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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: TexasRed on March 27, 2008, 10:37:52 pm
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Ok, here is my dilemma, I am probably going to be building an engine soon. I have a 350 one piece rear main seal engine only, no flexplate nor balancer. My current engine in my '84 halfton swb pickup is a 305 with two piece rear main seal, it's got a 3.42 rear end, dual exhaust, and the transmission is (not original) 700r4. I currently have vortec heads that need to be used.
My current plan was to build a 355, headers, 8.5 or so compression and RV cam. Should get over 300 hp and hopefully close to 400 ftlbs. OR
I could go with say, a kit like below. Get the 9.7:1 compression pistons, (is that 89 or 93 octane?). Obviously, I could care less about full floating grudgeon pins. This with a good cam should be good for around 350-400 hp and may top 400 ft-lbs (YEA!).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBTOX%3AIT&viewitem=&item=360036756512&_trksid=p3984.cTODAY.m238.lVI
What I dream the truck to be:
1) A decent tow vehicle - obviously with the short wheel base and other things, it's not going to be towing half the world, but a nice boat or a travel trailer or uhaul with a dead hooker would be nice. A 383 would be great, but a 350 may be more power than I'll ever need. OTOH a 383 would help overcome the 3.42 rear end.
2) Smooth idle - I would expect the engine to idle pretty smoothly since I'm not going crazy with everything. I've never driven a vehicle with a 383 so I don't know how it runs but a 355 should be fairly smooth. I guess this would go with driveability.
3) Decent Mileage - I was getting close to 20 mpg with the 305 on the highway with a th350c so with some work I should get better than 20 with the 350. With the higher compression, the 383 shouldn't get that much worse than the 355.
4) Reliability - A lot of 350's can go to 300k miles. I don't need that much, but at least 150k good miles (doesn't burn more than half a quart between 3k miles and good compression) would be nice. I don't want to have to rering at 80k.
5) Power down low - This is kind of bragging rights to these doofuses I see that buy these new trucks like they are the best things ever made. It'd be nice to show them that a carb'ed engine can still kick some ass. I was planning on getting some stock exhaust manifolds, porting them, and ceramic coating them. Then when somebody asks what I'm running under the hood, I can open the hood and say, "Stock." ;) But I'll think I'll run headers because it's easier and cheaper right now.
If I do the 355 I would probably have a machine shop build the longblock, so obviously I'd get it a lot sooner and a better possibility of being put together correctly. If I do the 383, I could only do it on budget if I do it myself which increases chance of incorrectly being built and obviously it will take more time. First thing is to get my block hottanked and magnafluxed.
Let me know of your experiences because I'd like to know and it will help me.
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I just plugged both engines into comp cams cam quest program...I know these numbers will vary but it will give you an idea of the difference in the two...with an xe256 comp cam the 383 makes 282 hp and 407 ftlb of torque. The 355 with the same cam makes 275 hp and 375 ftlb of torque.
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Thanks, dang, I was hoping for more power, but well, I still have some time so I'll see.
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My vote, 383! That surprises no one reading this. I have an RV cam in it. She pulls my 7k lb 30' camper no problemo. 383 install with specs (http://www.delbridge.net/install). She idles with a slight cam sound-a little lopey, which sounds great w/ my duals.
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I agree 383 all the way.Cost vs. performance.with the rite parts you can hit that 300 plus horse power mark.I had one before and i may just build another.