The motor I'm building...

[rick_c]

Okay, just wanted to post the specs on my motor and get advice/ or opinions on it.

I started with a 1969 4bolt 350. Bored it .030 and put flattops in it. I used a Lunati Voodoo cam, that is 268/276 duration and 489int and 504ext lift. 110 LSA.

I used a double roller chain, and HV Oil pump.
Moving up...I used 882 heads 76cc 194/150 stainless valves. .550max lift springs, and proform roller rockers 1.5 with pressed 3/8 studs.

A performer RPM intake and 1411 carb...750cfm elec choke.
I built a distributer and upgraded the pickup coil, ignition module, and capasitor.
factory coil...

factory water pump and fuel pump.
Can't think of anything else...

Any opinions will be valued.

There are some things I would have done differently, but I ran out of money.
I'm also building a TH350 with alto red eagle clutches, kevlar band, kolene steels, and a b and m shift kit.
And a TCI 1600 stall...

[77chevypu]

I believe the general consensus will be to dump the HV oil pump and go with a standard flow, something like a Melling M55. Reason being, at higher rpm's, you run a very strong chance of sucking the oil pan dry as a bone.

Just my .02.

[VileZambonie]

Agreed, an HV pump will be ok if you have .003" clearance or more but if it's a fresh build you should be tighter and your stock sump should have a stock pump.

The heads you used are junk emissions heads and sound like your weakest link.

[MITOYZ]

Sounds like a decent build except for the heads. That cam works and sounds pretty well, I have it in my truck strong mid-range cam,but the problem you will have is your heads being poor flowing and the 76cc.
You could go with vortecs but you would want p/n 12558060 some of the others don't have the good multi angle valve job that GM puts on them.But the don't have the valve clereance you need for that cam,
but you can use Comp cams valve spring retainer p/n 787 that will work with out having to cut the spring pockets.You also need a vortec-style intake,and matching valve springs for that cam which are p/n 73943.
But that would just be the cheaper way to go unless you want aftermarket heads,if you go with 64cc heads and your deck height is at 0 you will have 10:1 compression ratio that works very well with the voodoo cam you have because of the overlap you will bleed off some compression and still run pump gas.
If not to late i would go with at least 2000 stall and go with 3.73 gears and you will be very happy with it till you start wanting more power but this combo is good for a little over 400 horse & 400lbft of torque if you want i can get you more info and similar engine dyno info hope this helps.

[Blue 82]

The heads suck, but with a $20 carbide burr, you could be OK
Just a little work in the bowls and roof of the intake/exhaust ports could free up 20+ hp
Don't try to match port em or take out any meat out of the ports
More is not better in this situation

You need this head gasket if you did not deck your block
http://www.jegs.com/i/Fel%20Pro/375/1094/10002/-1?CT=999
Running a 0.39 head gasket will make your crappy heads, crappier
Use the steel shim gasket


1600 is way too tight for that cam
you need a 2000/2200 stall

[VileZambonie]

Blue, I wouldn't run those head gaskets with those heads unless they were milled.

[rick_c]

I think yall are right, the motor is in. I'm having all kinds of little problems. Idling issues, my stall didn't fit the trans, so I couldn't use it. It goes into gear and chirps the tires, because I had to set the idle at 1150 to keep it running in gear...WTH!!? I guess if the stall worked I wouldnt have this problem.
I also had to take the 750 carb off and go with the 625cfm instead. The heads apparently don't flow enough to run that much fuel or something.
I'm curious, if I take my 58cc heads and put 1.94 intake valves in them if the carb would work better. Or should I go with 2.02 valves?

Anybody have a 2000-2500 stall for a th350 nonlockup they want to sell cheap? LOL...

[1976Scottsdale]

Don't put the 58cc's on there.  You think its bad now, try that and your motor will fall flat at 5000 if your lucky.  I tried 53's on mine.  pulled like crazy at low RPM, but nothing on the top and just wouldn't rev.  If you wanna keep the 76cc size heads, go find some 487's, then at least the castings will be thick enough not to crack  too easy.

[SUX2BU99]

53cc chamber? What were those off of? I would think that the combustion chamber size wouldn't limit the top end flow so much as the port volume would. If a 58cc or 53cc head is coming off of something like a 305 or 267, then the big bottleneck is the tiny intake and exhaust port volumes, as well as the shrouded valves so yeah the small chamber affects it but not so much as the port volumes I would think.

A stock Vortec head has a 170cc intake port volume and 64cc chamber. That should work nicely with your combo, even if the cam is a little hefty and would require higher lift springs. Competition Engineering has great deals on RHS Vortecs that come in dual bolt-patterns to use with your intake and have .525" springs, or the Dart Iron Eagles which are another great head. If you keep putting money into redoing stock heads, you could have bought a performance aftermarket head.

A 1600 stall is a stock stall speed. Yep, going with something around 2200 would be better. Your choice of cam, intake and carb all dictate a higher-RPM powerband, but the stall, truck weight and heads are all going to slow it down. Good thing you chose a smaller carb. Put some better heads on there and a higher stall and it should run much better.

[rick_c]

I can't afford to buy new heads. I was considering taking the 58cc heads and having the machine shop do the bowl work and put 2.02 1.60 valves in them.

Would that do me any good? I'm not even sure that valve combo will fit in those heads.

For now I'm concentrating on the stall, or finding one with my very limited funds.
If anyone knows of a good deal, please let me know.

[Blue 82]

Don't waste a dime on those heads
Find a Dacco dealer in you area
Get a Vette converter for about $100

Fix your carb/timing issues

[rick_c]

Apparently I broke something...

I figured out my shifting problem, My vacuum advance tube was collapsed. Fixed it, and the trans shifted great.

On the way home from work I got on it, and about a 1/10 of a mile after I shifted into third it neutraled out and I have nothing now. No forward or reverse. Its like the pump quite working or something. And there wasnt even any noise or a warning. It slipped out of gear and never went back in. At about 75 mph...

[rick_c]

I have no fluid pressure whatsoever so I ordered a 2500 stall and a TCI front pump from JEGS
Guess I'll find out if I'm right next Thursday...

[rick_c]

The 58cc heads are 1.94 1.50 valves already according to my micrometer. Never heard of factory 305 motors with those valves. Thought they were 1.76 1.50 or something like that.

[MITOYZ]

305 out of monte carlo ss i think it is an L69 or something,they have 1.8x intake valve.Dont use the bigger valves if you do you'll have alot of valve shrouding.No matter how much you port those heads they wont do what your expecting.Go to the junkyard and find some descent heads to do,you will be happy and save money,take your 305 heads and learn how to port with them.