Need More Power! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

orange72350 · 10-02-2003, 01:26 AM

I would really like some more power output from my 350. engines gonna be out of the truck fer tha weekend. wondering where to begin with more power. money is an object, so any suggestions on easy, cheap hp numbers is appreciated.
heres what im working with
350
4-bolt mains.
double roller timing chains
whole engine freshly rebuilt, less than 1000 km.
flat top pistons
rv cam
edelbrock performer intake
quadrajet(edelbrock 1406 on its way here)
there we have it. looking for somebody to tell me some ways to gain some rwhp. maybe a higher profile cam??? nothing steep enough to need a converter swap. i dunno. suggestions all welcome. if possible, looking for about 40 more horse.

thanx again
dale

*dtlilly* · 10-02-2003, 02:13 AM

I would buy a Dremel with all the attachments. Then take the heads off and port and polish them to the exhaust and intake runners. Cheapest HP boost there is.

For a higher dollar, get a roller cam, lifters, rods and rockers.

Are you running headers and duals with a x-over?

orange72350 · 10-02-2003, 10:30 AM

Im runnning headers into 2 1/2 pipes with no crossover. hooker areo chamber mufflers. what kinda cam do u suggest???

70c10 · 10-02-2003, 12:39 PM

Depends on what RPM range you want your power. Where will you spend most of your time driving it?(track or street or Highway). You should post this in the engine forum for more responses. I would call cam manufacturers for their opinion.

70 longbed · 10-02-2003, 12:59 PM

I'm not the expert here, but look into some vortec heads. There was a series done a couple of years by Chevy HP magazine, where they took a 350, dynoed it, then added this part, dynoed it, and so on until they were at 400hp. It basically showed what parts did what for the engine as far as added performance and at what cost. I will try and pull out the magazines and get you some dates. It was a very good series, that ran over several issues.

orange72350 · 10-02-2003, 01:07 PM

The truck is daily driven, so the cam, heads etc i get need to be a good streetable setup. I have the performer manifold, so i was thinking maybe a performer cam to match, and then sometime down the road go to the performer heads to match. there is a suburban with vortecs on it sitting in an impound yard here. ill maybe look into stripping the heads. body is no good, so i maybe can get the heads off it. Are there any mods needed to get these heads 2 bolt onto a 72 350 with 4 bolt mains? i know the valve covers are different./ anything else?

70 longbed · 10-02-2003, 01:12 PM

The way that the intake bolts to the head is different. It seems to be common practice to use these heads, and someone that has done it can tell you how. If I remember, you have to cut out the hole for the different angle. I actually have a set of rebuilt heads, and was going this direction when I just rebuilt the engine and decided against the vortecs. Held on to them because I may want to do it in the future.

Ackattack · 10-02-2003, 03:42 PM

To use the vortec heads, you have to use a new intake manifold. I'd suggest the edelbrock performer rpm eps (I think that's the one that fits the vortec heads).

The cheapest HP/dollar is nitrous. But I'm not a fan of it, so it's not an option for me.

You could do a lot of things for more HP. I'm running a Comp Cams 268H high energy cam with the stock converter. It's pretty streetable. I did have the extreme energy 268 before, and it was as streetable.

Port matching would be good, as well as porting on the heads, but ya need to know what you're doing.

70c10 · 10-02-2003, 06:25 PM

Ackattack, why did you switch from XE to H?

Terry'sToy · 10-02-2003, 07:39 PM

ditto on the XE to H swap cause I was going to suggest he use a comp 268 extreme with new springs to match.

jhow66 · 10-02-2003, 11:58 PM

Cheapest--NOS

orange72350 · 10-03-2003, 12:17 AM

I always assumed that nos was for rice rockets and hardcore straight liners.is my motor tough enough for the botttle? i dont know the first thing about nos, so im sorta clueluss. realistacilly, if i change my cam to the xtreme that was suggested earrlier, what am i looking at for horsepower numbers? 30-40 is what i assume, but am i even close?

