What better place to get help as I have spent countless days researching to make sure I build a dependable motor for my 77 Camaro. My goals for this build (my first build by the way) is as follows:

1. Dependable street motor with 300-400 HP
2. Can pass smog (I live in California)
3. Decent MPG

Here is what I have purchased so far:

1. 350 4 bolt main 14016379, 78-79
2. Alum QJET Intake Manifold, 78-85
3. 350 Heads 14102191, Swirl Port Intake, 1.94, 65CC


My questions are:

1. I know many hate these particular heads but will they work for me with my intake manifold choice?

2. If so, what can I do to make them a little better to accomplish my goals?

3. What would be a decent cam size? Would like to go big as possible with out going to crazy!

4. Would there be any benefit to boring my standard block say .20 or .30 over to increase HP with this set up?

Sorry for the newbie questions but want to make sure I am on the right track!

Thanks for all the help!
Dustin

 

1. They'll work, but not very well since performance is your goal. They have very restrictive intake runners.
2. Nothing can be done to make them better, use them as boat anchors instead.
3. Since you're in Californi, I think you would be better off talking to a tech rep at one (or more) of the major cam companies to see how much you can get away with. You need to keep your engine CARB compliant, and too radical of a cam will blow you right off the charts.
4. Boring out the cylinders is for truing them up, not for h.p. gains. Although you would gain a minimal amount since you're increasing your total cubic inches, the difference would be unnoticeable.

 

Do you have a budget for this engine build? If not, then anything goes within Ca. specs. If you have a budget, then you need to figure out what will work within that budget. Since we aren't from Ca. I think Camaro 69's idea of getting info from a cam supplier who knows what flies down there is great!
Once you know what you can do as far as cam specs, then you can post those here and go from there. You've already made some significant purchases, so it's too late to suggest a crate engine. As for the heads, you could have the intake runners on the manifold and heads matched to the gasket and gain a little power there. Also get a set of headers and open up the exhaust runners on the heads to match the header gasket.

 

Thanks guys! Just to follow up to you, 1971BB427, my budget I am not worried about but the more money I can save the more I have to spend on other things. My goal is to build a solid dependable street motor that will not give me many problems and will run when I want it to.

I have purchased a set of the summit versions blackjack headers for it to help the motor breath more. As far as the cam goes I have been contemplating the summit street and racing kits that are 222/222 with a .467 lift or the Crane Cam kit at 222/222 with a .450 lift, all hydraulic flat tappet cams.

Again I am trying to achieve a 350 HP motor that will do well with smog test.

After more research I may take Camaro 69's input and use the heads as a boat anchor since mostly everyone thinks the heads aren't any good. But then again I am not using them for racing applications.

Just as a side note I may have found a set of 95-97's vortec heads with intake manifold. Just waiting for more info on them.

Let me know what your guys take is on the cam set up with the swirl heads?

Thanks...

 

Cam sounds pretty mild, and not too radical to be a big polluter, but I still don't know Ca. laws, so can't say if it will pass your sniff test. Not sure if you could get to 350HP with it either. Seems a tad small to use for a 350HP goal.

 

I went ahead and purchase a set of vortec heads with an aluminum matching intake manifold.

I will now go with a little bigger cam 224/234 with a 465/488 lift. Is it better to go with a flat tappet cam or hydraulic? Hopefully this will get me up to around 350 HP or so.

Let me know what you think!

Will be starting the build with my pops in a couple of weeks.

 

I think your confusing flat tappet and roller tappet. Either one can be hydraulic. A roller will make more power but the cost is more, I probable have a grand into mine, including bronze distributer gear. I do think thats a nice little cam and 350hp seems reasonable. Do you guys have to run manifolds for the sniff test? I don't know that stuff works, I live in Michigan and we blame our smog on Chicago. (Just kidding Camaro 69) Manifolds will really put you down on power, unless you do something trick like have them extrusion honed, and then still not worth the money. Anyway have fun and send us some of those rust free bodies. I'll probably see Elvis before I see a trully rust free Camaro.

 

I think he means solid lifter or hydraulic, but correct me if I'm wrong Dustinho?
I have always been a solid lifter fan, but I like to tinker and adjust them, so that's just a personal choice. Solid lifters also help reduce valve float if you rev your engine pretty high, but most people driving on the street never ring them out that far to care.
Hydraulics with the cam you're looking at will work great, and wont be a constant adjusting issue like solid lifters will.