SBC discussion

[Recian]

So I've tossed around ideas of eventually come winter or spring time tossing my tired 305 for another sbc. I know there's anything from even 200 something ci's to the common 350, 400 and everything in between. I've even considered a 327 from older muscle cars. I've even got a guy at work putting mopar parts in a 350 block. I'm looking to make a street truck. I drive 5.3 trucks at work from time to time when we get em as used cars and I'd like something to perform like that, power when I need it without major bog or lag but not a racecar. My truck is going to be a junkyard dog. Built for cheap with junkyard parts, from different engines and such. If I have to find parts from different models and put them together that's fine too. There's easily 10 junkyards within a 50 mile radius and they all have at any given time 10-30 of these trucks and even more 88-90s models. I May get a 700r4 eventually since I've rebuilt them and they're easy I could pick one up cheap.

I'm wondering what you guys' opinions would be and the pros/cons of each. Good setups for a street truck. Maybe even consider better gears. I can't even break my tires loose on wet pavement and my rears are almost bald.

[86c10sbc]

Ls swap it put a 6.0 out of a 2500 silverado in it
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[Recian]

I looked into it. Don't wana get into a LS swap. Those trucks aren't common enough yet in the yards to yank all the parts I'll need ontop of making my own mounting brackets for it. Plus I've put lifters, rocker arms and had to drill exhaust manifold bolts on quite a few 6.0s and 5.3s. more probs on the 6.0s than 5.3s

[INSIDIOUS '86]

You can do a tpi 383. Will have power to boot and start up first crank in any weather
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[Recian]

That's what I'm looking for. Drivability and enough power.

[Recian]

Not sure if I want to get into TBI tho.

[07XCSBZ71]

I like the 290 hp GMPP crate engine. About 2 grand and comes with a warranty. We put one in a 84 4wd, its got close to 90k miles on it now, not a lick of trouble. It has the crap drove out of it too.

[07XCSBZ71]

Originally Posted by Recian

Not sure if I want to get into TBI tho.

He said TPI( Tuneport Injection) like a F body or Vette ran in the 80's-early 90's

[Recian]

I'm not too familiar with TPI systems. Do they involve the giant spider injection system? I can handle carbs and MPI or EFI

[07XCSBZ71]

Originally Posted by Recian

I'm not too familiar with TPI systems. Do they involve the giant spider injection system? I can handle carbs and MPI or EFI

No, they are just a MPI system that makes good torque and is a easy swap into our trucks.

[Rich84]

That is one good looking engine..
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[Paul Frog]

Built a 305 for my first car. Used double hump heads ported and polished. A RV cam Wolverine blue racer. Flattop pistons and a Edelbrock performer intake and carter carb. Ran like a champ and was very dependable.
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[Recian]

That is a good looking engine..

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Paul Frog

Built a 305 for my first car. Used double hump heads ported and polished. A RV cam Wolverine blue racer. Flattop pistons and a Edelbrock performer intake and carter carb. Ran like a champ and was very dependable.
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The wolverine blue racer is a summit 1102 cam btw.
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[Paul Frog]

Did not know that. Still have the card somewhere, always heard Summit used other manufactures to build their products.
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[TheOcho]

You can't go wrong with a 350. Whether it be a crate engine or built from an old, junkyard, block. There's parts out there everywhere, aftermarket or original GM. 350 blocks are a dime-a-dozen. I've seen an S10 run the quarter in the mid 10s with a 355, 1.94 valves and a dual plane intake, and it was streetable. I'm not knockin' 283s, 327s and 383s, I'm just saying, 350 parts are everywhere. Someone once told me, dollar for dollar, the Chevy 350 is, hands down, the best V8 on the market. Personally, I prefer an L6, but I'm old school and I like to be different.

FYI, I have a whole barn full of old 350s, 400s 402s, 427s and 454s I might be willing to part with for the right price...

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Paul Frog

Did not know that. Still have the card somewhere, always heard Summit used other manufactures to build their products.
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Yah. The summit cams are ground by crane, old designs that have been around forever
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Recian

That is a good looking engine..

