Engine Build Up
 

ok i got a 1979 chevy 350 small block ive got a lunati cam for it but i want 2 put some more bang into it ive puting it in a 87 monte carlo that i got givin to me for doin some work for a guy. he had a fuel injected 350 and a 350turbo with a shift kit in it that him and his friend rebuilt in high school about 15 years ago and he wanted to keep them both. ive had this motor a LONG TIME and havent done anything with it and i have an old four speed i'll probolly put into it

but really im asking what would you guys do in my situation i got about 500$ to spend on the motor and i have a cam and a dress up kit and i'd like some more power for it, this car if for fun only i might take it out on the weekends to tear up the town but thats about it. ive thought about boring it, fuel injection, polishing the heads and bout everything so id like your opionon on the deal if you have ANY segestion please shear.

RE: Engine Build Up
 

so you already have the cam?

the engine is carbed right now?

i would recommend headers and exhaust, and if that has been dealt with, possibly carb and intake. i would recommend heads, but i dont think that youll be able to get a complete head setup for under 500 bucks, although im not real familiar with the SBC prices.

RE: Engine Build Up
 

i have a set of headers givin 2 me but their old, but they work, but there for a truck so i dont think they'll work but i my cuzin built exhaust for his 5.0 and said he'd help me with them but when it come 2 mufflers and all that good stuff im just goin 2 run stright pipes with 12in glass packs with dumps comin off the headers

but now when it comes to carbs I AM LOST i have NO idea what cfm's i should run because i'd like to be able to drive it around town on friday nights but also be able to get u and go in a hurry

RE: Engine Build Up
 

do you know the specs on your cam?

i run a camaro site with some guys who have ALOT of experience with SBCs...you want to make sure that your carb is ideal for your situation, and not get a carb for what "everyone runs".

the address is www.CamaroForums.com

look in the older camaro sections and ask for a carb recomendation.

i would be surprised if the headers for a truck chassis will fit the car...but headers for an sbc are literally a dime a dozen...thats the beauty of the 350..its one of the most common, and the cheapest engine to build in the world...

RE: Engine Build Up
 

Match the carb the best you can. Too many people go too big on the CFM. Intake choice makes a lot of difference as well as vacuum secodaries or mechanical. Rear end gear and stall converter for an automatic. On a 350 chevy with a mild high lift short duration cam I'd stay around 600-650. Then jet up or down accordingly. Dual plane is best for a mild street use with 3:55 gears or higher. If you go with a wild cam and good heads and single plane with gear 3:91-4:56 and stall of 2800 or better then a 750 CFM works real well. But most cars for the street only need a warm up to allow them to be enjoyed on the street. Myself i try to keep things smooth.

RE: Engine Build Up
 

i really have no idea what duration my cam is set at the guy already had the cam put in and never drove it, and i really don't think he'll be able 2 remember wat it is

RE: Engine Build Up
 

interesting that you do like the single plane intake...ive done with one in the past and my bottom end suffered, and i went back to a dual plane.

RE: Engine Build Up
 

mstrueby, i also nave a 87 monte carlo and i am putting a LT1 corvette engine(350) in it. I am putting headers, 650 cfm carb., new intake, and possibly stroking it, thats what i'm doing if it helps any.

RE: Engine Build Up
 

Bad Mirada I chose the single plain because of the traction issues on the street and occasional 1/4 mile pass. Lose a little on the bottom and pick it up on top... where traction isn't the problem. I have a 292 degree cam and 3:91 gears with a 2800 stall converter. The cam should come alive at 3000 to 6500 RPM or at least thats what I'm thinking:D I will be able to test this theory and if it does not pan out a nice 6-pak will be installed. You are right about the bottom end being a little sluggish. I plan to launch at 2500 and hope I have good enough tires to hook, after that it should be in the power range after every shift. I might even toy with a 125 shot of racers edge;)

RE: Engine Build Up
 

im lookin at flat top pistions cause i hear they up the power so much but stock pistions are almost flat already so do thy realy make lots more power

RE: Engine Build Up
 

mark, i would bet that the stock pistons are still "flat", they are probably dished.

lear, im unsure of your explanation of the cam...292 degree...do you mean 292 duration? duration is measured in degrees of crank rotation, so i assume that is what you mean, but maybe im off base and im just not familiar with the term?

