Since I've dissasembled my 350 and started research on the new build, something has become obvious. A Vortec headed 350 is capable of some fairly impressive power numbers despite the engines smaller cubic inch and the heads small port. That's why I picked the Vortecs in the first place (as well as the price).
Now it's got me thinking. How much power was I actually making at the crank?
Information I've gathered over the years of beating on it:
Best et and mph. 12.75@105. 1.7 60'. Air Density Altitude. Sea level (or better).
Chassis dyno. 288rwhp. 285 lbs/ft torque. Air Density Altitude. 1000'. (or worse)
Loose converter that flashes to almost 4000rpm. No lockup.
Vehicle weight at the track. 3700lbs.
Track results using on line calculators say in excess of 420chp (not likely). Chassis dyno numbers...not so much. Maybe 375chp with a 25% drive train loss.
Not that it's important, it just got me thinking.
Now if I can build the same hp/cubic inch with a 400...

 

At 3700lbs and 105mph your were making 420-430 fwhp for sure. I had a customers car do 12.55-12.84 @ 105-106mph with 1.71-1.74 60' on a 65 deg day. That car had a tight converter (2500 Stall) with a race weight of 3650lbs and we dynoed it at 341 hp. The motor made 430+. I think your dyno numbers were off do to the loose converter, no lockup and +/- dyno diff. I really like the vortec headed combos because of the good low end trq and price of the heads. And when ported the heads cans support some real good numbers. I'm working on a lil 305 ported vortec combo right now just to see what I can get it to do.

 

I puchased the Vortecs based on magazine reviews ( and that can be risky) and their entry level price. Those box stock heads and a 218*@.050" cam w/ .454" got me to 13.40's at 101.
1.6 rockers dropped that to 13.2 at 103.
After a few seasons (and 30 000 miles) I dumped another $800 or so to install bee hive springs, screw in studs w/ guide plates, and a valve job to get me able to run a hydraulic roller.
It looks like the Vortecs will sit on the shelf for a while as the new lump is going to be built around a higher compression ratio (11:1) w/ aluminum heads.