Ackattack · 10-03-2003, 12:12 PM

I changed the cam cause I ended up wearing off a lobe (due to starter problems....no oil pressure I think) I wasn't real happy with the Extreme energy's driveability. I think with a small converter it would be better though.

70 longbed · 10-03-2003, 12:36 PM

Get yourself Desktop Dyno. It is a program that you can plug all different variables into and it will give you projected torque and hp ratings. I would not use these figures as gospel, but will let you see what different heads, cams, exhausts, and such can do to a motor. I'm not sure where you can pick it up, maybe a speed shop in your area; definitely off the internet.

orange72350 · 10-03-2003, 08:39 PM

awesome. im gonna start looking for desktop dyno right now. thanx for the help guys

70 longbed · 10-09-2003, 11:59 AM

orange72350,

Pulled out the old magazines last night, and it was the September - December 99 issues of Chevy High Performance that had a series of articles called "The Goodwrench Quest". A really good series with dyno results after each add on.

oldsub86 · 10-09-2003, 12:17 PM

Leave the engine alone and change the gears in the rearend. That will get you more of a kick than anything you are going to do to that engine without spending a fortune. If you need mileage too, start thinking overdrive tranny to go with it.

lukecp · 10-09-2003, 01:18 PM

The rearend swap would proably be the easiest way to go for more acceleration, but it will diminish your gas mileage and top end speed.

But i agree with the head/cam swap like the other guys said. I have a RV cam, and it sucks. If you upgrade the heads, yank out that RV cam. It is a old school grind without a lot of lift, and really high total duration but hardly any at .050" lift. If you can get used Vortec's that would proably be the cheapest way for you to go. Make sure to get the valvecovers and rocker arms too. Then all you will need is the proper intake (~$150) and you will be on the road. I looked for used Vortecs for a long time but couldn't find any, so i ended up putting a set of double humps on my truck (was the cheapest way to go

).
Also keep in mind that Vortec heads usually don't like cams with over .450" lift. Some people will say they take more, while others say they will take less. Scoggin Dickey GM performanes says they are good for about .450" lift. But they would work fine if you kept your RV cam in there.

'70 C/10 SS500 · 10-09-2003, 03:52 PM

I'm still working on my '76 Caddy 500 cid /TH-400 swap into my '70 with 4.88 gears. Going from a 292 /TH-350, more power is what obviously started this project. What do you think eh, 4.88s and 500ci enough?

70 longbed · 10-09-2003, 04:01 PM

Sounds real nice if your goal is to get to the end of a quarter mile real fast, but several trips to the grocery store probably equals several trips to the gas station. Better choose one of those mega stores where they have a department store, automotive department, groceries, and a gas station all in the same parking lot.

'70 C/10 SS500 · 10-09-2003, 04:27 PM

Maybe I could move into the projects next to the mega store! That would solve everything.

More seriously though, I've put my thought time into the seriously low gears I have and the torque moster I'm getting ready to run, and I know it's going to be pretty much a pain in the rear for anything remotely responsible or functional, but hey - that's what's fun right!? I'm sick of late model computers, computers controlling trannies, highway gears, pathetic exhaust note, and the mild lackluster persona of almost all modern cars! I want a mean, crazy machine. I want not only others to be scared and keep a distance, but I want to be scared of the damn thing myself! Too much watching American Muscle Car on Speed to sit idle any longer! Gotta get something better than an I6 292. By the way, my daily driver is a '99 Trans Am A4 4.10 with lid and cat back exhaust. Not too shabby, but when you are driving the morning commute and see a decent '59 El Camino, or '70 Sport Fury and get envious, it's gotta be the carb! Screw computers, I want to be out of control (in control).