in the mirada, im running the mopar 528/284, with a 3500 stall and 4.56s...shifting around 6700rpm, trapping right around the shift point. the power range for that cam is like 3300-6800, i believe.

keep in mind though, with the big block, you start off with a substantial torque advantage over most small blocks...so for you go to to an intake that likes the top end, you lose less torque by percentage than would i with my little 340...i HATED the dual plane (mopar M1) on the mirada, and quickly changed to the edelbrock air gap, and i love that intake. the edelbrock ld340 is suposed to rival the air gap for the small block mopars, and i had one laying around, so the demon has the ld340 over a 509/294 cam, 2800 stall, and 3.91 gears.

RE: Engine Build Up
 

Ah yes the air gap is the intake I wanted and really like what I hear about it. Yeah the cam specks are for 292 degrees of duration 488 lift. Trying to keep it streetable:D I have run a 304 degrees of duration on my first 340 engine and it worked well with a 4-speed. I later put this engine in my Challenger with a stock automatic and it was flat on the bottom. Just terrible. I then learned after reading and talking alot that the problem with a street built engine is you want power and it to be streetable. So with an automatic you need stall and high lift short duration on the cam. That is the cam that is in there now. I can't remeber the duration but the lift was 448. And this cam made ample power, just not enough in the upper RPMs. 5500 rpm was about it. I too have a small block and to hear you talk about the airgap makes me wonder if I should spend the money now and buy one. I am looking for more RPM. Around 6500-7000. My compression is 10:1 with the heads shaved ten thousanths. I'm using the 2.02 and 1.60 valves with back facing and a ported intake and exhaust. You are using a solid lift cam?

RE: Engine Build Up
 

youre running a small block? interesting.

with the mirada, im running a 69 340, 30 over, stock stroke (right now). bg 750 with 800 cfm proform carb, air gap with the 528/284 cam, 1988 360 heads, ported and polished, 1.88/1.60 valves, 1.5 ratio roller rockers, solid lifters. 100 thousandths dish pistons, 9 to 1 compression with the heads shaved. running only 87 octane, it ran 12.30s-12.40s, track weight of 3700lbs.

the demon is going to be a 1975 360 (dont tell anyone ;) ), stock bore and stroke. 750 holley, ld340 with the 509/292 cam, 1973 340 heads, 1.88/1.60, stock 273 adjustable rockers, solid lifters. stock pistons and everything else on the bottom end. stock it was 8.4 to 1, but the heads that im running are shaved and im running the extra thin head gaskets, so the compression should be similar to the mirada. the demon is a total budget build. the most expensive thing we have bought so far was the OEM wiring harness.
im not sure on the weight yet, but its got a fiberglass front end, clean trunk, lightweight interior...so it may be several hundred pounds lighter than the mirada. i believe that the stock demon 340 weight was around 3300lbs(ive seen numbers that vary from 3250-3350), so it could be under 3000lbs. that would be awesome...real awesome. :D we still havent thrown out the idea of the mirada drivetrain in the demon. figure, the 3700lb mirada went 12.30s, and the demon might weigh 800lbs less? mid 11s would be nice...:)

RE: Engine Build Up
 

Nice combo and from an old school guy... interesting choice. Your combination works real well. I'm a product of the 70s and with us bigger was always better;) But as I have been seeing a better approch such as yours with the matching of parts and R&D yeilds great results. I use the 2.02 valves and 1.60 exhaust. You are getting great results from the 1.88s. Lower compression and using lower octane. Your times are really good. I keep adding things to my combination so I'm not sure what it will be as an end result. I hope it won't fall on its face:) I'm now looking at steel 1.6 roller tip rockers. I love A bodies and can't wait to see your results from the Demon in the 1/4 and I swear I won't tell anyone your running a 360... just between you and me;) Did you see Hot Rod Mags crate motor coverage on the Chrysler LA 440 small block? 540HP nice and better was the torque. I would say if asked... yeah its a 318;)

RE: Engine Build Up
 

a friend of mine has a demon with one of those 440 small blocks..he drives it to car shows, and it runs low 9s...[&:]

i also run about 50 degrees advance timing in the mirada...bat that one around a bit...:D

a few years ago, i ran out of gas on the return road, and coasted to the pits, and got a push from a guy i raced with..i was so angry i stopped the car next to the generator, and pulled the fuel feed line off, drained it into a gas can, and poured it into the car. the guy who pushed it said "you cant put that cheap gas on the mirada!" it ran like a 12.65 the next run.

