If you had $1000, what would you do:

[SUX2BU99]

I'm trying to put some more jam in my truck. It has a pretty mild 350 in it. Here is a description of my truck from another thread:

"My 85 SWB 2WD needs more power. It has a very mildly built 0.060-over 350 in it. I bought it off the 2nd owner after the truck was restored/rebuilt so I only have info from the appraisal book and my own findings. This is what I know: roller rockers (unknown ratio), unknown heads (probably stock smoggers), unknown compression ratio (doesn't ping ever on regular gas and advanced timing), Edelbrock 650 4bbl carb, Dart Sportsman II dual-plane intake, unknown cam (I think it's a 260 duration Blazer-brand cam; quite mild), full-length headers, HEI ignition, TH350 with shift kit and unknown stall converter (presumably stock or close to), and what I believe to be 3.08 gears and 295/50-15 rear tires. I estimate horsepower in the low 200's."

The cam and heads I would buy would be a Comp Cams 268H cam with 0.454 lift and the heads would be rebuilt 2.02 I found on Ebay from a shop.
The 327 and 406 are items I found in a local parts paper.
The Cad 472 (or 500) or a Buick/Pontiac 455 (I like them both) I haven't found yet but would find something hopefully from 70-71 but might end up being a mid-70's smogger motor along with a TH400. I would have to find motor mounts to make it work.
It seems like the same amount of effort to either swap heads and cam while in the truck, swap out an entire small block, install one of those big-inch motors, or assemble and buy heads for that 406.

[joesgarage71]

 Keep the 350 you have now.
buy
set of vortec heads from soggin(sdparts.com) #25534421 $489. can handle up to .530 lift (depends on the pistons you have might have to use a different head this one has 65cc chambers)
A summitracing vortec Dual plane intake SUM-226018 $129.
Lunati Voodoo Cam kit LUN-60102LK  469/489 lift (1400-5800rpm) also from summit $189.
that brings the total to $807 you'll need some gaskets and pay for shipping costs.
might try to sell the old heads and intake cause your going to need a 2500 stall torque converter
your going to be over buget, depends on your scronging skills, maybe another $200 for misc stuff. need a timing set.
You might use the roller rockers you have now, not sure if they will go on the vortec heads.The 650 might be too small but you can use it till you get some more cash.Get rid of the rear end gears too.

Steve
 
     

[VileZambonie]

You are going with big valve heads and a pretty mild cam. Look at the whole deal - a 350 is capable of putting out a lot of snot - hence it's popularity. Think about what you want it to do - screamin demon or snappy daily driver? If you mainly drive it around town keep it under 70 for the most part - a 3.73:1 final drive will make a huge difference. As far as your 350 if you're going to go with those 2.02 heads get a better cam to compliment it but make sure you have the correct springs. Like suggested just go with some nice vortec heads and forget about those 2.02's. I wouold bump the lift up on that cam also - .465" .488" is a nice cam that's still very good without going too big.

[SUX2BU99]

I don't mind to go with the 1.94 heads if it matches the cam better. I'm not looking for too hairy of a motor. My truck I drive on nice days and weekends. Occasionally I have to take it to work or to the airport, which means commuting in stop and go traffic. Going too crazy with the cam and heads will make for a tempermental motor (I presume). I'd like my power range to be approx. 1500-5500.

I have considered the whole Vortec route. I already have 2 intakes for the non-Vortec heads and was wanting to use one of them (the Dart Sportsman II that's on the motor now and a brand new Edelbrock Performer I got as a gift). I suppose I could sell off what I don't need. The Vortec heads are that good, eh?

[VileZambonie]

The vortech heads work better than any other production head for the price. I paid zero dollars for my last set. Go with the cam grind I recommended. Summit has one with lifters for $79 bucks. I degree all my cams and every one of the summit cams were dead nuts. I wish I could say the same for the edelbrock cams

[SUX2BU99]

So the standard production Vortech head that came on every 96-98 GM truck 350 does the job eh? Hmm if I can find a set of those pulled off a motor, I'm sure they'd be a lot cheaper than the cheapest I've found new so far ($560 US + shipping from Jegs) and frees up money for the other necessary items like a Vortech-specific intake, self-aligning rockers, etc.

[cruppert77]

Like he said, Scoggin-Dickey has them for $489.95.

[Stewart G Griffin]

I wasn't aware that you could get BOP/cadillac big blocks AND a TH-400 for $1000.

