Hey guys!! I'm new here and everyone tells me to go to this site when I try and ask the locals for tips. Well here's the deal. It's probably posted somewhere already but I'm tryin to put together a 350 TPI motor together on basically a beer budget. It needs to be reliable. I travel back and forth from Chicago to Indianapolis visiting family and friends but I also like to go to the track once in awhile and beat up on some imports or the ocassional 5.0 that doesn't want money to run. If you guys could help me out on parts that would be good or point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your time.
-Evan

 

I would go with a nice cam first since you will have the engine apart. Then work with the entire exhaust system. Then run a stall. There is a lot of info in these message boards. It just depends on how much cash you have to start with. If you are looking for what size cam and stall speed to use, I would stay on the small side for the daily driver. Also you wont have to go through the Prom chip.

 

put a cheaper rotating assembly in the motor, have the heads rebuilt, and put in a new camshaft kit... whala! thats all you need. just dont go reving the motor over 5k and you will have no problems

 

Well that's and idea if I just wanted a road horse. My budgtet isn't that small and I would blow the motor if I couldn't spin it over 5k on the tach. I wanna stay away from boring the cylinders as best I can but I want to make good power. 300-400 range mayber. The more the better right!! I'm just curious if there is a set up I can go with that can handle the road trip. I mean it's only 175 miles er so the trip from Indy to Chicago. Thanks for your help guys!

 

Don't put new parts in a block without machining it man. You want the rings to seat, right?
The crank MAY be okay (though highly unlikely) have the machinist check the rod/main journals.
Some people reuse the rods with the same bolts if the bearings look to be wearing okay. I would'nt...... Afterall, how bad would it suck if it came apart and destroyed the parts you spent all that beer money on?

So, have the block bored and torque plate honed. While it's there have them check the decks and mains. Along with having the crank checked and rods resized with new bolts.