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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: edmonton, alberta
Posts: 293
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Small block horsepower addition
Hey all,
I have a stock small block 350 in a 76 c10 with edelbrock carb,performer intake and Hedman headers. Stock HP is about 165. Maybe I gained 10 HP with the above mods? What kind of horsepower can I expect with a cam, new free flow exhaust? What else can I do other than cranks or pistons? What does it take to get 250-300 HP out of a small block? Thanks in advance.
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![]() 76 Silverado, 2wd, long box, 350/th350, 3.42 posi, edelbrock performer 64cc heads, edelbrock 1405, 2101 intake, Hedman Headers, Comp Cam XE262 http://beerbreadbike.wordpress.com/ Last edited by vtwinsport; 02-13-2009 at 10:53 PM. |
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#2 | |
It followed me home?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Yup
Posts: 5,751
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Quote:
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ild/index.html
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Adam That's why they call it a shortcut Kyle, if it was easy it would just be the way. 86 c-10 SWB 85 CCSB 90 GMC K30 Crew SRW 1985 C30 Dually |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bailey, NC
Posts: 2,462
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
You could always upgrade the top end of the engine. Heads , cam , roller valvetrain with a carb to match.
I followed this article when I built my engine. http://http://www.chevyhiperformance...ams/index.html
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Jeramy '84 GMC project truck '85 Chevy 4X4 SOLD '07 Chevy Trailblazer SS 5th Annual SHPHC Car/Truck Show Pics http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=543605 UPDATED PICS! CHECK 'EM OUT Last edited by silvereagle07; 02-13-2009 at 11:21 PM. Reason: link |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fogelsville, Pa.
Posts: 68
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Original everything in the engine still? Or has it been rebuilt with new bearings etc? A good high powered ignition starting with distributor, coil and box, low interference wires etc. choose parts that work together, Flowmasters with x pipe. Make SURE the cam/springs and everything else in the valvetrain is 100% compatible. Pull the heads, have a reputable shop do as good a quality 3 angle valve job as you can afford, upgrade the valves to 2.02x1.94s and polish the ports taking as much roughage/casting flash off them as you can to improve flow without removing material. Consider having your shop take a pass with the mill on the heads for a little more compression but don't go crazy. Your engine is nothing more than an air pump, the more you pass through it the better it will run.
Last edited by Vixvega; 02-13-2009 at 11:24 PM. |
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#5 |
Living la vida broka
![]() Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: P'ville California
Posts: 221
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
I would look into some vortec heads, or good aftermarket castings if you are shooting for 300 hp
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1976 C10 Longbed lowered 5/7, hot 355/TH350. ~ SOLD 1974 C10 Shortbed Stepside 350/Saginaw ~ SOLD 1984 C10 Longbed 6.2l diesel 700r4. ~SOLD 1985 GMC C20 350 700r4, ~under the knife |
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#6 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 390
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Subscribed.
I think I'm in a similar situation. I have a ten year old crate GoodWrench 350 that was put in by the original owner here in Phoenix by Courtesy Chevrolet. He was in his seventies at the time and only put 25k on it (with records/receipts) when I bought it from him last year. I was/will be using it as a DD to give my Dmax a break. I have freshened up the interior a bit and am in the process of putting in a 4" lift, but the next step is to see what I can do under the hood. My 1977 K5 is in the 49 state Federal HD emission status which means that I'm pretty much wide open to mods as long as it passes CO and HC here in Maricopa county. I'd like to stay with a Q-Jet and run Hedman Elites (IIRC 68030) which WILL clear the manual clutch linkage on a 465. BUT I don't know if they will work with Vortech heads. Not to Hijack, but any thoughts appreciated!
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-Don- '66 ![]() '77 ![]() '80 ![]() '04 Denali XL '05 DMax CCLB 4x Have a Hickey Sidewinder Winch and need the owners/install manual? Send me a PM with your email address and I'll forward you a .pdf ![]() |
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#7 |
Georgia Boy
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Douglas, Georgia
Posts: 370
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
The key to making power is heads. A good set of free-flowing heads will net you the most power. If you're willing to pony up the cash, get them ported and polished with a good 3 angle(or better) valve job. Next is exhaust. A good set of headers, an x-pipe, free flowing mufflers and pipes are the way to go. An HEI ignition with a good set of wires and MSD if you can afford it. A good cam in the .460-.480" lift with about 270 duration.Go with a dual plane intake.. there's alot of good ones out there, so it's mostly brand choice these days. All of these will make you 300 hp.
Now all you gotta do is get it to the ground... ![]()
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81 GMC High Sierra, 2WD, 357ci/700R4, 3.73s, posi. |
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#8 |
Living la vida broka
![]() Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: P'ville California
Posts: 221
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Small block headers bolt right up to Vortec heads
__________________
1976 C10 Longbed lowered 5/7, hot 355/TH350. ~ SOLD 1974 C10 Shortbed Stepside 350/Saginaw ~ SOLD 1984 C10 Longbed 6.2l diesel 700r4. ~SOLD 1985 GMC C20 350 700r4, ~under the knife |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: edmonton, alberta
Posts: 293
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Thanks for all the input. I wasn't sure where to start but that helps.
