DZAUTO

And that was exactly the plan with the SB400 with FI in the 56. I wanted killer performance from an engine that resembled a 57 FI 283.

Factoid

I think it is safe to say there will not be an original look to this engine. Even if you paint the aluminum heads, they are drilled and tapped for accessory brackets which are probably in use.

Given this is not a concern, the new 350 is a plug and play and everything you have will fit.

63 340HP

If you swap the heads, oil pan, and accessories from the 327 to the 350, the noticeable differences from five feet back are few (and almost all can be addressed):

No VIN pad on most 350 blocks (no functional issue).
No PCV tube hole in the 350 block (the need for a plumbed valve cover or valve cover riser, or intake, vent).
A tapped forward "Corvette" clutch z-bar hole.
A spin on oil filter in the 350 block.
A drivers side dipstick (although many 350's are in this configuration).
A different diameter harmonic balancer and timing tab location on the timing chain cover (if the 327 has the 8" SHP balancer).

Most people will never notice the differences, or appreciate to extra work to hide the differences.

SI67

So what cam did you use?

sidepipe seeker

With 8:0:1 compression ratio...the BEST flowing cylinder heads in the world will be grossly underutilized.
A compression ratio of 8:0:1 is more applicable to a forced induction system ( super charger) NOT a naturally aspirated engine.
Actually a lower compression ratio of 8;0;1 is WASTING the full potential of the fuel...when in fact... a compression ratio of 10:0:1 will give you an added 10 horsepower over the 350/290 hp crate engine at a compression ratio of 8:0:1...and More Torque! ...with better fuel economy...Mark

http://www.wallaceracing.com/hp-cr-chg.php

alexandervdr

the "929" cam from compcam Replacement for factory ID 3896929 CL12-105-3 https://www.summitracing.com/int/par...05-3/overview/
On top of more torque you get a much nicer idle too.

tuxnharley

Specs say rpm operating range is 600 - 4800. Seems a little low for use in a C2?

ChattanoogaJSB

glenn you need a poll for how many times owners have revved their c2 past 4,000 rpm.

I would wager many who owned them since “back in the day” are still doing it today but most of the recent buyers are not

68hemi

I buy and build my cars to drive them as I did when I was 19. Even my stock 300 horse I take in the redline nearly every time I drive the car at least in 1st gear.

MikeM

If you have a real midyear Corvette engine, the fun starts at about 3000 and continues to 6000 and beyond.

Anything else is just transportation..

karkrafter

Tsk Tsk Tsk, kids these days.....

btw because cam specs say 600-4800, that doesn't mean it won't spin above 4800...It will rev right to redline. on the street feeling it down low is way better than feeling it way up high....

GTOguy

I don't. I got tired of replacing my u joints, clutch, transmission synchros, rear tires, etc. all the time. As a mechanic, I respect machinery. Use but don't abuse. I have a few friends that are 'redline every gear' guys. Their cars are always in between engine jobs or otherwise sidelined. Mine keep on running, decade after decade. I have a lot more wisdom and introspect than I did when I was 19, thank God.

tuxnharley

Hi Benton - sadly you are probably right. For me the rpm is also about the noise, growing from a growl to a roar to a howl as the revs build. Also the snap crackle pop as the revs drop in between shifts.

You dont have to speed shift/power shift/abuse the machinery to enjoy that!

68hemi

There is nothing abusive about taking these cars to redline the factory designed them for it. It is all about the launch and shift that can be abuse. I seldom rev and dump the clutch or power shift anymore like I did 10 years ago.

tuxnharley

Well yeah, but the power drops off then so what’s the point in reving it beyond the power peak?

sidepipe seeker

Exactly!!!...the cam being used in the 350/290 hp...has a rather "tame" grind....having a "lift" of .390 on the intake & .410 on the exhaust.... that cam is just revving & building NO torque/horsepower after 4,800 rpms.

That cam is the DIRECT replacement cam for the 1972 350 cubic inch engine producing an earth shattering ....200 hp

Notes:Replacement for factory ID 3896929, fits 1965-68 327 CID with factory 275/300 HP, 1967-69 350 CID with factory 295 HP, 1970 350 CID with factory 300 HP, 1971 350 CID with factory 270 HP, and 1972 350 CID with factory 200 HP.....Mark

Gavin65

while I would agree with you for the most part, there is nothing abusive taking a solid lifer small block to red line every now and than, it just starts stretching its legs at 4 grand. and the sound is addicting.

karkrafter

Ok how about this...100% of the time we drive our cars, we drive thru the 600-4800 RPM power band. 100% of the time [unless your car idles at 4800 RPM. Even if you redline your ride ONCE every time you drive it, you still spend a exceptionally small amount of the time 'above the power band'

To build your car for a 10 second period of time you drive your car and put the rest of the time it's running as secondary seems foolish to me. But certainly set up your ride for you, not me or anybody else.

tuxnharley

EXACTLY! You beat me to the response. The act of taking an engine to redline alone is not abusing the machinery and will not cause the catastrophic failures described above . I think that was just a bad assumption about how others drive and a wee bit of an overstatement.

tuxnharley

How about picking a camshaft with different specs that is good from say 800 to 6000 rpm and cover all the bases?