The tpi creates a snappy quick response off idle and a fat torque curve as well. If you were so inclined you can run them off a newer ls style computer. They run out of power after 4500rpm but if your using power after that a whole bunch your doing more than hauling hay in these trucks. Haha. A 383 and tpi should be as strong as a built big block but without that pesky gas station addiction so bad. Vortec heads and tri-y would prob be able to tow a big rig and trailer uphill
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[07XCSBZ71]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

The tpi creates a snappy quick response off idle and a fat torque curve as well. If you were so inclined you can run them off a newer ls style computer. They run out of power after 4500rpm but if your using power after that a whole bunch your doing more than hauling hay in these trucks. Haha. A 383 and tpi should be as strong as a built big block but without that pesky gas station addiction so bad. Vortec heads and tri-y would prob be able to tow a big rig and trailer uphill
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You can add a TPIS mini ram or even a converted LT1 intake to the mix and bring the power up band up to 5800 range. You can get a converted LT1 intake for about 300.00.

[Rich84]

4500 rpm suits me just fine...starts getting a little scary up there...lol
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[Recian]

Yeah I don't plan on high RPMs but I do like that low end power for hauling since that's what I bought the truck for to begin with. Now on the built 305 paul mentioned be worth it? I thought bout vortec heads, bored .030" roller valve train and since it shares the 350s crank and rods get a stroker kit from a 350. I know it's common sense smaller engine will get better MPG but would it even be worth sticking with a small bore 305 or just build a 350 the same way? What MPG difference could I expect between the 2? I do lke that my truck can get over 20 on the hwy even without the 700r4's O/D. Could I still get some more efficient 350 heads from the junkyard?

[Paul Frog]

I ran that engine first in a 68 4x4 3/4 chevy with 35" tires did fine. Dad used this to pull the race car with. Now if you want brute strength that will pull with diesels then I suggest a 400. Chances are most people can get by with the minimum. No misplacement for displacement.
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Recian

Yeah I don't plan on high RPMs but I do like that low end power for hauling since that's what I bought the truck for to begin with. Now on the built 305 paul mentioned be worth it? I thought bout vortec heads, bored .030" roller valve train and since it shares the 350s crank and rods get a stroker kit from a 350. I know it's common sense smaller engine will get better MPG but would it even be worth sticking with a small bore 305 or just build a 350 the same way? What MPG difference could I expect between the 2? I do lke that my truck can get over 20 on the hwy even without the 700r4's O/D. Could I still get some more efficient 350 heads from the junkyard?

A 305 would be ok for some light duty work. You don't have to do roller cams for power. Reason being that most rollers don't have any gain over flat tappet cams under 220/.050 duration. 305tpi with vortec heads and 700r4 won't be a slouch. Others will tell you it's a boat anchor but that's true if your drag racing only, 305 was built to do the work of a 350 but with less gas. You will have to do a vortec tpi base which will cost more money. You can do TBI swirl port heads with the stock tpi base which will be a lot less cost overall but TBI heads run like juggernauts till 3500rpm at which they become useless. Pick a cam that wil focus torque at the rpm you will be running at and it will do great. I would build the 305 or 350 the same way, the 305 should only be down maybe 25ft/hp at the peaks vs the 350.

A tpi 383 I would recommend vortec heads and nothing less to get the full benefit. That should be about 30ftlb/hp above the 350 with comparable setups, good if you really need the torque to tow.

Me personally if I was concerned about gas mileage and being able to tow normal truck loads a 305 and 350 won't be a whole bunch different other than having extra power if I need it, and when is that ever bad? It's not hard finding a low mile LB9 305 that just needs a quick refresh. You can get one with the tpi and you can swap the cam and throw in TBI heads for cheap.

There's a lot of things you can do, it all depends on what you want to do with the truck expectations and what you need it to do, of your hauling semis across the country maybe you need a big block?
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[Recian]

I only recommend a roller setup for economy. Less resistance in the engine = better MPG. I don't want a 15mpg truck either. I can get 20-22 hwy with it now. Don't want to go backwards but I'd like to pick up a little more efficiency and power. I'm not looking to drag just want to be able to pass people and get off the line from a stop light quicker than 30 seconds. I can floor the truck on a wet road and can't break the rear tires loose as it is.

I assume the vortec heads are the up/down bolt style intake not the angled bolts meaning I'd have to use the TBI intake which is why I assume it's recommended. I'd prefer to stick to my quadrajet. I can pick up a '90 TBI 305 single cab longbed truck from my bro for less than $1000 but I like these body trucks better. That being said how bout some 350 heads with bigger valves?

[Paul Frog]

If was me I would look around for double hump heads. Bigger valves and breath better and bump up the compression.
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