215 HP or 250 HP How can I know?

[C & A s Dad]

I am new here and was referred to the forum by a current member. I have a 71 Custom Deluxe SWB 350 4 BBL that is 100% original down to the paint and interior. I do have a set of 8" Rally GM wheels, a nice dual ex system and this past weekend I bit the bullet and replaced my worn out point type dist with a HEI GM set up.

I am trying to find out how I can determine if my 350 is the 215HP version or the 250 HP version. I have attempted to do this through a local Chev Dealership with no luck.

Is there anything that can help me to easily determine this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I am an active member of another GM trucks forum and look forward to spending some time here. I am 46 and have been in the Auto Parts Industry for the past 30 years. Not a mechanic by any means but not afraid to tackle just about anything when it comes to my vehicles.

[dave2953]

If you can get the numbers on the block you could decode it and that should tell you.

[john]

look for the no's on the pad below pass side head on the block. There is a suffix code that should tell you what it is.

http://www.nastyz28.com/decode.html

[dan42]

Lets se pictures of your truck! Welcome from CenCal.

[C & A s Dad]

I had some nice digital pics of it in my work PC until last week. I got a virus and when our PC Support shop got through with it, all of my pics were gone.

I plan to take some this weekend and get them posted.

Can you post directly to the forum from a file or do you have to be a member of PhotoBucket or similar?

[C & A s Dad]

Ok, I called my PC help desk and they told me where they moved my pics. I have a couple if I can figure out how to post them. Looks like it worked.

I bought the truck from the estate of the original owner. He bought it new from the Chev Dealership where both my Dad worked when he was a young man and where my Grandfather was the Parts Mgr for 30 years. Needless to say, it is special to me just for those reasons. My Dad also had a similar 71 when I was 10 and I spent hours with him in that truck. I bought the truck in 93 when a kid stole a Hurst Olds that I had that was an all original car with 36K miles. They recovered it but it was trashed. I sold it, and bought this truck.

The paint and interiror all all original. The Paint has a few weak spots that I will soon have to do something about. The interior is nearly perfect with some wear beginning to show on the drivere side seat. The truck runs great and is such a pleasure to drive, especially after traveling in a V 6 Dodge Caravan all week.

[aventur1]

Very nice looking truck!!!

[see ten]

That's a clean looking rig! Very nice!

[Jtrux]

My blazer had a sticker under the hood that specified which hp rating it was which was 250, maybe yours does too.

[WorkinLonghorn]

The 215 HP was a 2 barrel and was not offered in a Pick-up as far as I have read and observed.
Oh and welcome from So.Calif.

[streetstar]

250 hp should have a 4 bbl, 215hp a 2bbl

[C & A s Dad]

Thanks for the info. It seems most agree the 4 bbl engine was 250 HP.

[67_C-30]

When you look at engine horsepower ratings for our trucks in most books, unfortunately they usually include the El Camino and that creates confusion. It is stupid IMO because it's a Chevelle with a bed and should belong in "car" books. Your's would be the 250HP 350 4 bbl.

BTW. to the board. Your truck is awesome. Don't see too many survivors out that nice there anymore.

[dan42]

Beautiful truck, and great story behind it!

[C & A s Dad]

Thanks guys. I worked on it all day yesterday. Replaced all hoses, flushed cooling system, rear trans seal and changed the trans fluid.

It is running great with the new HEI system but the 36 year old Q Jet has never been off of it and I am getting a little skip at idle occasionaly and it seems to be a little rich at idle.

I am considering rebuilding the Q Jet myself but am a little worried about trying it. I will do about anything to the truck but I have never been into a Carb. Also have considered replacing it with a Edelbrock but hate to take it further away from stock.

I have the kit and the float and may go for it next week.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by C & A s Dad

Thanks guys. I worked on it all day yesterday. Replaced all hoses, flushed cooling system, rear trans seal and changed the trans fluid.

It is running great with the new HEI system but the 36 year old Q Jet has never been off of it and I am getting a little skip at idle occasionaly and it seems to be a little rich at idle.

I am considering rebuilding the Q Jet myself but am a little worried about trying it. I will do about anything to the truck but I have never been into a Carb. Also have considered replacing it with a Edelbrock but hate to take it further away from stock.

I have the kit and the float and may go for it next week.

It's hard to beat a Q jet when they're right. The Edelbrock won't get the fuel mileage nor perform as well as a pre smog era Q-jet. Your '71 carb falls in there as one of the last good ones.

[special-K]

Weren`t 307s 215 hp and 350s 250 in these trucks?I have a 350 2bbl `70 Blazer.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by special-K

Weren`t 307s 215 hp and 350s 250 in these trucks?I have a 350 2bbl `70 Blazer.

In '71, yes. There was also 215 HP 350 that was the lowest HP 350 in '71. Source: 1974 MOTORS Truck repair manual.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by C & A s Dad

I am new here and was referred to the forum by a current member. I have a 71 Custom Deluxe SWB 350 4 BBL that is 100% original down to the paint and interior. I do have a set of 8" Rally GM wheels, a nice dual ex system and this past weekend I bit the bullet and replaced my worn out point type dist with a HEI GM set up.

to the board. I see you finally made the jump from GM-trucks.com to here

That is a sweet truck!

There's pics of my 67 plastered all over around here

[C & A s Dad]

Glad to be here. I see you are just a rookie on this forum with only 6,300 posts.

[Cyclone44]

To the board, That's a super nice truck you have.....George

[CCCC]

Hello C&A's Dad. You are taking good care of your truck and your comments show you to be a thoughtful and thorough guy, so my advice is to go ahead and tackle that Q-jet. When properly cleaned and set they are very good - as demonstarted by the fact that yours has never needed to be taken off in all those years. I am far from a mechanic, but have done several with surprising success.

Some suggestions:
As a first-timer, get a booklet on the subject- with some drawings to show connectors and details.
Make notes as you take it apart, especially about those arms/levers on the pass side and how that auto-choke action arm goes up from the heat activated spring through the opening in the upper body section and how it attaches (pivot) to the rod that moves the choke plate.
The pin that holds the accel pump mechanism does not have to be completely removed - just use a thin punch or small nail and push it inward until the arm will come out.
Do not install one of those porous floats (looks like it is made from some poly foam) as it is much better to re-use the original (if it has not been taking on gas) than to use one of those things. Or, spring for a new one if there is not one in the kit - probably not - but I re-use mine.
CLEAN EVERYTHING well with good carb cleaner, and jet it into all openings/passages, then blow out with air to insure no blockages.
Some kits provide more gaskets than needed for a particular carb or for variations, and especually that main one in the middle of the sandwich. Lay it on there and check carefully against the original to be sure it is the correct one.
It can be a bit tricky to set those rods into the openings when you go to install the top section - I get my wife to hold the upper section close and I look in there and maybe use tweezers to get them all lined up before dropping it in.
DO NOT force anything on re-assembly. When right, it goes together easily and snugly.

Good fortune to you - and have fun.

CCCC

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by C & A s Dad

Glad to be here. I see you are just a rookie on this forum with only 6,300 posts.

I kinda am

There's a fella 'round here by the name of Andy (longhornman) and I think he's up to like 63,000 posts!

[C & A s Dad]

CCCC, thanks for the info. I am really consiering doing this. I tied the choke open last weekend and it is running so good, that I have delayed working on it. I know it still needs some work as it is running a little rich at idle.

The general concensus is that it is not all that hard to do.

Thanks again for the info.