350 build

[78 Chevyrado]

Depending on what exact manifolds you are comparing, low rise DP vs high rise DP intakes, high rise intakes can move the powerband from 500 too 900RPM higher up.

Whichever intake you get, it will be a lot more fun.  and you have a great looking truck!  looks sharp!

[ohio hab]

Without knowing your convertor size or rear end gear ratio, my vote is for a dual plane intake with an 600 Holley. On the street  you will get better throttle response with an smaller carb. An 750 Holley will gain you a few more H.P. but in the upper rpm range. I think Holley's are simple to work on or rebuild. Nice looking truck.

[1980c10]

I'm not really planning on ever running this engine above 6000 rpms,
my exhaust will be headers and 2 1/2 magnaflow duals(already on the truck).
I ran a holley 600 dual feed on a 4.3 v-6 with awesome results, engine was put together with the same size heads, compression ratio, high rise intake, headers etc was a 4 speed swb 2wd s10 though. but from that experience I would go at least 750 cfm. I agree the holleys are easy to tune but I am hoping to gain some mpg with the q-jet as I drive the truck a lot. I also won't run a catlytic convertor or any emmisions at all nothing will be added that isn't needed(I don't have to worry about inspections).
btw plan is as of now
sm465 manual trans-350 cid
-9.3 to 1 compression ratio
-2.02 and 1.60 valves ported, polished etc
-q-jet carb
-edelbrock 2101 low rise dual plane intake
-Flowtech 31500FLT Full-Length, Steel, Ceramic Coated headers.
-2.5 inch magnaflow crossflow duals

[1980c10]

couple more questions:
should I use an electric fuel pump for quicker starting, volume or any other reason?
should I use a high volume oil pump?
should I look for a serpentine belt system from the local u-pull it or won't anything match up?
should I go with an electric fan set up?
   -I have power steering and no a/c
   -I don't want to pay 500 or however much from the aftermarket(maybe at a later time).
also how easy is it to rebuild the sm465 for someone who never has done any trans work or are their certain parts I should replace besides front and rear seals and a clutch kit?
btw-I will worry about the rear end gearing and posi after the engine is in.
any other thoughts opinions.... send 'em my way please.

[Grim 82]

If you upgrade to Vortec heads later you will need a new intake, or modify the one you have. If you are seriously considering it down the road, I would do it right away when you build the motor. You'll have it out where you can work on it, so it will make for a better build to do it right the first time. You'll save on gaskets and labor and you won't have to ream holes in a shiny new intake.

[1980c10]

If you upgrade to Vortec heads later you will need a new intake, or modify the one you have. If you are seriously considering it down the road, I would do it right away when you build the motor. You'll have it out where you can work on it, so it will make for a better build to do it right the first time. You'll save on gaskets and labor and you won't have to ream holes in a shiny new intake.

I am leaning away from the idea of vortech heads even down the road as I could just get a decent set of aftermarket heads and keep my intake etc. everybody seems to be in love with the vortech heads and I get it they will add some HP. But so does the aftermarket. I've seen pleanty of big HP without vortech heads. So it might get me 20 additional HP. I'm not against them it just isn't that important considering other options to add to this project. I think I would rather save my money and put it towards other things I'm not doing such as fuel injection, serpentine belt kit, stroker kit or a 5 speed just for example rather than a set of vortech heads. Being on a budget comes with an oppurtunity cost.

[TexasRed]

You're in Wisconsin too, the vortec heads don't have exhaust heat crossover which is a little nice in colder weather. Good luck.

[1980c10]

This one gets stored in the winter to keep it out of the salt, everything up here rusts right away.

[TexasRed]

I've thought about moving to NH and'll prolly have to do the same. Course mine's not 4x4 as Houston doesn't get snow that often (but it does get it!). I used to have a picture of my truck in the snow.

[1980c10]

it would be very hard to get around here with a 2wd+rwd. the city has a rule that they won't send out a plow for less than 3" on side streets, which gets really bad say if it snows 2" 3 times in the same week.  The 8-10 ten year old chevys have have rust around here, cab corners and wheel wells are the first to go. I'll try to post some good snow pics this winter.

[1980c10]

EQ lightning vortec heads
good deal or not?

http://eauclaire.craigslist.org/pts/2056557049.html

[eventhorizon66]

Yes EQ lightning heads are excellent.  There are a few different variations of their "Vortec" head.  Make sure this is the style that is the factory vortec style (4 intake bolts per head, a pair flanking each water passage).  Based on the gasket in the pic, they are.

These were the heads used in this build: http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/chevrolet/smallblock/0611em_vortec_small_block/index.html

The EQ heads have the benefits of screw in studs, larger spring accomodations, and thicker castings.  $500 for an assembled pair is a great deal.  BTW according to EQ they are 170cc heads like the factory Vortec L31 castings.

The only concern is the 400 steam holes that were drilled.  They did not come from EQ this way.  As long as the person who drilled them did it correctly, they won't cause a problem.  Just make sure your head gasket seals these holes off properly, which most composite 350 gaskets should.

[1980c10]

I didn't notice the steam holes. I read some of the other ads the guy has posted, seems a little bit of an odd combination. buys the stuff new then sells for a lot less after using only a little while or not at all. Why wouldn't he return the stuff if he changed his mind or just go ahead and use it. Doesn't seem too smart, kind of makes wonder what else he may have done to the heads. 

[eventhorizon66]

I didn't notice the steam holes.  

He mentions that these heads are drilled to work on a 400.  That is what he means.

I read some of the other ads the guy has posted, seems a little bit of an odd combination. buys the stuff new then sells for a lot less after using only a little while or not at all. Why wouldn't he return the stuff if he changed his mind or just go ahead and use it. Doesn't seem too smart, kind of makes wonder what else he may have done to the heads.  

 As far as these heads go, you can buy them assembled elsewhere for about $600 plus shipping.  So he is offering about $100 off.  Could be he changed his mind and didn't want to pay return shipping + restocking fee and just decided to price to move.  Check them out and use your best judgement.

Here they are bare for $500 after shipping: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/5-7-Vortec-Heads-062-906-NEW-Replacement-/250723825595?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a604df7bb

If a set of Vortec heads is now in the cards, you should consider finding the heads locally and having them rebuilt or buying rebuilt heads.

[1980c10]

yeah, I am going to pass on these, not thinking to hard about getting the vortech heads as I talked to a guy with the same set as I am considering (same package from the same machine shop), and he is more than happy with it with the older heads and overall performance, this shop has put together hundreds of this same combination together for the local hotrodders. I think my money might be better spent on a posi rearend or one of the many things I haven't thought of yet that I will need to buy, but who knows it could really go either way yet.
-anyway the truck will go in to storage in the next weekend, snowing all weekend now so can't even get it for one last ride before i put it away.
-So that opens space up in my garage for a parts truck-hopefully I find one soon, I will then strip it of what I need and bring the engine in. so I can can get my work truck in the garage(pretty much has to be in the garage for Dec, Feb and mar).
I am going to have more than enough time to dress up the new engine or whatever.
btw dug up a pic with my helper