Engine Recommendations

[rico7769]

Team,

I am currently in the market for upgrading my motor in the 67. My setup is sb350/305 heads/perf intake/holley650/hei setup/perf headers 1.5". The problem is in the heads. The block has been decked and the heads are 54cc from an 1986 305 based on the coding. The compression is off the charts and the motor seems to be struggling to give out power. The block is an 010 and from 77. I know the stock HP was around 170 (give or take, but who's counting when it's that low anyway?) but the bolt ons and different heads are not making for a HP marriage. I was looking at 441 heads or going aluminum and 64cc. Any advice? I would like to keep it fairly regulated and not too over the top with the HP. About 265-300 would be okay. I like em' slow and classy but want the back to get loose every now and then! Plan on spending around $700-$1000 on project. Anybody got some great ideas?

Steve

[Average Joe]

Just my two cents but I would look seriously at a set of vortec heads. They were production 350 chevy heads between 96-02 I think. Combine with split duration rv cam( keep lift under .450 or machine guides down). Add a dual plane intake along with 600ish cfm carb. If you dont mind running headers add some 1 5/8 tubes with good flowing mufflers and you should exceed your goal.

[spinning wheels]

Not much to add. Sounds like good advise.

[jim zag]

You need to keep the pumping compression down to be pump gas friendly. The vortec heads are 64cc and with flat top pistons and a decked block will be over 10 to one compression. If you use a 350 HP Corvette cam which has a late intake closing it will lower the pumping compression and allow you use pump gas. Your other option would be to change to a dished piston with vortec heads and be around 9.5 to 1. I prefer cams less than 220@ .050 duration in a street cruiser. BIG CAMS SUCK on the street! Dual plane intake and 600 cfm carb will work nice.

[rico7769]

I'm running a dual plane and 650 holley currently but can't get pump gas to be friendly at all. Thanks for all the input and I'll get researchin' on getting the right combo together based on everyone's recommendations. Its great to have a board like this out there for all of us who are just getting started. Hey, I guess we all had to get started sometime!

THanks a ton everyone!!

Steve

[PanelDeland]

I think you should look at the aluminum or cast aftermarket heads.The Vortecs are a great factory head but if you need to machine them for the cam you're running they get to the same price range as a good set of aftermarkets.Most AM heads can be ordered to the cc to match your CR goal.Just food for thought as you research what you want to do.

[68Stepbed]

Vortecs are great heads for the money. The only problem with running Vortecs is you would have to change your intake and valve covers(assuming you have permiter style VC's now). Vortecs have a different intake mounting configuration and center bolt valve covers. Of course, a Vortec head conversion kit will be about the same money as a set of aluminum heads. The kits include EVERYTHING you need to do the swap. Look at Scoggin-Dickey and Pace Performance for Vortec conversion kits.

My suggestion would be to look into the Dart Iron Eagle or the World Products S/R torquer heads. These will still be iron heads so cost won't be as much as aluminum heads, and they'll work well with your combination. By the time you buy a set of iron heads and all the gaskets and materials to swap heads, you'll be at your $1000 limit.

Also, what are the specs on your cam?