Time to rebuild the SBC 350, need some info

[Trucknut57]

I recently picked up a 68 C10 and it's got a crappy 305 in it. Since I have a 350 sitting in the shop, I'm going to rebuild it.

My question is this, I want to get around 375 to 400hp and good torque out of it cause I plan on using the truck to tow or haul whatever I can/need to.

Now I have rebuilt a few engines before but they were stock rebuilds, nothing over 300hp and all were for cars that didn't need much more than stock torque.

Can anyone point me in a good direction to get started?

I know I will need to buy some good heads but which ones? Without needing a second mortgage.

I have a cam in mind but not sure if the specs on it will be good enough to get me where I want to be.

Oh and I will be using either the FAST EFI or Holley's Sniper EFI, If that matters.

Thanks in advance.

[Captainfab]

I wouldn't get hung up on a HP number. Just build for max torque with a cam that is compatible with the EFI system you will be using. You should be able to get 400 ft lbs without too much trouble. If you need m,ore than that, you should consider building your 350 into a 383.

[Dead Parrot]

Price your parts and labor on a rebuild, then compare to a crate motor with the specs you want. A lot of times the crate motor is the lower cost option, you just get the bill all at once.

Nice to see a back yard truck getting fixed up.

[Trucknut57]

Captainfab,
What would be a good goal for torque ?


Dead parrot,
That would be a good plan, only problem is I have now idea which parts will get me what I want out of the engine. That's why I'm looking for some direction / info.

[GASoline71]

You can easily get 1hp per cubic inch out of a 350 with a cam swap, flat top pistons, intake, carb, headers, the right torque converter, and pretty much stock 2.02 heads.

Getting even more power can be as simple as a good set of aftermarket heads and upgrade the ignition system.

I'd put the money in the heads and not the EFI if it were me. The EFI will not make up for poor head choice.

Gary

[Bigdav160]

My question is this, I want to get around 375 to 400hp and good torque out of it cause I plan on using the truck to tow or haul whatever I can/need to.

I think that is a tall order for a 350 without supercharging.

Sure, the right heads, right compression, right cam will get you in the HP range you seek but you will be loosing torque down low and therefore towing will suffer.

[Coley]

As mentioned the hp number is often more for the car guys....torque is what gets these trucks moving quickly in most situations.
If you want to rebuild a motor why not go with a 383 stroker kit to get your torque...as well as pretty good hp numbers.
I think the block has to be clearanced in a few places in the bottom end but the machine shop would take care of that.
After that...the rest is parts.
As for heads and cam...I would stick with 1.94 valve intakes (good for torque) but go for 1.6" exhaust.
In terms of the cam....more lift is the way to go for torque in place of the long duration stuff. If you go for the long duration 'lumpity sound'....you can say adios to a lot of your everyday around town power near or off the line.
For the intake a dual plane (not single) is what you would want to stick with or go with.
Top it all off with a professionally built, correct Quadrajet and you are pretty much good to go....apart from a few details, lol
My two bits.

Coley

[Trucknut57]

Thanks for all the help.
I got the time today to go out and tear into the engine that is sitting in the shop. The block is an 010, cast in 76. Current bore is 4.026 on all cylinders.
Then I starting to find all kinds of fun stuff, cam has a flat lobe on the number 6 cylinder, all piston skirts have scored the cylinder walls, not bad but you can see it.
The crank has previously been turned .010 on the rods and mains but who ever put this thing together before failed to keep it clean cause the rods and mains all have scoring.

SO, by the time I go out and get the block bored, buy new pistons,rings,bearings,cam,lifters, heads, blah, blah blah. I'll be into for more than i can get one already done.

Case in point, I found a complete SBC 350 with 350hp, 400 lb/ft of torque for around $3000.00 with free shipping.

Tech specs:

Horsepower:*350
Torque:*400 lb/ft
Block:*Seasoned OE 4 Bolt Main 1pc Seal Roller Block P/S Dipstick
Bore/Stroke:*4.040 x 3.480
Displacement:*350 C.I.D.
Crankshaft:*OE Cast Crank 3.480" Stroke Externally Balanced Rear/Internal Front 1pc.
Connecting Rods:*OE Powder Metal 5.700" Stock Bolts
Pistons:*Hypereutectic Flat Top
Piston Rings:*Moly Rings
Compression Ratio:*9.6:1 Compression
Camshaft:*Hydraulic Roller
Camshaft Specifications:*220/224 @050 .495in/.502ex 112LSA
Camshaft Bearings:*Installed & Clocked to OEM Position
Cylinder Heads:*Cast Iron Vortec 64cc/165cc 1.94/1.50
Freeze Plugs:*Brass Installed & Sealed
Rocker Arms:*Stamped Steel 1.5 Ratio
Oil Galley Plugs:*Installed & Sealed
Oil Pan:*OE 5qt.
Weight:430
Oil :*10W30
Oil Filter:*Wix or K&N Recommended Per Your Application
Fuel Delivery :*Quick Fuel Carburetor 680cfm #HR-680-VS
Intake Manifold :*Edelbrock Performer RPM Vortec Dual Plane #7116
Spark Plugs :*Autolite #605
Spark Plug Gap :*.035�
Harmonic Balancer/Damper :*POWERBOND Internally Balanced 8" #PB1046-N
Flex Plate / Flywheel :*Externally Balanced 168 Tooth*
Timing :*34-36 Degrees Total
Water Pump :*Long Water Pump
Firing Order :*1 8 4 3 6 5 7 2
Exhuast :*1 5/8 Headers
Fuel Pump :*Holley 110GPH Mechanical #12-327-11
Fuel :*91+ Octane
Ignition :*MSD HEI #8362
Automatic Transmission Stall Converter :*2000-2500

What do you guys think?

[Captainfab]

That's not quite what I would call a truck/towing engine. That is more of a performance engine. Have you looked for a 383 in the same price range?

[truckster]

Look at the L31 Vortec crate engine. For a whole lot less money you'll get all of the same essentials. Add a Ramjet 350 / HT 383 cam to the L31 and you'll be in the neighborhood of 330 horsepower and 400 ft-lbs of torque, but it's going to come in much lower in the RPM range. That's going to make it a much better truck motor for you.

[Alex V.]

"Horsepower" is far from synonymous with "towing and hauling" - torque is a different story. Very few truck engines before the most recent generation (say, 2010 and newer?) produce more horsepower than torque. A Duramax diesel from, say, 2003, makes only 360 HP but something over 600 lb.-ft. of torque - current ones are somewhere around the 900 lb.-ft. mark.

Set your sights on about 300 HP/400 tq. with a torque peak between 2,000 and 2,600 RPM and a horsepower peak below 4,500 and it'll tow plenty more than a near-stock 1/2 ton has any business handling or stopping.

[Trucknut57]

Thanks everyone, now I have a good idea what to look for.