How much does a valve grind, bigger valves and porting cost relative to buying vortecs? I like the idea of using the heads I have as I know everything bolts up right now. I read that changing to vortecs can mean other part changes like valve gear, covers, intake etc.
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![]() 76 Silverado, 2wd, long box, 350/th350, 3.42 posi, edelbrock performer 64cc heads, edelbrock 1405, 2101 intake, Hedman Headers, Comp Cam XE262 http://beerbreadbike.wordpress.com/ Last edited by vtwinsport; 02-14-2009 at 10:41 AM. |
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#10 | |
It followed me home?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Yup
Posts: 5,751
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Quote:
__________________
Adam That's why they call it a shortcut Kyle, if it was easy it would just be the way. 86 c-10 SWB 85 CCSB 90 GMC K30 Crew SRW 1985 C30 Dually |
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#11 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville
Posts: 2,079
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
be sure to buy an aftermarket timing set. if you buy a stock replacement, it will retard the cam. they built the retard into the cam sprocket.
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#12 | |
It followed me home?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Yup
Posts: 5,751
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Quote:
I knew I forgot something ![]()
__________________
Adam That's why they call it a shortcut Kyle, if it was easy it would just be the way. 86 c-10 SWB 85 CCSB 90 GMC K30 Crew SRW 1985 C30 Dually |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Ault, Colorado
Posts: 862
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Yo! Check into a roller chain and sprockets to replace the timing set,...I run Summit's on my Crane cam. Roller, to reduce friction, wear, and remain more accurate, and allows cam advance of up to four degrees.
Make any engine breathe better, intake and exhaust (and through the head), and reduce engine effort, and you'll build HP. Both of my shortblock 350s sport big-valve World heads with roller rockers and 67cc chambers (to increase compression), Weiand manifold, Crane towing cam advanced 4 degrees (via roller chain and sprockets), Shorty headers (to 2.5" exhaust, "H" pipe, and turbos), 600 Holley on a 2.5" spacer, HEI with MSD, and a flex fan and electric fuel pump to further reduce engine effort. Todd.
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'78 3/4 ton 4x4 custom "Todd-built" FRANKENTRUCK! |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: edmonton, alberta
Posts: 293
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Thanks again.
I see allot of reference to roller cams, chains and rocker arms. I'm assuming they're worth it then?
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![]() 76 Silverado, 2wd, long box, 350/th350, 3.42 posi, edelbrock performer 64cc heads, edelbrock 1405, 2101 intake, Hedman Headers, Comp Cam XE262 http://beerbreadbike.wordpress.com/ Last edited by vtwinsport; 02-14-2009 at 02:22 PM. |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Ault, Colorado
Posts: 862
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
Yo! Roller chain and sprocket are CHEAP and fit without mods. Roller tipped rockers are also CHEAP and require only tall valve covers, but a roller cam is a bit more expensive and requires matching valve train parts. Tremendous friction reducers, as you can well imagine, replacing a sliding metal on metal interface with a rolling/rocking one.
Keep your lift under 0.500 and you'll be fine. My Crane cam is spec'ed at 0.420/0.442 with a duration of 262/272. I have no noticable "lope" and I like it so much in my Camaro that I didn't go with a bigger cam to build the second 350 V8 for FRANKENTRUCK. Todd.
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'78 3/4 ton 4x4 custom "Todd-built" FRANKENTRUCK! Last edited by asphaltburner; 02-14-2009 at 02:41 PM. |
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#16 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: May 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 138
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
yeah, they're worth it. There's a reason chevy went to a roller set up in the 5.7's. It is less friction causing it to be more efficient, making it easier for the engine to work. A new set of Vortec heads from Scoggin Dickey will run you around $600. To each his own, but I wouldn't spend the money reworking old heads, not with the way the aftermarket is now. You'll end up spending a lot of money at the machine shop reworking the stock heads and still not get the same flow numbers that you would on an aftermarket set. World products makes a great flowing set of heads for a really great price. But if you're going for numbers matching on your block, do like the other guys said and get bigger valves on your stock heads. Also make sure to get them decked. This will bump up your compression a bit and give the block more grunt.
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: edmonton, alberta
Posts: 293
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
that's great guys. I'll probably look for aftermarket or vortec heads then and cam up to 460 lift, 260 area duration. Looks like it will cost about 1500 when all is done.
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![]() 76 Silverado, 2wd, long box, 350/th350, 3.42 posi, edelbrock performer 64cc heads, edelbrock 1405, 2101 intake, Hedman Headers, Comp Cam XE262 http://beerbreadbike.wordpress.com/ |
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#18 |
Squarebody Aficionado
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 713
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
take a look at a set of the iron vortec heads that patriot performance puts out, i just finished putting a set on my truck with some 1.6 roller rockers and an airgap intake night and day differnce i may be at the 300hp mark. i do have a cam and full exhaust and things like that but the heads made a big difference.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: phoenix az
Posts: 5
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Re: Small block horsepower addition
I heard just replacing fan setup with electric fan should give you small boost. every thing that is driven eats hp... Fuel pump, waterpump, fan, + throw in some roller lifters and roller rockerarms.
Last edited by keithaz24; 02-25-2009 at 03:05 AM. |
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