Engine size matters
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Seymour Indiana
Engine size matters
I'm wantin to pull the original 350 out of my '77 and replace it with something with a few more ponys. If I do, the original is gettin cleaned up and put on engine stand. I'm weighing my options on what to replace it with. For those of you that have replaced the engine in your car what did you end up going with?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: Easton PA
pulled my original and put a 385 stroker in, if had to do it again, best bang for buck 406 baby. careful one thing leads to another and next thing you no you maxed your credit cards and your bank account is dry.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
The is no replacement for displacement. Cubes = more power. More power = more broken parts. You will start to need to upgrade everything from the motor on back to the tires. Your budget will determine a lot. 
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,920
Likes: 731
From: Youngstown Ohio
When the original engine went kaput, I replaced it with a 427 stroker small block....wanted more horsepower. As noted above, the amount of horsepower you buy is inversely proportional to your bank account balance.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 169
From: Westampton New Jersey
Worked my 350, bored .030 over, forged flat tops, aluminum heads, roller rockers, 800 cfm carb. RPM air gap intake. ect ect. Now I got a 355 with 425 hp and even LESS weight. Works for me.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,665
Likes: 194
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
You can make some nice streetable power from a 350ci for peanuts. I made 300RWHP 330RWT with my 355ci. Of course that is never enough and I built a 550HP 406ci and now have a 600+HP 427ci small block which should keep me happy for another year or so 
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
Big Block, HO454 short block with ZZ502 heads and cam, Edelbrock RPM air gap intake (forget the stock hood)
March makes a pulley/bracket kit that works slick and looks HOT!
March makes a pulley/bracket kit that works slick and looks HOT!
Last edited by mtcraigco; Oct 31, 2010 at 06:19 PM.
