Looking for Opinions for Top End Kits

[77GMCTruck]

I have a 1977 GMC Sierra Classic 3/4 ton that has a 350 4 bolt main crate motor. I have just completed putting in a Monster 700R4 transmission.

What I am asking is what would you all recommend to build an engine with around 350 hp and 400 or more torque, or tell me what you all did for modifying your engines.

Thanks

[B. W.]

What crate motor do you have? Do you have the specs? Need to know compression ratio, what heads / cam / carb.

[tdangle]

I am going to guess you have pretty much a stock 350 smog motor of that era. Probably around 160-180 HP with 8.0 to 1 compression heads.

I would look at the edelbrock top end kit. cam, heads pretty much everything you need. All setup to work together and give you a much needed boost in HP. That is assuming your bottom end is in good shape.

[77GMCTruck]

My stepfather bought it before he passed away. I think it is a little better than stock on the horsepower but I do know it is a 0101 block that, according to my mechanic friend most people are looking for to build race engines with. He said I could put a blower on it with the right internals but I don't want to go that far.

I have a classic muscle car that I plan on building for something like that. Just looking for something around 300 + HP and around 400 TQ to use for towing.

[ElKotze]

The Edelbrock heads are designed after the Vortec heads, can't go wrong with that, plus, everything works together and you can run a nice cam with it. Should wake it up quite a bit.

[Captainfab]

You need a little more info on the engine such as what pistons are in it. Are they dished or flat tops? The 3970010 block is one of the most common GEN I 350 blocks and not all have 4 bolt mains. Not that, that makes any difference for what you are doing, just saying. The Edelbrock Performer top end kit should get you the power goals you are looking for and be towing friendly, but the kits don't come cheap.

[77GMCTruck]

Thanks for the suggestions. I believe I have the paperwork for the engine in the truck but it is at my friends shop having the 700R4 put in currently. Cost is some concern but I really want a good quality package so I don't mind spending extra to get it. I will check out the Edelbrock Top End Kits and if I find the paperwork on the engine I'll post it here. I think it is the one with 260 HP. I know the original engine was only 190 HP.

Thanks again for the help.

[mattfranklin]

Here I go again recommending that everyone watches "Engine Masters" episodes. They show real dyno testing with real combinations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7mvgf6_p1g

[B. W.]

Matt, I hadn't watched any of them until you posted the one on rocker arms ( I think?) Since then I've watched them all! Looks like they have lots of fun!

[mattfranklin]

Originally Posted by B. W.

Matt, I hadn't watched any of them until you posted the one on rocker arms ( I think?) Since then I've watched them all! Looks like they have lots of fun!

Glad you liked it. I love the data they provide. Reminds me of the good old days when Hot Rod and Car Craft would do dozens of dyno runs on the old $1000 "Targetmaster" GM crate motors, adding different combinations of carb, cam, headers, and so on and providing Hp and Tq charts for all of the combos.