Hello future advisers!

I have a 1986 Camaro IROC-Z. I call this project White Thunder because my car is white and I plan on it being quite a rumbler when done.

Right now it has a 305 TPI in it but I am going to be building up a 350 to put in there.

The start:

350 sbc from a '91 Chevy Silverado (No Longer own)
Update: I am now buying a 350 motor from a family friend who owns an auto shop.

The Project:

Tear the motor down to just the block and then take a while to build it up myself.

Finished Product:

I want this motor to be mildly built. It can't be an extreme beast right now because I just had my 700r4 rebuilt in the car last summer and I can't exactly get another whole transmission just yet, so I need the motor to be powerful but not powerful enough to tear up the transmission.

The motor needs to look good and something I would be happy to show around saying I built this.

I am still unsure of Carb or EFI or maybe even TPI it back up. (doubting TPI if I am doing full rebuild)

I planned on keeping it a 350, but if you guys think stroking it out to a 383 would be worth while since I am stripping it all down to the block let me know.

Lastly, on the side I am planning on getting a new rear-end for the car. Right now it is a one wheeler peeler. I'd like to get a posi in it and disc brakes too if that isn't too much to ask.

Why am I doing this?

1) I love cars!
2) I like being original. When I pop the hood I want to say that I built what is there from the ground up. Anyone can buy a crate motor but I took the time and effort to make mine unique.
3) This would be a great way to get into something I would like to do and enjoy and who doesn't want a little more power to play with?

Limitations?

The only things that I am limited by are, technically, knowledge. I have rebuilt a motor before in auto class. It was just a lawn mower motor... I know that a 350 cubic inch v-8 will be a lot bigger job, more time consuming, and a lot more difficult. I am ready for the task, it will take me a summer or two to build it up though.

Also, money is and isn't an issue. I want to make this motor good. I am not going to settle for cheap stuff. I want something that is going to be good and last me. I don't have a lot of money right now, my plans are to save up and buy parts as I can. I am in no rush to get this project done. I am going to have fun and take my time. In the end I feel this will be worth it and very gratifying.


If you have any questions please post them. I am very new at this and need all the info I need. Please no negative comments on how this is a dumb idea or whatever. If you feel I am making a dumb choice state so, but give valid reasons so if I have to I will abort the project. But, as of right now I am going to stick through it. Thick and thin.

All advice will be taken, so please give it away. Suggestions, tips, and/or procedures. Examples: Tools needed, balancing info, ect...

Thanks!

 

Welcome to the board champ. Let me jump right in and bust your cherry...8*)

Ditch the 'mild' 350 idea. A mild 350 only puts out 250-320 horse and generally consists of nothing more than a carb, exhaust and ignition. Take the time and add heads and a cam (now you are in the 350-380 realm) and an engine you will be proud of. A 'well worked' 350 will reliably push the 350-400 range, will give you a hard on when you drive, and will set you back somewhere in the 3-4k region.

You say money is not a problem....whatever you have budgeted for this project....go ahead and double it and add some.

Mechanically, you have all the resources you need here.

Get to know your car a bit and decide what you want...let us know.

 

I will agree with scott on the budget portion. You had mentioned you rebuilt the trans not too long ago. I would not let that be a limitation in how you build a motor. I think 400 is pushing it unless you are fine with high dollar heads. But, a 350hp 350 should be fine for what you are looking for.

One thing to look at carefully is, where are you located? Do you have emission laws that will make this project so difficult that it may not be worth it in the end? Also back to the motor, that 2 bolt center headed 350 from the 91 truck may not be worth it...

 

Scott, yes, I was planning on doing a decent cam and heads. I guess "mild" build was too little for what I actually meant. After thinking about it I may just go all out on it. Right now I am in college and the way I see this project going by the time I get the motor and everything else that I want to slap into the car I will be out of Pharmacy school and have a good paying job and putting a heavy duty tranny in there will be the easiet and most fun route.

DJ, I live in Michigan and I am not exactly sure about all the emission laws and junk. I suppose I should check on those. Why do you say the motor may not be worth it?

So I will say I want this motor to be built pretty well. And your saying that it is going to cost me 3-4k. How is that? Crate engines don't cost that much and I am doing all the labor... Are you just saying I will be putting better parts into then what the crates come with?

 

Block machining, boring and honing work will run a few bucks, but thats not the issue.

The issue is heads, crank, rods, pistons, manifold, full exhaust, upgraded radiator, upgraded ignition, etc. Aluminum heads are at least 1K, a good rotating assemble is another $1500, manifold 2-400, radiator 3-600.....you see my point. Do you want to do all that with a 20 year old 2 bolt? I know the 2 bolt will be just fine for around 400 HP, but blocks are relatively cheap when you start looking at the big picture....

 

yea, that makes sense. Where is a good place to look for blocks if that is what I decide?

 

There are a number of places that have new ones. I wasn't trying to sway you towords a new one, just maybe a better option that other one. It may end up being the one you go with anyways, but keep an eye....plus are you 100% positive this motor is indeed a 350? There are tons and tons of similar stories that turn out to be 305's. You need to verify that. Second, I went back to your OP and noticed you wanted rear end work. That is also another factor into the equation. Torque converter, cam and rear gears are somewhat linked (more so for cam and TC) so have a plan going in, or you may not be happy with your results. Looking at this realistically I strongly feel you will have over 6K put into your motor/driveline. If you plan on body/paint or interior that would obviously double.

Now you can go the cheap route, and may even pull it off, but remember the saying. Cheap, powerful, and reliable. Pick two and only two.

 

No I definitely don't need a paint job or anything else. The car is in amazing condition and there is a relatively new paint job on it, within the last 5 to 8 years and there is no rust, there are some pressure cracks on the rear bumper and front bumper but those are very minute issues. I could drive the car the way it is for the next 20 years. The only issue was the tranny went out on it last year so I had to rebuild it. The only issues the car has now is there is a slow oil leak from the motor and it has a rough idle til it warms up. I am just mainly doing the engine just as an upgrade because I want more power. Make it more of a muscle car then just a smogger. And I want the rear end replaced because with the extra power I don't want one wheel always letting loose. I don't want 350 horses and only one burnout strip. I could always lean towards a locker maybe?

 

There has been a slight change. I went home over the weekend and come to find out my Dad sold the truck that had the motor in it. I did do some investigating and there are some auto shop owners that my family is close with and they have a junk yard behind the shop. They said they could get me a decent 350 that runs. So I think I am going that route.

 

So, if some one has any ideas on what I should be looking out for when I am picking a motor out from the shop let me know.