Building a motor

[Macj1983]

Hey guys I wanna start building a motor for my 79 I wanna keep it close to the same mounts as I'm no pro
I have a 350 block out of a 68 camaro so what type of camshaft, heads ect would you put on and what a good place to get rebuild kit or should I do this piece by piece?

[pedigo78]

This is a question can be answered in many different ways. What do you want to build? other than that get all the machine work done with the block, and whats wrong with the heads that it has? have a shop do a 3 angle valve job on them, clean them up, clean up the block. and just get a good top end intake

[Macj1983]

I just want a good powerful motor not gonna be drag racing or nothing but when I kick it I want to know its there lol

[Macj1983]

This is a question can be answered in many different ways. What do you want to build? other than that get all the machine work done with the block, and whats wrong with the heads that it has? have a shop do a 3 angle valve job on them, clean them up, clean up the block. and just get a good top end intake

I would say if you was building the 350 what would it look like?

[pedigo78]

it all depends on your budget Mac, Like i said you want to build it right the first time, so machining is important, the works on the block and head, also had my rotating assembly balanced for a couple extra hundred. get a new dual plane intake from eldbrock, 650 carb with a spacer, set of headers call it a done deal.

[79gmc15]

Yeah, start with the budget. I was able to rebuild a motor for under $500 and it has decent enough power (especially for a mostly stock 305) to move the truck around. I reused a lot of good parts and so far it's holding up. The point is, you can go cheap and dirty rebuild and get decent enough power for $500 or you can spend $10,000 and get a wicked machine. Most people here will probably say that rebuilding a motor and buying a crate motor are about the same in price for a stock motor. Are you wanting the experience of rebuilding a motor? Or are you going to have shop do all the work? If it's the later, then get a crate motor and have fun.

[Macj1983]

Good points yeah I see what u are saying about building a stock motor.
What are your thoughts on a 383 build instead looked at the kits they are about the same cost yes I also looking for the experience at doing this

[9511234]

With a 383 you are looking at replacing your rotating assembly, and then getting the block machined to accept the clearances. 

I found a used 350 vortec, problem is with vortec heads you can only put so much lift from the am without machining those as well... And at that point you can just about do anything with any head... Vortecs also take different intakes 8 bolts instead of 12...

You may do a serpentine swap too- worth it in my opinion.

[Macj1983]

With a 383 you are looking at replacing your rotating assembly, and then getting the block machined to accept the clearances. 

I found a used 350 vortec, problem is with vortec heads you can only put so much lift from the am without machining those as well... And at that point you can just about do anything with any head... Vortecs also take different intakes 8 bolts instead of 12...

You may do a serpentine swap too- worth it in my opinion.

The serpentine belt is a good idea
I have a 4 bolt 68 block and I just got a vortex block gave to me

[Macj1983]

Here a few pics of the break down of the 350 block from the 68 it had water in  the block one cylinder wall had build up on it but I w-40 yesterday and it should be ok after bore to .020

[74 C-10 Shorty]

Could just buy a crate motor, cheaper and comes with a warranty. Just a thought...

[Macj1983]

Not sure it will be any cheaper and not apples to apples and I'm wanting to do it for the experience and satisfaction of saying yep I built that
The block is a higher nickel 4 bolt main block
The master rebuild kit is 200 and machine work gonna run 250ish and I have all the other parts that's 450 thinking I will spend 1000ish

[74 C-10 Shorty]

All depends on what you expect out of a motor, but wanting to learn and having the satisfaction is worth a lot, good luck on the build..

[Macj1983]

Turns out it is a four bolt main
 Was a little worried

[74 C-10 Shorty]

Looks like ya lucked out..