10-02-2003, 01:26 AM	#1
orange72350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cold, Snowy High Level, Alberta Canada Eh Posts: 394	Need More Power! I would really like some more power output from my 350. engines gonna be out of the truck fer tha weekend. wondering where to begin with more power. money is an object, so any suggestions on easy, cheap hp numbers is appreciated. heres what im working with 350 4-bolt mains. double roller timing chains whole engine freshly rebuilt, less than 1000 km. flat top pistons rv cam edelbrock performer intake quadrajet(edelbrock 1406 on its way here) there we have it. looking for somebody to tell me some ways to gain some rwhp. maybe a higher profile cam??? nothing steep enough to need a converter swap. i dunno. suggestions all welcome. if possible, looking for about 40 more horse. thanx again dale __________________ 2003 yamaha raptor. Stock, but it still hauls!!!! 2000 skiddo mxz 700. Camoplast 1.5 inch track, jaws twin pipes, b+b can, custom built and weighted clutch, wiseco piston, high comp heads. its very fast. wow. 72 c-10 longbox. Bright Orange. Brand new 350, rv cam, performer intake, qjet, headers, 2 1/2 inch exhaust into hooker areo chamber mufflers. Body work coming soon. "dont let yer mind wander, its to little to go places by itself." "Forget the herse, cause i'll never die"-ACDC Back In Black "If It's To Loud, Yer Just Too Old" "I Love Anything Fast Enough To Do Something Stupid In" "Instant idiot, just add beer!!""

10-02-2003, 10:30 AM	#3
orange72350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cold, Snowy High Level, Alberta Canada Eh Posts: 394	Im runnning headers into 2 1/2 pipes with no crossover. hooker areo chamber mufflers. what kinda cam do u suggest??? __________________ 2003 yamaha raptor. Stock, but it still hauls!!!! 2000 skiddo mxz 700. Camoplast 1.5 inch track, jaws twin pipes, b+b can, custom built and weighted clutch, wiseco piston, high comp heads. its very fast. wow. 72 c-10 longbox. Bright Orange. Brand new 350, rv cam, performer intake, qjet, headers, 2 1/2 inch exhaust into hooker areo chamber mufflers. Body work coming soon. "dont let yer mind wander, its to little to go places by itself." "Forget the herse, cause i'll never die"-ACDC Back In Black "If It's To Loud, Yer Just Too Old" "I Love Anything Fast Enough To Do Something Stupid In" "Instant idiot, just add beer!!""

10-02-2003, 12:39 PM	#4
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Depends on what RPM range you want your power. Where will you spend most of your time driving it?(track or street or Highway). You should post this in the engine forum for more responses. I would call cam manufacturers for their opinion. __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

10-02-2003, 12:59 PM	#5
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	I'm not the expert here, but look into some vortec heads. There was a series done a couple of years by Chevy HP magazine, where they took a 350, dynoed it, then added this part, dynoed it, and so on until they were at 400hp. It basically showed what parts did what for the engine as far as added performance and at what cost. I will try and pull out the magazines and get you some dates. It was a very good series, that ran over several issues. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.

10-02-2003, 01:07 PM	#6
orange72350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cold, Snowy High Level, Alberta Canada Eh Posts: 394	The truck is daily driven, so the cam, heads etc i get need to be a good streetable setup. I have the performer manifold, so i was thinking maybe a performer cam to match, and then sometime down the road go to the performer heads to match. there is a suburban with vortecs on it sitting in an impound yard here. ill maybe look into stripping the heads. body is no good, so i maybe can get the heads off it. Are there any mods needed to get these heads 2 bolt onto a 72 350 with 4 bolt mains? i know the valve covers are different./ anything else? __________________ 2003 yamaha raptor. Stock, but it still hauls!!!! 2000 skiddo mxz 700. Camoplast 1.5 inch track, jaws twin pipes, b+b can, custom built and weighted clutch, wiseco piston, high comp heads. its very fast. wow. 72 c-10 longbox. Bright Orange. Brand new 350, rv cam, performer intake, qjet, headers, 2 1/2 inch exhaust into hooker areo chamber mufflers. Body work coming soon. "dont let yer mind wander, its to little to go places by itself." "Forget the herse, cause i'll never die"-ACDC Back In Black "If It's To Loud, Yer Just Too Old" "I Love Anything Fast Enough To Do Something Stupid In" "Instant idiot, just add beer!!""

10-02-2003, 02:13 AM	#2
dtlilly Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shadow of Lambeau Field Posts: 5,597	I would buy a Dremel with all the attachments. Then take the heads off and port and polish them to the exhaust and intake runners. Cheapest HP boost there is. For a higher dollar, get a roller cam, lifters, rods and rockers. Are you running headers and duals with a x-over?

