Yes, I bet they are bigger than 165 CC's and 
Bigger is not always better!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
don't feel bad. They always come around to my way of thinking.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
No arguement here! 165 CC heads are too small even for a 350. See, I get along with everybody.
Too small is detrimental to producing power as is too big. WELL MATCHED COMPONENTS IS THE KEY as stated in the original post. Hence the title bigger is not ALWAYS better!
Too small is detrimental to producing power as is too big. WELL MATCHED COMPONENTS IS THE KEY as stated in the original post. Hence the title bigger is not ALWAYS better!
Last edited by 63mako; Feb 3, 2007 at 04:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
I like this post because you're out there protecting people like me mako. I'm the guy who's making his first engine build ever who asks alot of questions on here (albeit some retarded ones) and I get alot of crazy responses.
But I think it also is everyone's own personal definition of whats big. When people talk 400+ HP, thats big for me. I've received some great advice from people who have tamed my expectations and put me in my place as well.
This post just re-enforces alot of good posts on here, and dismisses alot of crazy talk. This should be a post that gets sent to every new person who joins the forum.
But I think it also is everyone's own personal definition of whats big. When people talk 400+ HP, thats big for me. I've received some great advice from people who have tamed my expectations and put me in my place as well.
This post just re-enforces alot of good posts on here, and dismisses alot of crazy talk. This should be a post that gets sent to every new person who joins the forum.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
I totally agree that the engine has to be matched to its intended use. My vette has to do multi-duty .... weekend cruiser, a little autocrossing for fun, i play at the drag strip to safely tune it more than anything, and on occasion its a back-up car for when my daily driver has to visit the dealership. Its all about the combo .... I'm running the quarter at 12.8 @ 107 using a modified ZZ4 (still with the small L98 heads), 5 spd, and a 3.08 rear end on true street tires.
I'm saving the wilder mods for my Oldsmobile which is a Pro-street/Bracket car. Its getting a 455, Victor intake, aluminum heads, forged pistons, 3500 stall, etc. Can't wait to get it out this spring to see how it runs (been in storage for 3 years now).
I'm saving the wilder mods for my Oldsmobile which is a Pro-street/Bracket car. Its getting a 455, Victor intake, aluminum heads, forged pistons, 3500 stall, etc. Can't wait to get it out this spring to see how it runs (been in storage for 3 years now).
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 292
Likes: 41
From: Falls Church VA
Question re: Headers
This is something that has been bothering me for a while on this forum. There are a lot of people with street cars on here that want a little better performance out of their car that don't drag race or autocross. Quite a few also lack the mechanical skills to tune and maintain a real high HP car. The 74 through 82 cars lacked power in stock configuration and I understand the desire for more power. But a lot of times the advice given in this forum is not in thier best interests. Properly matched components are the key to power. Not everyone is building or wants a full blown race engine. Solid rollers, 220 CC heads, 11 to 1 compression, huge single plane intakes and 900 CFM carbs are NOT their best options. I see this time and time again. Dependable power increases can be achieved without building a race engine. You can DOUBLE the power on a stock 75 using a good dual plane, stock qjet, headers, hydraulic roller and under 10 to 1 compression and still have a dependable, reletively maintanance free engine. Just need to look at the total picture, mechanical abilities and budget of some of these inquiries and think it through before you pull the trigger on giving advice. buying 220 CC heads for a future upgrade is not a good option for a guy with a 350 HP small block. Streetability will suffer drastically. I'm done ranting.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 292
Likes: 41
From: Falls Church VA
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Clovis CA
This is a very informative thread!
What I gather is your motor should fit your tastes. 5 miles to gallon may not work for Mr. stock guy, Mr. hot rod may not want an air conditioner and so on. Why are many willing to give an opinion without asking "What are you going to do with it".
Bigger may not be better, but Thow shalt not judge thy neighbor!
What I gather is your motor should fit your tastes. 5 miles to gallon may not work for Mr. stock guy, Mr. hot rod may not want an air conditioner and so on. Why are many willing to give an opinion without asking "What are you going to do with it". Bigger may not be better, but Thow shalt not judge thy neighbor!
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
great thread
Mako, excellent thread, many a time have people been convinced that bigger is always better and then they find out that it may not meet their true needs.
Me, I just love big blocks, but I started out with straight 6's and learned to absolutely love the power, smoothness, balance and reliability of these engines, so I then thought why not two 6's i.e. a v12....mmmm the best balanced engine design out there, began modifying those to increase the efficiency both in terms of power and consumption.
Along the way I awakened to gearing, transmissions and the such, wow talk about getting the most from a combo without having to up the HP ante all the time. In this case more is better, my LO PO L-48 could really kick **** if I have a 7 speed tiptronic and get much better fuel mileage to boot.
So in the end whatever floats you boat or burns your tread, be happy and enjoy the experience. To date, the best engine I've ever owned and still do is a I6 diesel turbo and IC, gobs of torque 35mpg and she's just about broke in at 250k miles...pretty sure that it will out live me
Me, I just love big blocks, but I started out with straight 6's and learned to absolutely love the power, smoothness, balance and reliability of these engines, so I then thought why not two 6's
i.e. a v12....mmmm the best balanced engine design out there, began modifying those to increase the efficiency both in terms of power and consumption.Along the way I awakened to gearing, transmissions and the such, wow talk about getting the most from a combo without having to up the HP ante all the time. In this case more is better, my LO PO L-48 could really kick **** if I have a 7 speed tiptronic and get much better fuel mileage to boot.
So in the end whatever floats you boat or burns your tread, be happy and enjoy the experience. To date, the best engine I've ever owned and still do is a I6 diesel turbo and IC, gobs of torque 35mpg and she's just about broke in at 250k miles...pretty sure that it will out live me
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Headers
There are several brands that will fit the engine but be carefull of the AC compressor. Not all of them will be strong enough for this setup. Many offer some brackets but not all will properly fit without latent problems.
