I have a 1978 Z28 with a 350 that I would like to get rebuilt. Its relitively stock with 180hp, but I'd like to get 300hp out of it. I want to put a new carb and intake on it, and I'd also like to gut all the emission equipment since I live in Alberta and none of it is required. Roughly how much would I be looking at for a rebuild kit, carb, and intake? I'm just looking for a ball park figure. I'll be going back to University in the fall so I'm really just looking for cheap horsepower, and a reliable engine at the moment. Thanks

 

well to be totally honest if your only gonna change your intake and carb don't expect much more HP especially from 180 to 300hp. Now if you were to change your heads, cam, intake, dist. and carb you will be able to get the hp your looking for. And as for cost, if you buy a edelbrock top end performer kit it will run you under $2000 new, or look around for some used vortec's or some cammel humps (64cc heads) you might find them cheaper local?

But thats pretty much it, if your looking for a 100+ hp upgrade you'll need to go further down than the intake.

 

nice car , great project
but that's pretty much the facts.
an intake and carb around a 1000$ and a set of heads 1000$ more easy depending if you can find old camel humps that are still good. 93 camaro heads come close also

then you got to wonder what is happening with your bottom end ???
i would pull the pan and check the main and rod bearings for wear.
also just seeing if your pan is full of metal or gunk is a bad sign too.
then the color of the oil that is clinging to the motor,
if it is all black and burnt ... lots of miles!!
clean and fresh looking , no problem.
if it's got a 100 k kilos i would put rod bearings at least if i was going to push harder on it from the top.

then if you just want to put in a brand new engine ...
check out the gm brand new 290 hp crate motor. it's around 2400$ but no carb

 

did yu just buy the motor or has it been in for a while? if yu have never driven with it yet i would just look for not putting too much money in and getting it running and drive it for a little so when you do start to change things like carb intake cam heads yu will realize how much faster your car is but if you have been driving it and are looking to rebuild it now they sell those performance packages that guarentee 300 hp or more for around 1900 my motor was all stock too and i just bought all my stuff from a junk place for 100 got it running then slowly rebuilt the motor and now i love it

 

Good $330 http://www.competitionproducts.com/C...info/350SP-40/
Better $520 http://www.competitionproducts.com/C...info/CA35057F/

Carb $350 http://www.competitionproducts.com/H...tinfo/0-80670/

Cam and Lifters $80 http://www.competitionproducts.com/E...tinfo/E1179PM/

Gaskets $46 http://www.competitionproducts.com/F...info/260-1000/

Oil Pump $28 http://www.competitionproducts.com/M...uctinfo/M55HV/

Intake $140 http://www.competitionproducts.com/E...ductinfo/2701/

Valve springs $26 http://www.competitionproducts.com/H...uctinfo/98111/

Pushrods $28 http://www.competitionproducts.com/S...ductinfo/1011/

Timing set $17 http://www.competitionproducts.com/C...uctinfo/C3023/

TOTAL= $1045 for the cheapest motor I could come up with. Plus machine work and shipping. I belive shipping is free over a grand to the lower 48 plus a $11.50 handling fee. Not sure about Canada. Anyone see anything I missed? This would almost have to make 300HP. If I wanted to dig I'm sure other parts could be found cheaper. Most are pretty good parts. The carb takes up a big chunk too. Hope this helps. I love virtual engine building, I don't get a bill.

 

holy crap !
you guys are lucky in the states. soo cheap!
for sure you could drop another 300 - 500 $ on machine work.
but shipping to canada gets fishy , cause they like to research where the stuff was made at the border and charge you import fees and labour for finding the information.

 

I live less than three hours from the tunnel in Detroit, anyone wanna meet at the border. For a price of course. Latinoeheat are you Mexican? If so I take my hat off to you. Crossing TWO borders, one bad ****.

 

Cheap HP and reliabilty should not be a problem for a 350. Tons of aftermarket parts that can easily get to 300 HP from your stock 180 HP 350. I would start with headers, intake, carb and cam. That should get you close, and if you can also go to a set of good used Vortec heads at the same time you will easily get over 300HP and do so for under $1500.

 

If you are not concerned about it being original to the car, I would definately put your money toward a new crate engine. You cant beat the warranty. I rebuilt my engine only because everything on the car was original when I bought it but after seeing how much money it takes to do everything the right way, Again I would buy the new engine if originality is not an issue.

 

Thanks guys. I've already got a set of headers waiting to be installed and I'll pick up a carb, intake, cam, and look around for some vortec heads. It does have the original engine so I would like to keep that and just rebuild. If I do end up putting vortec heads on the Camaro is there a specific intake that needs to be installed, or can I use any intake?......and no, I didn't jump two borders lol, its just a username I've been using for awhile and it just got easy to remember.