No performance

[adams18]

Bought rings and gaskets this morning!

[eventhorizon66]

Do you think the threads of the rocker arm studs could be leaking oil into the compression chambers?

Were the intake ports and the back of the intake valves also oily?  Did you use any thread sealant on the rocker studs?

The oil problem needs to be sorted out obviously, but no power until 4000 rpm could simply be due to a poor combination of parts.  For example, you have a race-type single plane intake bolted to low performance smog heads?  Compression ratio?  What was your ignition timing?  What are you goals for this engine?

[adams18]

My goal for the engine was for it to be an agressive driver. Overall timing at 32. CR around 10:1, I'm not sure. It has stock rods with KB231 pistons, stock deck height, no head milling. I used red loc-tite on the rocker arm studs. As of now, I'm thinking I'm going to try and find a set of vortec heads and an intake that fits my needs alittle better. I'll have to check on the intake ports and valves to see if there was any oil.

[eventhorizon66]

Now I am assuming what you have now are smog-era square chamber heads?  This is correct, right?  9:1 compression (with stock 76cc heads and flat tops) is more like it and that's on a zero-decked block.  I think if performance is important, you should look for better heads (you can't go wrong with vortec heads on a street 350).  Also, unless you are prepared to give up considerable low end output for what may not be a very considerable gain in top end, I would look more closely at a high rise dual plane intake such as the Edelbrock Performer RPM.

I think these books could be of great use to you:

http://www.amazon.com/David-Vizards-Build-Horsepower-Design/dp/1934709174/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304994119&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Build-Chevy-Small-Blocks-Budget-Performance/dp/1932494847/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1304994119&sr=8-3

[adams18]

Thanks! Haha The funny thing is, I own those books. :/ That helps alot though. I think I'll head for some Vortecs and a Performer.