Ok guys I'm buying a 350 bored .030 over, an L98 block which was pulled from an '89 firebird. The engine has been bored out as I stated and rebuilt with a federal mogul kit by a professional engine shop, engine has 0 miles on it.

I intend to re-use some of my parts, but here is my plan. I'm looking at purchasing a TPIS bigmouth intake, SLP runners, and a ported plenum to put on top of this engine. I'll probably re-use the aluminum L98 corvette heads with 1.6 roller rockers which I currently have, until I can buy better heads (AFR's?) I also have a LT4 Hot Cam, but not sure I want to reuse it (about 2000 kms on it, currently in my 305).

Im not looking for a drag race car, or a daily driver. This car is a summer only weekend warrior that I use to cruise, go shopping, to the beach, and cruise the strip saturday nights.


I want a car that i can take out crusing, that has awesome low end torque so I can easily turn off tires, great acceleration and throttle response. I want a stop light to stop light car, something that revs up and down quickly. Something that will get up and freakin go off the line, or put on a good smoke show.

I after torque and bottom end, thats where all the fun! Yet I still want to be able to pull a quick quarter mile when needed (although this car will never see the track) And I'd like to run it on 87 octane pump gas if possible.


What I DON'T WANT is something that doesn't drive well or easily, something thats a no brainer to drive so my wife can enjoy it. I don't mind it having a lumpy idle, but I don't want to have to ride the clutch for a hundred feet to take off slowly or be on the gas all the time so the car isn't all jerky and rough to handle. Something that won't stall every time I push in the clutch or come to a stop.

The LT4 hotcam in my 305 was a demon to tune, but now its running very well with a smooth idle... but I desire more power, and a helluva lot more torque! The LT4 hotcam did alot to my little motor in a positive way, however it took away from low end torque.

This next motor, I'm building it specifically for torque!

So do I stroke it, or not. Also cam and head suggestions please! Thanks!

 

Stroke it to a 383 and run the ZZ4 cam or reuse the Hot Cam, it's a roller they don't really wear out like a flat tappet cam does, it's cheap and it will make a ton of torque. A bigger cam will of course idle better and make more torque in a bigger engine. Keep the L98 heads and have them ported, this should get you where you want to be for cheap.

 

Hey Brisk, so you are running L98 heads, HOT cam, and SLP intake parts on your 305 currently? what does the car run and what kind of fuel mileage are you getting now? Just curious because I think we have a similar combo except I have a flat tappet cam

 

the 383 will make all the power you need.
the only thing is if i were you id go with the TPIS runners too.
the heads are a toss up. the L98s will do great, but once again my chose with your setup would be some AFR 180cc's.but again the L98s would be great aswell.

 

I think keeping the L-98 heads will help in the TQ departemnt . They got small runners. I wouldn;t go bigger with a cam unless you wanna loose some of that down low grunt.

 

so the LT4 hotcam would be a good choice for a stroked motor?

what I DO NOT want to happen is I spend a bunch of money, assemble everything, and have it perform like crap because the parts are mismatched. Here is what I plan to run;

355 L98 ~OR~ Stroked 383 L98
LT4 Hotcam
aluminum L98 heads
~ (port/valve job these heads or upgrade to AFR/Trickflow's later)
1.6 roller rockers
TPIS Bigmouth Intake
SLP ported runners
mega ported Plenum
52mm or 58mm throttle body
hooker headers
and of course a custom tuned prom.

will this combo work well? remember my goal is to have a fast car with a ton of low/bottom end torque that is fun and easy to daily drive, want it to be fast for racing but I'll never see a track.

 

The LT4 hot cam will have a TON of torque in a 383, it's overkill on a 305 but will act way smaller in a 383 giving you a better idle and gobs of torque throughout the power band. I also think it's a better choice with the vette aluminum L98 heads than the ZZ4 because they flow similar on the intake and exhaust side and it's a single pattern cam; to ice the cake you already own it and it won't cost you a dime . I don't think you'll be the least dissapointed with this setup and it certainly won't run like "crap". The SLP runners wouldn't be a bad idea either, along with the TPIS base, extrude honing your stock base, or at least getting it ported somewhere. This setup will make unreal torque and decent HP, it should be what you're looking for.