes out of the above $1200 budget, and whatever I do, it needs to be able to pass CA smog (assuming they overlook that it's a 350)

Thanks for the advice!

GP

 

I'd run the short block as it sits. I would not touch the ring job (i.e. disassemble the pistons from the block). I would not use the cam or the heads that come with it. If cost is an issue, I'd stick with a flat-tappet. I'd get the best smog-legal heads I could afford.

The heads on the L05 are some real crap. A good option for cheap might be to find a decent used set of cast-iron L98 heads. If you do that, and stay reasonable with the cam, then your stock CC Q-Jet is enough carb, and you could use either the stock intake or a CARB/EO one with better performance. Although, I had my 305 dyno'ed down in Leucadia right after I built it, and it did about 260 or 265 crank HP (214 RW HP) with the stock intake and carb, so I don't think they're necessarily that much of a restriction. I believe you should be able to get close to 300 HP out of it without too much sweat.

If you can get a good set of heads for $500, you can a good cam kit with timing set and lifters for $275 (Comp XE series cam, something like a 262), a couple of hun for gaskets and other stuff, you'll have some money left over to fix the exhaust. If you leave the LG4 exhaust on the car you might as well not bother doing anything to the motor because it won't make any difference anyway. You need to get all the LG4 stuff out of there, every piece, all the way from the heads to the street.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by RB83L69 (edited December 06, 2001).]

 

Thanks for the advice. The block was already half disassembled by the kid and his dad I bought it from. I have no idea what they were thinking! The took off one head, the four pistons on that side, and unbolted the main cabs. Perhaps they were just curious what was in there??

What about the GM crate 350HO/330HP heads on this motor?

I can get a new ZZ4 cam, lifters timing set etc for $300. I'd need a new balancer, and pushrods to go with it.

GP

 

Rb...

Im running 14.5 at 98 on the LG4 exhuast




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85 2.8L Blazer - Soon to to Beater car.
85 Sport Coupe LG4 - Daily Driver 14.55 @ 98.6 (faster than Ed)
Reader's ride -> My Ride

"Faster than Most, Slower than Less"