Technical Small Block Chevy 350 Rebuild

I know I am getting ahead of myself, but looking ahead: I will need a radiator and a fan. For the purpose of running the engine on a stand, can I get away with whatever size radiator I can find? Should I go with an electric fan or engine mounted/belt driven fan? I am currently looking online at an electric fan that is 3000 cfm. It comes with a wiring harness, relay, circuit breaker, and a 165-180 temperature switch for the side of the block .

I think an electric fan would be safer than the belt driven. I am planning on having a control panel with all the gauges, keyed ignition, and three accessory switches (I'm thinking one for electric fuel pump, one for electric fan, and an extra switch) Similar to this.

 

I’ve never bought a new rod, main or head bolt for an older engine.

 

I've bought some new head bolts for big block Chevys....something about the threads rotting away from poor cooling system maintenance.

 

It makes my head hurt. mechanical Cooling fan with clutch, electric fan, engine pulleys, belts Yikes. I do like the looks of the Gilmer style belt and pulleys. not sure if I need a fan clutch. If I go electric, I know I do not need fan clutch. Fan clutch minus the actual blades is about the same price as the eclectic fan and components

 

What’s a gilmer?
Clutch fan? If ya got room why not. But they are ugly.
Electric fan? Only as a last resort for me.

I don’t over think this stuff.
My 283 will run the pulleys, brackets and fan a 283 came with.
My 500 has the***** it was born with.
The 350 in my 61 has v pulleys it’s supposed to have.

it all works

 

The pulleys and fan a 283 came with would be my first choice, also. I happen to have that stuff laying around...lots of guys don't.

 

I guess being a pack rat and scrounger has its advantages

 

If this is still intended to be nothing more than a display engine that gets fired up on a run stand, I'd go with an electric fan just for the safety aspect. Turn it on/turn it off as needed and most electrics come shrouded to a degree ...

 

I have a nearly new electric fan I would let you have for the cost of shipping from16505 if you are interested. PM me for details.

 

Googled that gilmer word. Well that’s what they call those belts.
We used em on dry sump engines.
If just needing some simple***** to stick on a test engine ya just need a generic stock style v belt water pump and crank pulley. We’ve ran em with or without an alt on a test stand.
All ya need to know is short or long style water pump for pulleys and brackets.
A stock style alt bracket is easy to find and cheap.
Do whatever floats the boat for a fan

 

I am thinking 15-20 minutes tops at a time.

 

I need to get everything for the front of the engine, crankshaft pulley, water pump, water pump pulley, alternator, alternator bracket, alternator pulley(if not already on alternator) and a belt. No power steering I know the style of pump (long or short) determines what I need for all the other parts. SO, is it better to get a long or a short style pump? Is one better than the other?
Am I correct in****uming I would not need a belt tensioner as I can adjust the belt with the alternator bracket?

 

Might visit a junkyard and see if you can find any of these engines that you can get pulleys and brackets off of cheap.

Parts availability is probably the best way to determine what to use.

 

Everything you say above is correct. The only advantage to a short pump is fitting in a tight engine compartment

 

For an engine run stand I'd consider an electric fan, that is if it might ever be used for more than one engine. But if this is the only engine you'll put on it I'd just grab a factory steel blade fan and use it.

 

Stock long pump
Stock steel pulleys
Stock alt bracket. That’s how ya set belt tension
Cheap and easy
The short pump is cool for a tight fit.
Probably not an issue in a test stand.

 

Looking at carburetors, say a 650 cfm, 4 barrel: Are the bases pretty much standard? Even between brands? Say from a Holley to an Edelbrock. Just the correct gasket and the four bolts that hold them in place. I know I have a Holley 650 cfm (I think its a 4150 or 4160 or something like that) with a manual choke (I switched out the electric choke for the manual choke) in my Firebird which also has a SBC 350 engine. I'd like to stick with a manual choke. If I end up buying a carburetor, I may as well put the new one in the car and the old one from the car on the project engine.

 

Square bore flanges on modern Holley and Edelbrock carbs are the same. Some intake manifolds are designed to use either spread bore or square bore, and have a "universal" flange, which requires a plate with a square hole, when using a square bore carb.

 

Spread bore on the left (different size primary and secondaries), square bore on the right (same size for primary and secondary)

 

Use the holley much better carb.

 

You know when you build your run stand you can leave room to put a box fan in front of the radiator. Cheap at Walmart and work well if you have access to 110 V power.

 

Good idea!

 

I need to get a distributor. I don't understand the vacuum advance. For my purpose of running on a stand, I do not believe I need a distributor with vacuum advance . Not planning on a pcv valve just little air filters in holes on the valve covers. I think there is suppose to be a hose from pcv back to the carb.

 

Just get a normal automotive distributor
It’s just a vacuum line
Marine distributors don’t need em cause they are usually under a load all the time

 

The correct setup is a PCV in one valve cover with a hose connected to a vacuum source, and a breather in the other valve cover. Not entirely necessary for a test run on a stand though, two breathers will work for that.

 

As far as carburetors go, is there such a thing as too big? I was thinking a 650. But I am seeing some 600 and some 750 available. I am sure 600 would be fine for me.

 

If you're never going to put the engine under load, then it probably doesn't matter what size carb.

 

Given your use, I'd put an electric fan on it. It gives you the option of moving air through the radiator without the engine running.

For carburetor size, a mild 350 doesn't even need a 650. I have a 570 street avenger on one of my 350's in a heavy car and it works great. A smaller carb will give better throttle response which will appear more impressive on a run stand. Since the engine will have no load, bigger gives you no benefit.

If you run a vacuum secondary carb, it will always operate on the run stand as a 2 barrel, because it will have no load. The engine won't have much demand though, so it will run and idle fine with that.

 

I'd go with a stock mechanical fan.
One reason I would not use an electric fan is that when the engine is just idling, the electric fans will draw a lot of current and the alternator may not be running fast enough to recharge the battery. You can get high output alternators, but a small alternator is all thats needed if the battery only works the starter and ignition. You can always set a portable fan in front if you need a little extra air movement.