I'm looking to build a new 350 with newer vortec heads. Sort of wanting to follow an old car craft build, but with an even tighter budget. Looking at a summit rebuild kit, such as SUM-SBCKIT1-311.

CC used the Comp cams XE274 which stock junk yard heads such as mine cant handle, but mine are going into the machine shop and I'll have the required work done. Can anyone spell out in stupid english what I need to tell them? I'll get the cam with the lifter kit, and I'm hoping you guys can tell me what springs to get, LT4's look like they'd work fine, but should I used something else?

I'll likely used an edelbrock performer rpm intake, and 750cfm carb, 700r4 tranny with perhaps a mild stall. I'll gladly answer any questions I can about what I'm after but hoping this will do it mostly.

Looking for 375hp or so, still streetable, lumpy idle. Not a daily driver, but capable of it sort of deal. To be fair, it's not going in a camaro, it's going into an S10 chassis, with a 1946 Studebaker M5 pickup body. You guys just seem to know your small blocks so well I hoped you'd help a guy out.

Thanks!

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

We'll allow the discussion as long as it centers around the engine build, i.e., what someone might build to put into their 3rd gen. Ask about how to put it into the Stude - well, that's crossing the line.

Any idea what the block will be? Also Vortec, or something pre-'86? Since you said XE274 and not XR, I assume you'll be going flat tappet. If, though, you have a block that takes roller lifters, then the XR276HR would be the ticket (if lumpity idle is really that important to you, get the -10 version). Most '87-'95 truck 350 blocks fit that description, and would be cheaper to buy from the junkyard than a Vortect block.

I know you said you planned on getting the heads from the junkyard and have them fixed up by a machine shop. Can I talk you out of that and save you some money? If you can buy the heads from the JY, have a machine shop cut the tops of the valve guides for positive stem seals, install springs to handle the .490" lift of the XE274, assemble the heads, buy intake manifold, gaskets, bolts, and rocker arms for less than http://sdparts.com/details/scoggin-d...ter/sd8060raag , then I'll shut up and let you do it your way.

This is an easy 400 FWHP combo, probably more. Very streetable (but more streetable if you do the XR276HR-12 and give up the more lumpity idle). You will need about 3000 RPM stall if you want it to get immediately into the powerband.

 

Definately its a pre-86' block. I believe it's a 77', 4 bolt main block. I've already got the heads and was able to acquire them very cheaply, $70 for the pair and even at that it was owed to me by the salvage yard so I was far likely to get it in credit than cash.

I'm not certain if the camaro thing was sarcasm or more serious, I understand if it was serious for the sake of keeping the forum focused. I've owned two camaros, an 81' Z28(400smblk/auto) and an 84' 305/4bbl and hope to one day own a split bumper or a 1st gen but thats another topic for another day.

 

My 2 cents worth....If the heads need a valve job, ask the shop ahead of time what they do on Vortecs for seat angles. It sucks to get back a nice fresh set of Vortecs with a single angle valve job. NOT COOL . If they come with 3 angle, then a proper rebuild should include a 3 angle. I might as well have run 882s LOL.

 

I say you have the heads hogged out, and go with an XE294 and 3500 stall. It will still idle at 700rpm