What Cam, Intake, and Heads should i go with?

[94sixspeedz28]

Hey guys i just recently traded my 94 Z for a 79 Z and i'm looking for a lot more power then the stock 350 5.7 sbc from 1979 with 175hp lol well i was wondering what would be a good setup and what kind of power could i make from new heads a cam and intake or maybe jest a new cam and valve train and a nice intake i just wanna get the best bang for my buck you know. From what i have seen so far i really like the edlebrock intakes and i might be leaning toward their cams also. I am doing all of the work myself so i don't have to worry about labor costs that just means i could spend a little bit more for better parts. I'm just looking for different opinions to see what you guys think or have tried already. I am also guaranteed to be buying an lt1 asap even though my very very bad experiences with my first car and the opti being the reason i had 2 get rid of the car and trade for the perfectly running 79. So i was just thinking since this car is gonna be my daily driver what should i do engine wise? at first i was thinking a 454 with a 4-speed Muncie but thats not practical as a dd the trans is just not the motor but now i'm thinking build this 350 or do a complete lt1 t56 swap. what would be well worth my time and money guys? and keep in mind i'm only 17 lol I don't mean that for any handling the power or doing the work myself issues just cause i don't have a lot of cash.
thank you guys in advance

[chevymec]

A set of vortec 350 heads with a Lunati Bracket master II .480 lift cam, and an Edelbrock RPM Air Gap will make a good motor. I built one with FT pistons and it put down 289hp/330tq through a 5 speed. It pulled up to about 6100 or 6200 rpm's.

[94sixspeedz28]

was it worth it for you and how was it with the 5-speed do you think i should go with something like that instead of a 4-speed or should i go all out with a t56 6-speed? what if i wanted to reach higher for some more power what should i go with?

[MoeHorsePower]

The Vortec heads are good but are limited to lift, 480 lift is pushing it as they recommend 460 lift, unless they are the modified vortecs in which you might be able to find some aluminum heads for a little more. Cam selection will be based off your final compression, the more compression the more duration you can run on pump gas as this will aid in bleeding off of cylinder pressure. Don't go wild here.Stay with a good dual plane manifold, Performer RPM is good with a 600 Holley carb.

[chevymec]

was it worth it for you and how was it with the 5-speed do you think i should go with something like that instead of a 4-speed or should i go all out with a t56 6-speed? what if i wanted to reach higher for some more power what should i go with?


I would build it again if I had to but I would have the heads modified to accept more lift with the springs. I was up and down about the lift of my cam and the heads but I just did it. Of course I did this back in 2001-2002 time period. Some people think bigger ports mean more power, not always true. As my machinest put it, some times a smaller port will give more velocity. I think I have a good combo . It ran 12.56@110 with a lighter coworker driving it.

[94sixspeedz28]

The Vortec heads are good but are limited to lift, 480 lift is pushing it as they recommend 460 lift, unless they are the modified vortecs in which you might be able to find some aluminum heads for a little more. Cam selection will be based off your final compression, the more compression the more duration you can run on pump gas as this will aid in bleeding off of cylinder pressure. Don't go wild here.Stay with a good dual plane manifold, Performer RPM is good with a 600 Holley carb.

what heads should i go with then? what is the best cam with a nice lopey idle that i could put in with the stock heads but new rockers and springs that will still perform well in the long run with other edlebrock parts because i like the edlebrock intakes and maybe even heads from them also and what would i need for a lot higher lift like 5XX? and what do you think about edlebrock carbs? maybe one with an electric choke? something reliable as this is still daily driver status as of now ;)

[94sixspeedz28]

what heads should i go with then? what is the best cam with a nice lopey idle that i could put in with the stock heads but new rockers and springs that will still perform well in the long run with other edlebrock parts because i like the edlebrock intakes and maybe even heads from them also and what would i need for a lot higher lift like 5XX? and what do you think about edlebrock carbs? maybe one with an electric choke? something reliable as this is still daily driver status as of now ;)

[chevymec]

Its all in your budget. I think you can build a 300+hp motor with those heads. I'm personally not an Edelbrock carb guy, Ill stick with my Holleys for the easy of tuning. Here is some vids of my car at a track day we had.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxhDHzDGhsc

[94sixspeedz28]

Its all in your budget. I think you can build a 300+hp motor with those heads. I'm personally not an Edelbrock carb guy, Ill stick with my Holleys for the easy of tuning. Here is some vids of my car at a track day we had.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxhDHzDGhsc

thats pretty much exactly what i'm looking for but i just happened to stumble upon a 400sbc 30 over that someone is willing to trade for my pitbike heres the exact post



I have a chevy 400 engine block for sale it is a 4 bolt main 511 casting it is already 30 over it can be honed with 30 over pistons or you could go to 40 over im asking 250 for the block I also have a set of RHS pro action heads 208 intake 165 exhaust with roller springs installed 600 for the heads also have a solid roller cam and lifters that i ran with these heads 640 lift comp cams 500 I will take 1200 for all of it this combination made 500 plus hp

what do you guys think of this and what would you do with this block i'm thinking a destroked 400 with a 350 crank so a 377 would make a nice combo with a 4-speed muncie

[95formula383lt1]

sounds like a good combo but i always heard the 400 4bolts were weaker then the 400 2 bolts. Those heads are pretty decent as well.

I had a 383 a while back 12:5-1 compression, worked Dart iron eagle angle plug heads 215cc 64cc combustion chamber 2.05 1.6 valves 242/565 lift cam, harland sharp 1.6 roller rockers, single plane high rise intake done to match heads, holley 750 carb, motor made right at 500hp on 100 oct leaded race gas. It was a strong runner but sold the motor for dirt cheap :(

[CALL911]

I hate to even mention it, but have you considered going with an LSX block instead? I am a diehard LTX guy by all means, but you can make more power cheaper by going with the LSX over the LTX. Just a thought.

[MoeHorsePower]

Since you are on a tight budget, I would just keep your 350. The heads have to go, Stick with the vortec heads and buy a cam that does not exceed 460 lift, I have a 350 in my truck with the vortec heads, lunati cam with 224/224 duration 460-460 lift and a performer RPM with a 600 holley, You'd be surprised how well it runs, Keep your tranny, add a stall and some gears and you will probably be happy with this combo for a while.
In time you can start saving up for more horsepower down the road by stroking the 350 to a 383, bigger cam ect. If you can afford the modified Vortecs now, that will save you some money down the road on having to buy different heads or just get yours modified later. Check around at machine shops for heads that have been left by customers, most of the time the shop only wants what they have into them. A friend of mine bought a pair of Vortecs for $250.00. Customer dropped them off for a valve job and never picked them up...