This is my second 3rd gen and will be my second engine build. The first one I built a 383 from scratch starting with a bare block. this time I want to build a milder 350 or 355. I'm wanting to do this car on a budget, meaning using as many main parts from a stock engine. The engine in my car right now is a V6 model. I'm thinking of sourcing an engine from my local pull-a-part. Most of their cars are older ones. The big expense is that I'm gonna put a T56 in it. I'm hoping to get around 330 horses and 340 or 350 torque with no bigger than a 268 cam. I know I need a one piece main seal block for the T56. Can stock iron heads from the late 80s 350s or 305s make that kinda power with about a 268 cam? What do I need to do to get that range of HP from a basic 350?

 

Depends on the casting 081, 083, 416, 113 can be made to support your power goals if you do some port work and add larger vales (on 305 heads). While everyone may knock me for saying this, 441 or 882 castings would also come close to your power levels if you port them and use flat top or domed pistons. Otherwise the easiest way would be to bolt on a set of vortecs, they will blow any other stock casting out of the water but require a special manifold along with a little modification to support a cam above .460 lift.

 

To be honest the one engine I've built started as a bare block and I bought all new parts. The valve train as a complete kit, the the rotating assymbly was a complete kit and The heads were Patriot performance heads with valves and springs already installed. To have actually built a 383 with almost 500hp I know very little about building an engine. LOL You said that I needed a special manifold if I go with Vortec heads. I've heard that before, but what does the 460 lift on the cam actually mean? I'm not gonna run a bigger cam than a 268. Do 268s have 460 lift? Also what all vehicles had vortec heads? Would a 90s vortec 5.7 be easier to get the levels of power I want with a carberator?