Budget extra power.... ?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Califonia
Budget extra power.... ?
hi, im looking to get some more power out of my 74 vett. IT has good power now but im pretty mechanically inclined and wanted to get some ideas of how to get more from my 350 sbc with a reasonable budget. I already have a vortec crate engine with short headers, comp cam, holly double pumper k and n filter, gm intake and i have 3.55 gears in the back so i kidda wanna keep those where they are. I am thinking my set up is in the 350HP ballpark and would just like some more. I have a forged crank with a four bolt main block but unfortunatly i have cast pistons... i have heard that this put a limit on how much power i can get with this build? at 500 HP?
If true i would love a 100 more or 50 more, just more.... any ideas? Thanks, im in the early stanges of this build and just want ideas...
I really should be happy, i just finished my last build last year and have loved the 350 ponies but i would love more....
thanks
(new to the site but it seems cool so far)
If true i would love a 100 more or 50 more, just more.... any ideas? Thanks, im in the early stanges of this build and just want ideas...
I really should be happy, i just finished my last build last year and have loved the 350 ponies but i would love more....
thanks
(new to the site but it seems cool so far)
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento CA
hi, im looking to get some more power out of my 74 vett. IT has good power now but im pretty mechanically inclined and wanted to get some ideas of how to get more from my 350 sbc with a reasonable budget. I already have a vortec crate engine with short headers, comp cam, holly double pumper k and n filter, gm intake and i have 3.55 gears in the back so i kidda wanna keep those where they are. I am thinking my set up is in the 350HP ballpark and would just like some more. I have a forged crank with a four bolt main block but unfortunatly i have cast pistons... i have heard that this put a limit on how much power i can get with this build? at 500 HP?
If true i would love a 100 more or 50 more, just more.... any ideas? Thanks, im in the early stanges of this build and just want ideas...
I really should be happy, i just finished my last build last year and have loved the 350 ponies but i would love more....
thanks
(new to the site but it seems cool so far)
If true i would love a 100 more or 50 more, just more.... any ideas? Thanks, im in the early stanges of this build and just want ideas...
I really should be happy, i just finished my last build last year and have loved the 350 ponies but i would love more....
thanks
(new to the site but it seems cool so far)
Just sayin...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento CA
Beyond my previous post....
heads and cam?
Maybe pull your existing heads and perform some surgery to the ports and gasket match?
You can do a lot of the work yourself, then take it to a machine shop to "clean up" your bowl work. That way you can save some cash with doing most of the work yourself with a die grinder.
a nice new cam that has a nice lumpy idle and pulls to 6500rpms? Cam and lifter packages are a decent price on Summits website.
Roller rockers to go on those reworked heads.
Also, go with a set of Long tube (full length) headers and an X-pipe, that should be worth a few more ponies over your shorties PLUS it will make cool sounds out of the tail pipe :-D
heads and cam?
Maybe pull your existing heads and perform some surgery to the ports and gasket match?
You can do a lot of the work yourself, then take it to a machine shop to "clean up" your bowl work. That way you can save some cash with doing most of the work yourself with a die grinder.
a nice new cam that has a nice lumpy idle and pulls to 6500rpms? Cam and lifter packages are a decent price on Summits website.
Roller rockers to go on those reworked heads.
Also, go with a set of Long tube (full length) headers and an X-pipe, that should be worth a few more ponies over your shorties PLUS it will make cool sounds out of the tail pipe :-D
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Califonia
I Have vortec heads that have been ported with a pretty agressive cam already. Plus they only have 5,000 miles on it. Although i heard long hearder create problems, somehting about clearance issues?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento CA
I have Full Lengths on my F-body, but not on my Corvette....yet!
Clearance can be a PITA if the collector is really low. I've seen some that tuck up close to the body that would work really good. I would suggest Jet-Hott coating them. Summit does it all for you. If you have an aggressive cam and good heads, I would have to believe that a good set of LT's would really give you a bump in power. And you could install an X-pipe along as well. I couldn't imagine that setup would set you back all that much money, and it would really wake up the sound of an aggressive cam.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Califonia
i was thinking nos, a small non roots style supercharger or a few other engine mods. Like i still have stock rocker arms but i dotn know how much HP they really give you. I can't really think of anything else i can get other than a new engine
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
There you go! when one has done what you have(you can really make more) the only real seat of the pants improvements are to remember is a bigger motor is the easiest way to make more power even if they make less per cubic inch they are still cost effective mostly. look you have a 350, a 400 built the same way as your 350 builds 50 more ponies right out of the gate. give or tale a few.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Califonia
i have a comp cam that one of there reps said would be a good vortec match while keeping drivability and matching springs. I have the aluminum GM preformance intake with a holly double pumper that holly suggested for my build. Its a 4 speed so no stall converter but i also have 3.55 rear end gears and my transmission is a close ratio gear box.... what are other power adders? and i know being **** is how you get a finely tuned engine..... also what is the max power cast pistons can take? they are the weak point of my engine?