Good deal on a 350 crate

[Hampshire]

Once a year they knock the price down on these. If you don't need lot of HP, it can work for you. Reg gas, reliable, etc.,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Pe...3D181894461720

[mobileortho]

I bought one last year from Jegs. It is a good engine but I wish it had a bit more power. Thinking about going with the Chevrolet Performance 19210007 350ci/330HP HO.

[flashed]

I put one in my 72 shortbed and it has plenty of power .I put a 290 HP one in my wife's 72 Malibu convertible and it is quite peppy.

[Hampshire]

350/330 was a real strong contender, but I wanted that kind of HP with the Gen1 heads. We changed to a roller cam/lifters/rockers with a slightly hotter profile than in the crate 350/330. While the heads were off went for some porting & a bit of a compression bump. Probably cost just marginally less or the same as the 350/330 - I paid $1259 last year to JEGS, so that helped with overall cost.

Got many of the ideas from some on-line magazine article where they built up a basic crate in steps. My idea was to get at least 300-325 hp. It's strong & pulled nicely from day one (Labor day) ...1500 miles later it's starting to settle in & feeling better every day...

[dwcsr]

With this particular engine its does not have the holes needed for a GM serpentine belt drive system. there is no upper hole in the right head near the intake. If your using V belts then it a great motor for the price

[mobileortho]

Yeah, found that out the hard way. Attempted to drill & tap the missing hole as I've done previously & ended up in the water jacket.

[mobileortho]

Originally Posted by Hampshire

350/330 was a real strong contender, but I wanted that kind of HP with the Gen1 heads. We changed to a roller cam/lifters/rockers with a slightly hotter profile than in the crate 350/330. While the heads were off went for some porting & a bit of a compression bump. Probably cost just marginally less or the same as the 350/330 - I paid $1259 last year to JEGS, so that helped with overall cost.

Got many of the ideas from some on-line magazine article where they built up a basic crate in steps. My idea was to get at least 300-325 hp. It's strong & pulled nicely from day one (Labor day) ...1500 miles later it's starting to settle in & feeling better every day...

So, you're saying that you got 300hp with just those changes? I'd contacted Jegs a few months ago about possible upgrades to get about that type of hp & was told that a cam & heads would only get me so far without touching the internals (maybe about a 30 hp bump), hence my decision to just go with a different motor. I really should have read the listing more closely before I bought it. It thought it read 260 base hp but it was actually only 195 and "capable" of up to 260. I'm using TPI with the Edelbrock high flow intake & runners. I figured that would give me a little bit more power than the carb.

[Cuttin up]

Originally Posted by mobileortho

So, you're saying that you got 300hp with just those changes? I'd contacted Jegs a few months ago about possible upgrades to get about that type of hp & was told that a cam & heads would only get me so far without touching the internals (maybe about a 30 hp bump), hence my decision to just go with a different motor. I really should have read the listing more closely before I bought it. It thought it read 260 base hp but it was actually only 195 and "capable" of up to 260. I'm using TPI with the Edelbrock high flow intake & runners. I figured that would give me a little bit more power than the carb.

The dished pistons are the set back to the 195 horse engine. The heads are large cc which gives you tiny compression. You could get to that 300 mark, but you would have to change the heads, cam, and pistons as well as have a good flowing intake to top it off. I've played with the 260 horse engine in a couple different cars and with just a heads/cam change they picked up a lot.

[1-ton of fun]

that just doesn't seem like that good of a deal, unless you want a lo-po motor.

[Hampshire]

So, you're saying that you got 300hp with just those changes?

Yes. Could be more, but I like to keep numbers on the conservative side (see links below). It's just not parts, it's having a talented machinist next door to massage the heads + a talented builder who specializes in vintage race cars.

We basically followed the model in these two links below:

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/463...-engine-build/

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/463...gine-build-ii/

...note they made it to 336hp. We used the same cam kit/rocker arms. Our machine shop is good, and I think we got significant gains from porting & a compression bump, but maybe not as much as they did.

that just doesn't seem like that good of a deal, unless you want a lo-po motor.

..if higher numbers do it for you, fine. I like it and the builders in our area like it, too. They've tested it & love the grunt, drivability & reliability. Sure, there is tons of peer pressure out there on the circuit to say you have more than 400hp or whatever, but I think a good ride is more then that...

[mobileortho]

For me it would probably be easier and more cost affective to just sell mine & buy the other one.

[1-ton of fun]

fast trucks do it for me, not high numbers...

[Hblee]

Sounds like a better deal than this one...

[mr48chev]

I'd check with the local GM performance dealer's parts counter for the price they will sell it for. Or any other GM performance crate motor. There are some around that will give a pretty decent discount.

[mobileortho]

So I've been doing my homework on the head/cam swap. This link in Hot Rod mag has me thinking about giving this a try.

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/...head-shootout/

I came across a set of the Patriot aluminum heads mentioned in the write up for $500. Although they scored very well in the article I'm finding mixed reviews other places. Anybody using them? I've been on the phone with the Jegs techs and with a Comp cam, heads and the hi- flo Edelbrock tpi setup I'm using they say I can have a major increase in hp.