it really is an odd combo, and i think that when i explain my setup to many people, they think that im full of it. the mirada will be slightly more wicked once its fixed. the new bottom end has 13 to 1 pistons and a different crank...although that would destroy my ability to run cheap gas...and that compression will cause more heat. my combo runs so cool, that on an 80 degree day, i can hot lap three runs without turning on the water pump or fans. we have thought about going with the small stroker kit that i already have, and keeping the low compression pistons.

someday i will get a nice set of aluminum heads, but for now, i like peoples reactions to "i run stock truck heads and run low 12s"...

out of the box, we would like the demon to run in the 13s, as we are running what i consider to be a pretty conservative setup.

i would really like to make a modern take on a mr norms GSS demon...that low compression 360 would probably eat up some forced induction...but for now, its a budget build. im keeping close track of what we spend, and im going to write about it...and it goes to show that you dont need 50 grand to have a nice, reliable muscle car.

here is a video that is a few years old, of me racing amanda...the weather was awful that weekend, and my setup just wasnt working, but a few weeks later, the truck got into the 14.80s, and the mirada got into the 12.50s, then later that season in cool weather, it ran 12.40s and one 12.39...it broke first run out of the box the following season.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=H1cxSQhLJX4

and an exhaust video with the aforementioned setup.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uA1rYV2HA6Q

RE: Engine Build Up
 

Again I'm giving you a thumbs up on your choice of engine parts. Seems your going in my direction now:D 13:1 . I will be waiting to see your results in 1/4 and I think it will be quick. Lighter and more to the combinations I'm used to seeing.

RE: Engine Build Up
 

my knowledge in engine building is rooted in my dads experience...and hes been putting together mopars since the 60s, when the guy who owned the dealership where he worked would say to my dad on a friday night "throw logos on a new hemi car and take it to the track tonight"..so my dad would put these huge magnets with the dealer name on the side, and take brand new performance cars to the track to race!

ive put together turbo 4s, Na small engines, but im most comfortable with carbed V8s...even compared to things like amandas 94 fuel injected ram...i can tune the mirada with a screwdriver...and i hear kids at the track complaining because their laptop wont power up, so they cant tune their car...:eek:

RE: Engine Build Up
 

Thats funny:D Because I'm looking at a stand alone system for my Conquest. Speaking of my Conquest... I got the rebuilt alt. on it today and took it for a spin. Man that little car pulls hard past 7000 RPM. And thats on 8lbs of boost. But with the cam and bigger turbo, I need a way to tune it. I might just for the time being use an SAFC to tune it for the factory ECU. Man I would love to sit down and talk to you and your father about racing. I bet your dad has some interesting stories to tell and to hear them about Mopars would be cool. Bench racing is one of my favorite sports:). If they have a big Mopar meet up your way or Charlotte has a big event we could get together and talk shop.;)

RE: Engine Build Up
 

you really should make it up to the mopar nationals in columbus...there were several spotless conquests there two years ago. there may have been some last year, but i sustained an eye injury at the event,and was only really there for one day.

RE: Engine Build Up
 

I will see if the nationals are in my time frame between outages. I'd love to drive up and see all the action. I went years ago with the Mopar Muscle Club to the Mopar Nationals in Indy. 1984 I believe. I drove my GTX. Had a blast and saw some awsome hardware.:D I'd be up for a trip like that. Also my sons love cars and own Mopars of their own. I think I see a road trip;)

RE: Engine Build Up
 

I went to the last two years at indy, and when they first moved back to columbus, it was a blast as the cops let alot of crazy stuff go on, but then there was an accident at a different event (non-mopar) and they clamped down on the burnouts and such, although youll still see plenty along brice road.

As for the nationals, there is really nothing like it. I recall one year when I didnt go until saturday, but I was actually in columbus for work until friday. Starting wednesday morning, looking into the hotel parking lot...it was like looking out of a hotel window into a 1970s parking lot.

wing cars....:)
hemi cars....:)
vans with murals on the sides...:D

theres really nothing like sitting in a traffic jam surrounded by a rolling car show of almost all mopars....