If so, then I would vote for the pontiac 455/th-400 route.
But remember, you are also looking at different motor mounts, possible different accesory brackets and possible radiator issues, so if you can still manage it for at or under $1000, then congratulations brother.

What would i do personally?
You didn't mention anything about exhaust behind the headers.  If not already there, i would go dual exhaust with around 2 1/4 diameter pipes all the way to the back.  The pipes can be pretty straight because there's plenty of room.  You can't go wrong with flowmaster 40's, although i'm sure there are many good choices out there.  I'm just saying 40's because that's what i have and have gotten good results.
I would also install electric exhaust cut outs right after the headers.  I'm thinking this would give you 15hp more when opened.

If i had anything left over, then i might go with the vortech heads or more preferably the corvette L98 heads;  I feel that you can get similar results AND save a little weight.

What you might also want to try is alot of U-haul dealerships are selling their medium duty trucks cheap.  Alot of them have the chevy big block.  I've seen the trucks going for as little as $2000.  You could maybe sell the rest of the truck after taking the engine out.

[SUX2BU99]

I've seen early 70's Caddies, full size Olds, Pontiacs or Buicks go for $1000 or less if rusted out, but running okay so it wouldn't be terribly hard to find a stock setup for 1k or less. Tranny would have to long tail type out of a truck though, but even still, not hugely difficult to find. My truck has full-length headers, dual 2 1/4" exhaust with H pipe, no cats and Dynomax Ultraflo's on it already so the exhaust is all good.

I think I've decided on the Vortec heads. I'll sell the 2 intakes I have and get a Vortec-style Performer. The L98 heads would be quite expensive I'm sure since they are off a Vette and aluminum. A local guy is selling ONE new valve cover from a TPI Vette and wants $300 for it     I suppose a set of heads from a 350 TPI Iroc or GTA wouldn't be too bad, but might as well go with the Vortecs. I hear what you are saying about the U Haul trucks. I rented one, had a 454 or 427 tall deck in it and man was it a slug! Cheap way to buy a big block I'm sure but it would need a head, cam, and intake upgrade at minimum anyway. Not worth it. BBC's are too expensive to fix up IMO.

[VileZambonie]

Big Block chevy's are worth every extra penny you spend. If you heard my 454 sat in it or drove it you would never give a crap about a small block ever again lol. BB 455 is a total waste of $ and an overpriced boat anchor is your end result there. But if cost is your concern do up that small block

[SUX2BU99]

Well if I was giving a nicely done BBC, it's not like I'd pass it up! lol   Interesting that you say 455's are basically worthless. I think they are rather a very efficient power making engine. It seems like most any article I've ever read of either a Pontiac or Buick 455 in most any A-body or similar car (Chevelle, Lemans, etc), it takes basically only a cam, headers, exahust, carb and a good tune to make a low 13 second car if not better. Just seems easier to do, or maybe cheaper to do, than a BBC because BBC's are more sought after.

[Stewart G Griffin]

Good move on the vortechs.  I just prefer the corvette heads (and GMPP sells them new) because i figure if i'm going to swap heads then i might as well save lose some weight as well.  Plus the compression will go up because the chamber is smaller.  Although the vortechs probably flow better.  Vortechs are probably the best bang for the buck as far as heads go.   Since i'm more interested in mileage than speed i would prefer to lose weight instead.


About the BBC's;  They are pretty slow in the u-haul trucks but you have to remember the size and weight of the things, plus the low gearing.    I think we are talking at least 1.5 sec. decrease if installed in a 1/2 ton pickup.

True, you would probably need to swap cams but the other thing to consider is if you go BOP or cadillac you would need different mounts and possible different brackets.  After you're done with that the cost might be equal to the BBC.  I don't what trans you got, but the BBC will bolt right in of course.


The other thing i'm sure you've considered is there may be driveshaft issues if you decide to go BOP/C;  You may have to shorten, lenghten one and/or change joints etc.  Then again you might be able to get a engine trans adapter but that's still money.

If you really want to go BOP/C then i say go for it.  We'll assist you with finding the mounts, brackets and cooling issues.  Be different.

If it's about the money, then Jeg's and summit sell the 350 crate, brand new with a warranty for about $1500-1600.  This puts out 290 HP.  This is the simpliest way and i think in the long run will be the cheapest.  100% bolt-in.

But things, i feel , are complicated;    In a 1/2 ton truck i think what you really want and need is torque.   And big blocks beat small blocks on torque hands down.

So things are complicated.

[Uno99]

2.73 sux  so a gear swap would livin things up.  I would go with a nice stall and a big gear.  If you don't want to go internal on the motor.