73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: 74chev4x4 on January 15, 2011, 05:39:33 pm
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Looking for some advice from the guys on here that know a lot about building these chevy 350 motors. I am looking to rebuild one for my 74 k20 because they $400 one I have in it is not reliable enough anymore. I know I can go buy a goodwrench for $1600 and have it in the truck by tomorrow, but enjoy building motors and like learning all this stuff. This will be my first chev 350 rebuild. Wanting to build a motor that has good torque for pulling a small boat or trailer, but that I can also drive to work a few times a month and get 11 or 12mpg, I think thats fairly reasonable. What types of kits are good to buy, I have heard vile mention the summit parts being good. What type of cam would be good. I have already talked to my machine shop and got an estimate of about $500 for work on basically everything but heads. Was thinking on buying some new vortec heads, but am open to suggestions on other stock chev heads. I have a factory service manual, haynes, and have built a few 4 bangers before. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.
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here's my current 350 thread
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=18146.0 (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=18146.0)
I am going to have this engine dynoed next week so check back and I will post results.
Hope this helps
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Just read your build, lots of good info in there. I might stay away from the vortec heads though, they seem like kind of a headache to get all the right stuff together to make them work.
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Not much of a headache but be prepared to shell out $1200 bucks or more for good comparable heads.
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Was hoping you would chime in vilezambonie, I really respect what you have to say and any advice you can give. I guess the different intake and valve covers are not much of a headace for me, but I get confused if I was to buy a new set of vortec heads I need different rockers for them and I'm not sure where to get them or what self aligning rockers are? What pushrods do I run with them also. Can you recomend a good engine kit that would work well with the vortec heads to achieve a good reliable 350 with some torque( what kind of pistons, cam?) Thanks.
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flat top pistons and a low end cam would be good for your usuage .. give you lots of lugging power for hauling a boat while keeping your Rpms down and your foot of the gas
and im going with vortec heads , seems like there pretty popular
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OK good info thanks. What would you consider low end for the cam. I have been looking at the rpm levels and you can get some that start at idle to 5000rpm, I am running a turbo 400 trans so no overdrive.
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self aligning rockers are stock equipment with vortech heads but after market is ok too, just make sure they are self aligning. I had the machine shop assemble the engine block and heads with rockers and pushrods to avoid any confusion on my part and to get a warranty on the engine. I considered this worth the extra money. I was lucky and bought a set of ready to use low mile vortech heads for $125 and some aluminum valve cover for another $25. and the intake was $200.Considering I would have gotten a differant set of heads, intake and valve covers; I am probably not out any extra money. btw I did have the heads gone through just to make sure.
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Can't seem to find these rockers anywhere, will keep looking. I am going to put the whole moter together myself, bought a dvd and two good books on how to rebuild one and ive got u guys if all else fails.
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My 350 is bone stock except for a set of flat top pistons. I had headers, 882 heads and a Summit Stage 1 intake earlier. It makes a lot more tourque with the stock set up and flat top pistons than it did in the other configuartion. The other way had more horse power. It is in a 79 C-20 long bed with 3:73 gears and a TH-400. I get 12 MPG constantly even running the AC. I sometimes wonder about the factory cams vs aftermarket cams. The factory had to do something to these engines for them to make good tourque with the low compression engines. I think the cam must be a good grind. You can get an RV cam if you really want lots of torque.
I like my setup now. I have extra power and torque and some reliability.
Don't waste your money on the 882 heads. They are bad to crack if you run them hot. One of mine did.
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Self-aligning rockers:
I've never used CNC-motorsports stuff, so at your own risk:
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/product.asp?ProdID=14970&CtgID=27630
Summit racing:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12495490/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-1417-8/
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Why not buy a vortec 350 used and build that? It's already set up with Vortec heads and a roller cam. I found the one I just built for one of my trucks for $100 on Craigslist.