10-02-2003, 01:12 PM	#7
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	The way that the intake bolts to the head is different. It seems to be common practice to use these heads, and someone that has done it can tell you how. If I remember, you have to cut out the hole for the different angle. I actually have a set of rebuilt heads, and was going this direction when I just rebuilt the engine and decided against the vortecs. Held on to them because I may want to do it in the future. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.

10-02-2003, 03:42 PM	#8
Ackattack Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Valley Center KS Posts: 3,525	To use the vortec heads, you have to use a new intake manifold. I'd suggest the edelbrock performer rpm eps (I think that's the one that fits the vortec heads). The cheapest HP/dollar is nitrous. But I'm not a fan of it, so it's not an option for me. You could do a lot of things for more HP. I'm running a Comp Cams 268H high energy cam with the stock converter. It's pretty streetable. I did have the extreme energy 268 before, and it was as streetable. Port matching would be good, as well as porting on the heads, but ya need to know what you're doing. __________________ Project Bruiser: 68 Pro-Touring C-10 5.3L / 4L60E Project Ironhide: 97 GMC Crew Cab 4x4 Cummins SOLD: '69 GMC 1/2T SWB TBI'd: Project No Buck Assembly Manual Index Sign up Thread!!! Factory Service Manual Index

10-02-2003, 06:25 PM	#9
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Ackattack, why did you switch from XE to H? __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

10-02-2003, 07:39 PM	#10
Terry'sToy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Victoria B.C Posts: 109	ditto on the XE to H swap cause I was going to suggest he use a comp 268 extreme with new springs to match. __________________ 69 GMC 1/2 ton lwb, LS1, headers X-pipe 4L60E Yank 3500 stall 3.73 w/eaton brute force. moroso trick front springs,jeep rear springs, QA1's

10-02-2003, 11:58 PM	#11
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Cheapest--NOS __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

10-03-2003, 12:17 AM	#12
orange72350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cold, Snowy High Level, Alberta Canada Eh Posts: 394	I always assumed that nos was for rice rockets and hardcore straight liners.is my motor tough enough for the botttle? i dont know the first thing about nos, so im sorta clueluss. realistacilly, if i change my cam to the xtreme that was suggested earrlier, what am i looking at for horsepower numbers? 30-40 is what i assume, but am i even close? __________________ 2003 yamaha raptor. Stock, but it still hauls!!!! 2000 skiddo mxz 700. Camoplast 1.5 inch track, jaws twin pipes, b+b can, custom built and weighted clutch, wiseco piston, high comp heads. its very fast. wow. 72 c-10 longbox. Bright Orange. Brand new 350, rv cam, performer intake, qjet, headers, 2 1/2 inch exhaust into hooker areo chamber mufflers. Body work coming soon. "dont let yer mind wander, its to little to go places by itself." "Forget the herse, cause i'll never die"-ACDC Back In Black "If It's To Loud, Yer Just Too Old" "I Love Anything Fast Enough To Do Something Stupid In" "Instant idiot, just add beer!!""

10-03-2003, 12:12 PM	#13
Ackattack Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Valley Center KS Posts: 3,525	I changed the cam cause I ended up wearing off a lobe (due to starter problems....no oil pressure I think) I wasn't real happy with the Extreme energy's driveability. I think with a small converter it would be better though. __________________ Project Bruiser: 68 Pro-Touring C-10 5.3L / 4L60E Project Ironhide: 97 GMC Crew Cab 4x4 Cummins SOLD: '69 GMC 1/2T SWB TBI'd: Project No Buck Assembly Manual Index Sign up Thread!!! Factory Service Manual Index

10-03-2003, 12:36 PM	#14
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	Get yourself Desktop Dyno. It is a program that you can plug all different variables into and it will give you projected torque and hp ratings. I would not use these figures as gospel, but will let you see what different heads, cams, exhausts, and such can do to a motor. I'm not sure where you can pick it up, maybe a speed shop in your area; definitely off the internet. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.

