The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Advice on engine 350 SBC specs

Hello everyone -

I am looking at purchasing a turn key crate motor for my 55 2nd series. I am a total novice at this and do know much about engine specs. Is there anyone out there that would be interested in giving me an opinion on two possible packages I am considering?

They are both based on a small block Chevy 350.

If you are interested in reviewing the specs and offering some advice let me know. I can email a simple ecxcel spreadsheet to you with the numbers and information. You can PM me with an email address or smoething like that. Whatever works best.

(I would list them here but the specs are probably too lengthy to list on a single post.)

Thanks!

Ross Ericson

Most of the crate 350s I have seen are all the same with the exception of horsepower rating. This would be due to compression,valvetrain,etc.Seems to me you would just pick out what HP rating you are looking for. Course the more HP the higher the cost.I believe the lowend HP ratings are around 280 to 290 HP,which is quite a healthy engine.

None are actual turnkey. Some of the high performance, high dollar ones have carbs & dist. & damper on them. The basic one is the 260 HP. Its what I use & put on my own manifolds, dist. & such. The 290 is the same thing with a more performance cam. I like the one with the aluminum heads but am too tight to spend that much. You can e-mail me or just describe the one you are interested in the post with the cam specks & a lot of fellow bolters will help out. Hot Rod Lincoln is good with the cam specks.

Beware of any crate engine that's supposed to have over 300 HP. It will probably need to run either mid-grade or premium gas, and the cam will probably be too lumpy to be comfortable for street driving. I like to run something with no more than 9:1 compression, and a cam duration of about 270 degrees, max. For the average stovebolt drop-in, I'd choose a 275 HP crate engine, with a Comp Cams 260H cam or the equivalent in another brand. Hypereutectic cast pistons are fine for street use and a little high performance run occasionally.

If you're planning to be competitive on the drag strip and don't mind buying pricey gas and putting up with a lumpy idle, go for the 300+ HP engine with the 288 degree cam, 10:1 compression, aluminum heads, and all the other goodies. Be sure and use at least a 50% bigger carburetor than you need, like a 750 CFM Holley double pumper!
Jerry

For what it’s worth, following are the specs on mine. I think we’re at 300 or 325 at the flywheel. It runs right out, starts well, drives easy, and has always been dependable. Gas mileage is poor, but it's fun .

350 bored .030 over, flat top pistons, 64 cc double hump heads (194 intake, 160 ex), full roller rockers, comp 286 magnum cam, Holley 650, Edlebrock RPM Air Gap intake

I bet if you get rid of that gas guzzler Holly and the Rpm go with a 600 Edelbrock and a Edelbrock Preformer the miliage would come up and you would not miss that much preformance.
62Blue
Don

Morning everyone -

Thanks for all of the advice.

I am looking at two possiblities. One is a 350 with 350 hp and 410 ftlb (from the Enginefactory). Another is a 350 with 400 hp and 410 ftlbs (Proformance Unlimited).

I will use my truck for a weekend driver and small trips around town. I would like to have some pretty serious get up and go.

Currently I have installed a No limit Engineering Wide Ride IFS, a 10 bolt rear end with posi and 373 gears. I am hooking this engine up to a new 700r4.

Sounds like I should be asking some questions about the specific CAM the companines propose to use.

Jerry - The specs list a Edelbrock 650 thunder series for the carb. So you think I should upgrade to a 750?

Wrenchbender Ret. - I will email you the specifics to see what you think.

Since this is a healthy investment, I have lined up a local hotrod shop to do the engine intsll. I am too much of a rookie to risk messing this part of the truck up.

Please let me know if you think of anything else, I will post the cam specs as soon as I hear back from the builders.

Probably true, but I like the set up.

I have a positrac lined up with a little higher gear ratio that should help quite a bit and not lose any performance. That'll be my next mod.

I would look at a crate engine with Vortec heads. The heads alone will get you into the 9.7 compression ratio with flatops.
I really do not like Comp Cams. Extremely hard on the valve train, due to the ramp configuration. I have a Comp Cam 268 in a 350, with roller rockers. Very noisy valve train compared to my Crane or Isky in my other hot rods.

A 600 cfm will get you where you need. I prefer Holleys, easy to tune, rebuild and they are not finicky about fuel pressure. If hood clearance is not an issue, use an Edlebrock RPM Airgap manifold. Most crate motors do not come with an HEI dizzy. Install a Mallory or suitable brand. Next I would look into a set of headers, buy a good set such as Hookers or Hedmans. Dual exhaust with an X pipe. Your choice of mufflers, just make sure they flow well. Yes you will probably need premium gas.


Check this one out it includes a lot of extras for the money.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=NAL%2D12496968&autoview=sku

I was being facetious about the 750 carburetor. It's WAAAAY too much for any 350 engine except an all-out racer running above 6,000 RPM most of the time. A 600 is more than enough for street use, and most high-performance applications. A 350 at 6,000 RPM only flows 607 CFM, and that's at 100% volumetric efficiency, something no street engine can do. At a more realistic 90% VE, it's only 547 CFM @ 6,000.
Jerry

That is good to know.

My cluelessness is showing through on this topic!

Thanks for the information

Check this link if you are looking for a crate. Plenty of choices here.

http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/Parts/showcase.jsp

hotrodlincoln: I really appreciate your comments. most times they really make a lot of sense...at least to me. Thank you.

Yeah, what he said!

Thanks, guys! I'm a stubborn, opionated old fart, but I've been getting paid to fix these things, or teach somebody else to do it, for about 50 years. Helping you avoid some of the mistakes I've made over that time is a lot of fun, and maybe you'll return the favor by mentoring somebody else one of these days.
Jerry