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This is a two part question. #1 I purchased a 350 at the Portland swap meet, the guy said it would develope 330HP. I'm happy with the engine, it runs very strong. I've got a Q-jet on it and it idles like it has a mild cam. Question, according to the casting #3970010 & engine ID #V0714CHW, it came out of 76 Camaro and rated @ 165HP? Just seems to me that it would take more than a "cam" & "carb" to pump up the HP? Question #2 about the timing, it seems to run best at about 18-20 degrees, seems like to much advance timing to me? Sorry this is so long winded. Thanks for the input so far, my goal is to learn how to best tune this engine. I also wanted to add that it has a Performer manifold and 76cc large chamber heads.
Update, test drive, stop & start 6-7 times, and each time retarded timing due to hard start. Checked timing now set @ 12 degrees. Now it smells like its running rich, may have to live with that?

It probably also has later model or higher performance cylinder heads. More airflow makes more power. From the factory, many 327 & 350 engines developed 300+ horsepower. Sounds like you have a stout motor. Good luck.

SimS

That is the correct advance with the vacuum hose conected.

I come up with a bunch of figures.
69--255 to 350 hp 4 bolt mains
70-80 use the same code but have 145 to 350 hp 2 or 4 bolt mains
I am sure someone here has better info and will help you out.

What he meant: "it would develope 330HP, when you add nitrous"

I'd like to see the dyno run sheets on that engine. Anybody can dream up a horsepower figure, or plug in a set of hypothetical numbers on a Desktop Dyno program. I've built a bunch of dyno-certified 500+ HP 350's and a few that went over 600, on one 4-bbl. carb and gasoline, no nitrous required. It doesn't involve a bunch of bolt-on parts on a basically stock engine, however. I can get 300 HP from a reasonably streetable engine, if I don't have to worry about meeting an emissions test at idle. Above that, rear end gear changes and/or a high stall speed torque converter are necessary to make proper use of the power, because it happens at a higher than average RPM range, and the lugging power of the engine just goes away- - - -below 3,000 RPM, it won't get out of its own way.

Take anybody's HP claims with a big grain of salt, unless he's got the dyno run records to back up his BS!
Jerry

Hot Rod"s statement that HP claims are usually made to fit what the seller hopes the buyer wants to hear is very true. However, if you are pleased with the engine, what difference does the HP make?

there are two CHW engines, 1975 155HP Chevelle's and 1978 185HP Vette/chevy II. The block was used for many engines and some as high as 375HP, but I go by the serial No. which says what "that" block was used for. Adding Cam and carb is probably 15-20HP, if you went from 2bbl to 4bbl, that's good, but if it had a 4bbl already, you didn't do anything. Like crenwelge said if you like it it's good. Every guy who sells you an engine makes up HP, they think a cam and a carb is a big deal. I hate to buy an engine that some said they just rebuilt. Who knows what they did and how good of a builder they are. Check the compression, and if it dont smoke, make noise, or leak..run it and be happy. Vacuum plugged it's 6-8 deg BTDC

starting in 72 horsepower was measured from the rear wheels not the flywheel.a 350 in 71 could have been 300 hp and the same engine in 72 would have 190 hp.it was all for insurance . its fair to say most small block chevys can reach 300 hp easily with cam and carb modifications.

Engines were not and are not measured at the "wheels". SAE has always measured at the crank/flywheel. Before 1972, they were measured without accessories (Gross SAE)after 1972 they were measured with accessories (Net SAE). All done on a Engine dyno. That's the basic story. Atmosphere is taken into account. Manufacturers or dealers would never want "AT The Wheels" ratings and they were supposed to be stating SAE test numbers, albeit they did fudge a little. The testing done at the wheels started when folks wanted to know how much their performance parts added to the engine. Nobody wants to take out their engine to test on a engine dyno so they tested before and after on a Chassis dyno, hence: "At The Wheels". This was never a scientific measurement due to transmission/drivetrain drag, etc. but it would give you a percent Delta Number. Bartamos.