Ok, here is what I am going to build this "off-season"

L98 Roller
350 bored .30 over
Hypereutiectic Pistons
5.7 Rods
TPI (majorly, ported/siamesed)

heres where the questions start, I want to make 300hp at the wheels if possible. the core motor I am starting with is a running L98 wtih 122,xxx on it. Can I safely re-use that crank, or should I buy a new one.

and now the major question

I know the TPI is going to end up being the cork, but I want to make as much power as I can with what I am building (Duh!) Should I pay to have the L98 heads extensively ported/polished. Or should I pay the extra money and buy a set of AFR heads, which ones would be best, 195's? How much of a HP difference are we talking here.

Is 300 RWHP attainable with this setup.

 

It's usually not cost effective to pay someone to port a set of stock heads, by the time you pay for that and the rebuild on the heads (valve, seats, surfacing, etc, etc) you well on your way to a set of aftermarket performance heads.

Regarding the crank, you don't know until you pull the engine down and have it checked.

If your concern is will it support 400hp (engine) yes it will.

Intake concerns will center around emissions concerns as well, and may limit your choices...but you can support 400hp (at the engine) with new base and runners, or hogging out your stock base and using aftermaket runners (least expensive way to go) or consider changing the whole sha-bang../e SuperRam, HSR, MR, etc, etc.

 

So if I have a

350 bored .30 over
hypereutectic Pistons
5.7 Rods
Stock Crank
AFR 195 Heads
Roller Lifters
Roller Rockers
Hardened Pushrods
ZZ9 Cam
SLP runners
Ported/Siamesed Plenum
maybe slightly larger TB
and either a highly ported stock TPI base, or an aftermarket base

you think it will make decent power. Possibly 300 or more at the wheels
...and more importantly, be able to handle it.

 

Oh yeah, 300RWHP is about 400HP in the engine, the stock internals will handle it, probably best to step up to ARP studs and such for added insurance.

I'm not sure you'd actually need the AFR's though, there's less expensive heads that will get you to 400hp...but then again, the AFR's may have more potential for future growth.

I assume you're not up to porting your own heads, or you're just trying to minimize downtime?


You'll need some suspension work as well, don't forget about that as well as some eprom tuning.

I'd do some searches on the ZZ9 cam and what type of HP it supports with different combos.

 

IIRC the AFR's are wasted on a TPI. Do a search. The difference between AFR 190/195 is the port height. you would most likely want the 190's. Now the AFR 180's are a much better match to the TPI and are plenty for a 350. A 383 can use the 190's but don't have to have them unless you want HP at 6k and up. If I was building a 350, the AFR 180 is probably the best out of the box.
If money is an issue, then the Vortecs are about the best for the budget. Not factoring in the base manifold price. With the base figured in, the 180's are only $200-$300 more. Just save a little longer.