350 with vortec heads, duration at .050 of 220, lift .465 - .470, you should be good without having to rework the vortecs for lift. Flat top pistons. 1 5/8 headers. Double roller timing chain, std flow oil pump, edelbrock performer or performer rpm (you need a vortec specific intake), holley-Qjet-carter carb, take your pic, felpro gaskets, clevite bearing. Its a solid combo, pulls plenty of vacuum, makes good power thru normal driving rpm, wakes up when you turn the rpm up. Smaller cam http://www.northernautoparts.com/part/ei-cl1065pk Larger cam. http://www.northernautoparts.com/part/ei-cl1788pk check out northernautoparts for rebuild kits, over the years I keep going back to them after comparing options.
Refresh your existing 350. You said you work in a machine shop, so it should be real cheap. Inexpensive rebuilder flat top pistons, zero deck the block, set quench to .040, 305 heads, (yeah, really) will bump compression to reasonable levels-compression=torque and small intake ports for great velocity. Put in a cam about 2-3 steps smaller than everybody recommends. The most common Chevy cam back in the day was the 929 cam. It specs out at 195/202@.050, .390/.410 lift. Designed for low speed torque. Don't need much more than this, really. A more modern design without going much bigger is what I'd be looking for. Stock iron Qjet intake and properly tuned carb. All can be done on the cheap with some planning. Devin
Forget the 292, it has about the same HP and torque as a 307, less than a stock 350. They are a powerful motor compared to a 230 six but not to a V8. The 235 is even lamer.
My work truck is a 1-ton dually, it has an unknown milage crate 350 in it, and yesterday I went to leave and thought it was in first and instead it was in third. There was torque enough to get it going just the same.
A sbc can get down right torquey, without a whole helluva lot of magic. A Cad or a big Olds, etc would be cooler. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Unless you're just wanting a change for change sake.
A v8 Diesel. will give bags of torque. sensible fuel economy and last forever with minimum maintenance.
might go diesel but it will be inline, also just found a 292 ht in a 65 chevy 1 ton fire truck everything still on it but the guy doesn't want to part it out even though it hasn't moved in 15 years and will not for another 15 years, so how about some diesel options?
Diesel - yeah anyone else notice that prices on diesel fuel went up in a big jump over gasoline just about the same time the flex fuel e85 vehicles came out? Compared to gasoline, It used to cost less to run a diesel vehicle, it should cost less to run e85 but it doesn't in either case. I'd only do a diesel if I absolutely needed it or had one given to me. Most popular reasons why you'd need a diesel - heavy loads in high elevations.
Vicky, Just to be the devil's advocate here, and because I like ya. About 2 years ago if I recall a fella turned over a million on a GM small block powered truck, made national news. Original engine had never been out of the cradle. In your favor, it was rare to find a first gen small block that didn't need attention by 90-100K. Ha I remember when Diesel cost less then gasoline. I am still wondering why it should cost more today. I takes less refinement, and it is lower octane. To make out on diesel you would have to not be running an early 4x4. If your not getting 40 mpg you are whistling in the wind.
1 SBC out of 100 million SBC - Put 130k on my 5.3 LSx so far- just 1set of plugs and regular oil changes - no other engine related work required.
I'm partial to BBF's. Earth rotating torque when you can make it hook, readily available at scrap yards/craig's list on the cheap, can be stroked without additional machine work for clearance, stout!, head bolts not in water jackets and directly into block (not just the deck), all are "tall" deck, better cam-to-crank centerline... I run them in both my rod and my drag car. I've tried other setups. I'm sold on 460's.
OK, if you have an interest in a diesel then perhaps you saw this thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/my-1950-dodge-wayfarer-rebuild.469194/page-2#post-6367157 Also, here is a swap on another forum: http://p15-d24.com/topic/31694-1952-b3b-with-cummins-4bt/ Plenty of Cummins info even here on the Hamb, just search.
RE:Cheap Diesel.I remember growing up when Diesel was .10 cents a gallon at the local truck stop.Hehehe.`Course,that was back about the day after Noah grounded the Ark. Good luck.Have fun.Be safe. Leo
Just wanted to see if you were awake. The wife's 5.3 made it to about 139 before plugs, but the mileage had dropped way off. Plugs fixed it. I think the SBC in the Raven's roadster is @ 150K now. But it is not a stock original and it started with an oddball block and it really should be packed. Maybe after this years HAMB Drags if he doesn't grenade it. Its getting loose as a goose. I think built right, and a high nickel (cast in Puebla) block you could get a lot of miles out of one. A quarter million would probably be a stretch, but 200K I believe is attainable. I know where there is a high nickel block if anyone wants to sponsor an experiment. The thing with an SBC as opposed to other choices is that they are cheap enough (in the whole scheme of things) to be a throw away. But they are going to become scarce in the next 20 years, so if you love them this is the time to snag and stockpile.
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