10-03-2003, 08:39 PM	#15
orange72350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cold, Snowy High Level, Alberta Canada Eh Posts: 394	awesome. im gonna start looking for desktop dyno right now. thanx for the help guys __________________ 2003 yamaha raptor. Stock, but it still hauls!!!! 2000 skiddo mxz 700. Camoplast 1.5 inch track, jaws twin pipes, b+b can, custom built and weighted clutch, wiseco piston, high comp heads. its very fast. wow. 72 c-10 longbox. Bright Orange. Brand new 350, rv cam, performer intake, qjet, headers, 2 1/2 inch exhaust into hooker areo chamber mufflers. Body work coming soon. "dont let yer mind wander, its to little to go places by itself." "Forget the herse, cause i'll never die"-ACDC Back In Black "If It's To Loud, Yer Just Too Old" "I Love Anything Fast Enough To Do Something Stupid In" "Instant idiot, just add beer!!""



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10-09-2003, 11:59 AM	#16
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	orange72350, Pulled out the old magazines last night, and it was the September - December 99 issues of Chevy High Performance that had a series of articles called "The Goodwrench Quest". A really good series with dyno results after each add on. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.

10-09-2003, 12:17 PM	#17
oldsub86 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 695	Leave the engine alone and change the gears in the rearend. That will get you more of a kick than anything you are going to do to that engine without spending a fortune. If you need mileage too, start thinking overdrive tranny to go with it. __________________ 1968 Chevy - 292 with a powerglide

10-09-2003, 01:18 PM	#18
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	The rearend swap would proably be the easiest way to go for more acceleration, but it will diminish your gas mileage and top end speed. But i agree with the head/cam swap like the other guys said. I have a RV cam, and it sucks. If you upgrade the heads, yank out that RV cam. It is a old school grind without a lot of lift, and really high total duration but hardly any at .050" lift. If you can get used Vortec's that would proably be the cheapest way for you to go. Make sure to get the valvecovers and rocker arms too. Then all you will need is the proper intake (~$150) and you will be on the road. I looked for used Vortecs for a long time but couldn't find any, so i ended up putting a set of double humps on my truck (was the cheapest way to go ). Also keep in mind that Vortec heads usually don't like cams with over .450" lift. Some people will say they take more, while others say they will take less. Scoggin Dickey GM performanes says they are good for about .450" lift. But they would work fine if you kept your RV cam in there. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-09-2003, 03:52 PM	#19
'70 C/10 SS500 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 130	gears? I'm still working on my '76 Caddy 500 cid /TH-400 swap into my '70 with 4.88 gears. Going from a 292 /TH-350, more power is what obviously started this project. What do you think eh, 4.88s and 500ci enough? Last edited by '70 C/10 SS500; 10-09-2003 at 03:56 PM.

10-09-2003, 04:01 PM	#20
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	Sounds real nice if your goal is to get to the end of a quarter mile real fast, but several trips to the grocery store probably equals several trips to the gas station. Better choose one of those mega stores where they have a department store, automotive department, groceries, and a gas station all in the same parking lot. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.

10-09-2003, 04:27 PM	#21
'70 C/10 SS500 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 130	housing? Maybe I could move into the projects next to the mega store! That would solve everything. More seriously though, I've put my thought time into the seriously low gears I have and the torque moster I'm getting ready to run, and I know it's going to be pretty much a pain in the rear for anything remotely responsible or functional, but hey - that's what's fun right!? I'm sick of late model computers, computers controlling trannies, highway gears, pathetic exhaust note, and the mild lackluster persona of almost all modern cars! I want a mean, crazy machine. I want not only others to be scared and keep a distance, but I want to be scared of the damn thing myself! Too much watching American Muscle Car on Speed to sit idle any longer! Gotta get something better than an I6 292. By the way, my daily driver is a '99 Trans Am A4 4.10 with lid and cat back exhaust. Not too shabby, but when you are driving the morning commute and see a decent '59 El Camino, or '70 Sport Fury and get envious, it's gotta be the carb! Screw computers, I want to be out of control (in control).

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