350 SB Rebuild
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
350 SB Rebuild (new pics added)
Well, I finally saw what a wiped lobe on a cam looks like:
And I have two wiped lobes.
I've decided to rebuild the engine (did a top end rebuild a few years ago, didn't help). I spent the weekend taking it apart. Here's some pics:
I am having the cylinders bored out to a 355 (30 over). The crank needs to be turned as you can probably see from the picture. I'm looking to replace the pistons with flat tops and the cam with one in the 280 range. Still trying to decide which one, but it will be a Comp Cam. That's about as far as I've gotten so far. I'll be taking the block and heads to a machine shop in Norfolk, VA next week. I'll be sure to post pics as I progress.
Also, since I'm at it, I decided to replace the steering system with a Steeroids Rack and Pinion system. Oh, and I want to change out the heater fan, and while I'm at it...
Don't they have a vaccine for this disease yet!!!
And I have two wiped lobes.
I've decided to rebuild the engine (did a top end rebuild a few years ago, didn't help). I spent the weekend taking it apart. Here's some pics:
I am having the cylinders bored out to a 355 (30 over). The crank needs to be turned as you can probably see from the picture. I'm looking to replace the pistons with flat tops and the cam with one in the 280 range. Still trying to decide which one, but it will be a Comp Cam. That's about as far as I've gotten so far. I'll be taking the block and heads to a machine shop in Norfolk, VA next week. I'll be sure to post pics as I progress.
Also, since I'm at it, I decided to replace the steering system with a Steeroids Rack and Pinion system. Oh, and I want to change out the heater fan, and while I'm at it...
Don't they have a vaccine for this disease yet!!!
Last edited by Buzzardz_vette; Jun 8, 2009 at 10:19 AM. Reason: (new pics added)
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,053
Likes: 679
From: FL
I had two Comp Cam XE series flat tappets wipe lobes. I switched to a Crane hyd roller. More expensive but worth the peace of mind. Oh, and before I had the two Comp Cams, I had a Crane Powermax flat tappet with no issues. Personal opinion, stay away from Comp, there is better out there.
Also, look into stroking to a 383. Not much more than doing the 355 and definitely more fun.
Also, look into stroking to a 383. Not much more than doing the 355 and definitely more fun.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 487
Likes: 160
From: Two Lane Black Top
My .02 worth...I think doing a 383 will only cost a little bit more than putting a 355 together. Likewise, I'd toss the old heads, there are much better out there etc unless the orginal look is important to you.
As for cams...I stick with Comp, I've ran Comp XE-R lobes on my LS1 Trans Am for 80,000+ miles...no problems.
As for cams...I stick with Comp, I've ran Comp XE-R lobes on my LS1 Trans Am for 80,000+ miles...no problems.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
It is the original engine so I'm am trying to keep it as original as possible. Some things aren't original, but I'd like to keep most of it original. I will look into 383 and roller cams. Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
I really like my Lunati VooDoo too. No issues, with the GM EOS oil additive after 10K miles. However, you may want to seriously consider a roller cam for more power and no problems. Also, if I had to do it again, I'd build a 383 instead of the 355. Nows your chance!
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Well, here's the Comp Cam roller kit I'm looking at getting (K12-423-8):
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...Category_Code=
My friend has it in his 73 and really likes it. It's a roller cam. What do you all think about it? Any place I should order it from as far as cost and vendor reliability?
I decided against the 383 (would cost just too much money right now). The 355 should work fine for what I want. The engine is ready at the machine shop. they're just waiting for the cam kit so that they can install the springs and valves in the heads.
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...Category_Code=
My friend has it in his 73 and really likes it. It's a roller cam. What do you all think about it? Any place I should order it from as far as cost and vendor reliability?
I decided against the 383 (would cost just too much money right now). The 355 should work fine for what I want. The engine is ready at the machine shop. they're just waiting for the cam kit so that they can install the springs and valves in the heads.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
I also had a comp 268XE wipe a lobe in it's first 5,000 miles (along w/countless others that I've heard about). No more comp cams for me. They offered to send me a replacement one for free and I told them that I'm not into changing my cam nearly as often as I change the oil and to keep it on the shelf where it belongs. I'm sure they still make some good cams but will trust my luck elsewhere going forward.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I also had a comp 268XE wipe a lobe in it's first 5,000 miles (along w/countless others that I've heard about). No more comp cams for me. They offered to send me a replacement one for free and I told them that I'm not into changing my cam nearly as often as I change the oil and to keep it on the shelf where it belongs. I'm sure they still make some good cams but will trust my luck elsewhere going forward.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
From: Frisco TX
I just put the same Comp roller in my 360
she made 444hp/448tq
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...440-440-a.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
This is one of those old, old arguments that will just not go away: You should store a crankshaft on it's end, so it won't take a bend.......No, man, you should store it on it's side, so it can't fall over!!! I don't know which is right, but I kinda like the idea of not letting it fall over.....
Scott
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
And here what a billet steel cam looks like, ask for a billet steel core not that concrete looking crap that seems to be common place these days, no wonder they are wiping lobes.
Comp Cams will grind you a billet cam for $40 extra, pretty sure they didn't even charge me for mine and it was a small base circle too
Comp Cams will grind you a billet cam for $40 extra, pretty sure they didn't even charge me for mine and it was a small base circle too
Last edited by MotorHead; Mar 7, 2009 at 01:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
And here what a billet steel cam looks like, ask for a billet steel core not that concrete looking crap that seems to be common place these days, no wonder they are wiping lobes.
Comp Cams will grind you a billet cam for $40 extra, pretty sure they didn't even charge me for mine and it was a small base circle too
Comp Cams will grind you a billet cam for $40 extra, pretty sure they didn't even charge me for mine and it was a small base circle too
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
danglin' cranks
This is one of those old, old arguments that will just not go away: You should store a crankshaft on it's end, so it won't take a bend.......No, man, you should store it on it's side, so it can't fall over!!! I don't know which is right, but I kinda like the idea of not letting it fall over.....Scott