Xfactor

Hello everyone,
I just picked up my first 79 corvette. The previous owner put an 74 350 with surfixx TKG with what i could find was that this engine was from a 350 van/bus very low hp below 200. With 3986336x heads crappy heads too with what i could find online. I am planning on rebuilding the engine. My questions is what is the best combo that would make me some power 350-375 hp? If i was to rebuild the engine should I use this block or go with a different one , i have another block 14093638. I am getting some different heads most likely vortec 062 or 906,(would like some aluminum heads but i am a bit on a buget) , new pistons, cam, headers, intake. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am new on this chevy engines.
Thank you again.

hugie82

It all depends on what your budget is? If the bottom end is good, a nice alum head and intake matched to a cam will get you over 300hp for around $1500-$2000. That's including headers, carb, ignition and other little pieces.
If you have $3000+ I would be looking at 383 stroker kits. Add that to what was stated above and you have a nasty street motor!

jb78L-82

Assuming the block, compression, etc are good and you just want some more power on a budget than I would stick with the bottom end-do a compression check on the cylinders. If you have the cast iron GM intake, probably an edlebrock performer intake would be a good idea, along with LTH and 2.5 duals instead of messing with the bottom end if it is good. Assuming the engine has 8.5:1 pistons, a good set of iron heads 64 CC (with 8.5 pistons will get you 9.5 compression)-others know heads better like the Dart iron eagles etc-$800-$1,000- and flat tappet cam like the comp cams 268 or lunati 262/268-$350 cam kit (I went roller cam for the better power -and a lot more lift-and little risk of wiping a lope with today's oils) would get you easily to 350 Gross HP. Excellent Aluminum heads and roller cam with 10:1+ compression would easily get you 425 gross HP and much more $…Unless you need a crank, rods, pistons, rings, etc I would not go the 383 route since you can make very good power with the existing 350 components-$1,500-$1,800. Depends how much money you want to spend but you can get good gains on a budget.

mikem350

Lots of those van blocks especially those ending in 010 are 4 bolt mains. Good starting point. As jb78 says power is made in the heads/cam combo...