Hey guys,

Running out of money on my build budget, but I don't want to put the old pistons back into my engine. They aren't in too bad of shape, but for all we know they could have over 100,000 miles on em seeing how the engine is aa 1974 and no clue what it came out of exactly. So I am looking to get a new set of pistons and probably rods.
I want to stay around the $300-400 range for them. Let me give you some specs on the motor. It's a 1974 SBC350 casting code ending 010 4 bolt main. I got new Dart iron eagle cast iron heads 165cc, comp cam valve springs, manley valves, comp cam high energy cam 268 duration .454 lift, edelbrock rpm perfromer intake, rebuilt 750cfm rochester quadrajet, comp cams high energy rocker arms 1.5 ratio, new hei distributor. Waiting until we put the cam in before I purchase push rods. Any other info you need let me know. According to Comp charts I will be pushing a little over 300 hp at 8 or 9 to 1 compression.
So my question is what's a solid set of pistons that won't break my bank? Should I buy new connecting rods as well? And what about the stock crank with over 300 hp can it hold up? The cylinders have never been bored or stroked. We will be honing them in the next few weeks.
Questions, Comments and Suggestions appreciated.

 

The crank will hold just fine. If I were you I'd put a set of speed pro hyp. flat tops in there. But thatd def. amp up your compression. (I love a high compression motor myself.) As for rods, I'd say it depends how bad they are off, if all they need is a slight resizing I wouldnt bother buying new ones.

 

what size chambers?
Chamber size of heads will determine what (cc ) pistons you need to get required compression
More CR ; more power ( within reason and dependent on other factors like cam )

 

You should be fine with your stock connecting rods just buy new bearings. The crank will hold up easily under 300hp. Also your cam range is 0-5500 so its not like your going to have a super high reving engine. You might be better off with an edelbrock performer intake instead of the rpm performer. The regular performer is more suited to the rpm range of your cam 0-5500. The rpm performer is designed for 1500-6500. Boring it out .030 over will give you a lot more choices in pistons. I would go with Speed-pro hypereutectic piston and rings on jegs. They are about $275 for pistons and rings. You can easily spend $120 on rings alone so the kits the way to go. 350ci Stock-Type Hypereutectic Pistons, .030'' OverborePiston Dia.: 4.030''
Piston Top: Flat Top, 2-Valve Reliefs
Pressed or Floating Pin
Comp Ratio: 10.41:1 w/58cc Heads, 8.63:1 w/76cc Heads
5/64'', 5/64'', 3/16'' Chrome-Moly Rings
I didn't bother to look at your chamber size but these should put you close to your target

compression ratio. Part # is 844-8-KH631CP30

 

thanks for the advice guys...the cc of the heads is 67. I prolly won't bore it out not that I don't want to but I don't really have the extra money. I made a budget when I started last august and I am already over by about 500 er 600. How much do you think it would cost to bore out the cylinders.30 over? My dad's buddies got a cylinder hone is that the same tool?
As far as the rpm performer goes the guy at my engine shop recommended it to me for my heads, I already ordered it.

 

Return the rpm performer and get the performer that will save you $50. Boring should only cost around $125 and no a hone is not the same thing. You need to order your pistons first and give them to the machine shop so they can bore it to the exact measurement of the pistons. Do you know for a fact that your block hasn't already been punched out?

 

Ya my dads buddies have been working on racing engines for 30 years they said it wasn't.