350 Engine advice
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 10
350 Engine advice
My son needs a engine for a 71 Vette is is bring back to life from the grave. He called me tonight asking questions about a 350 he found for sale. This is all the info he has...and the owner knows. The owner did not build the engine. My son has seen the engine running and says it sounds and runs well
010 Block
461 heads
Pink Rods
Roller Rocker Arms 1.5 ratio
4 bolt main bearings
Dome Pistons
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold
Rochester 4BBL unknown number
Unknown Cam but engine has a slight lope on idle
What can we gather from the sparse info given ? Any estimate of HP ?
I did read tonight on the web that 461 heads did not have accessory holes to mount alternators and PS, is this true ? Also read that the 461 heads were used on 327's
The engine can be bought for 500. D0es this sound like a good deal or ?
How would this be in a Vette with 4 speed
Thanks for your help, I am a diesel guy with short experience with SBC's
8Valve
010 Block
461 heads
Pink Rods
Roller Rocker Arms 1.5 ratio
4 bolt main bearings
Dome Pistons
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold
Rochester 4BBL unknown number
Unknown Cam but engine has a slight lope on idle
What can we gather from the sparse info given ? Any estimate of HP ?
I did read tonight on the web that 461 heads did not have accessory holes to mount alternators and PS, is this true ? Also read that the 461 heads were used on 327's
The engine can be bought for 500. D0es this sound like a good deal or ?
How would this be in a Vette with 4 speed
Thanks for your help, I am a diesel guy with short experience with SBC's
8Valve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
4 bolt main sounds like a good base to start with, dome pistons and 327 heads, old school compression boost, probly has to run premium gas, the 'pink rods' used to be a bit spendy, makes me wonder what else is in it. Vacum's probly a bit low but good for a 4 speed , makes the headlights work....slowly, may need a vacum can. hope this helps
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 10
8valve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
if I remember right , none of the 283/327 series had them, that came with the 350. if you're concerned bout mounting alt. etc, alan grove makes some nice mount brackets for the early heads...late ones too. you dont provide enough info to give an estimate of hp. its probably a bit more than stock
Last edited by oldalaskaman; May 23, 2012 at 08:38 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Any used engine is a complete crapshoot. A compression and leak-down test are your best indication of overall engine condition...but I have generally found that the better the "deal" and the less the owner knows about the engine...the more likely you are to be buying someone elses' problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
My son has seen the engine running and says it sounds and runs well
In 1969, Chevy changed the way that engine accessory brackets were mounted. Prior to 1969, there are no holes in the ends of cylinder heads on which to bolt accessory brackets. From 1969 onward, the heads have threaded bosses and holes to mount the new style brackets.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 10
Guys;
Thanks for all the replies. However, no one has really answered my question on the build up of the engine as described in my first post. Does a build using these parts, especially the older 461 heads and domed pistons make for a good engine of decent HP/Torque. My entire life has been Diesels. I dont have experience with SBC and builds like this using different parts
to make a determination of a good or questionable build.
Is it better to leave a build up like this and keep looking for a nice 350 in the higher horsepower range and be done with it.
And I sure agree, any used engine is a crap shoot, and be ready to do a total rebuild if needed.
Thanks
8Valve
Thanks for all the replies. However, no one has really answered my question on the build up of the engine as described in my first post. Does a build using these parts, especially the older 461 heads and domed pistons make for a good engine of decent HP/Torque. My entire life has been Diesels. I dont have experience with SBC and builds like this using different parts
to make a determination of a good or questionable build.
Is it better to leave a build up like this and keep looking for a nice 350 in the higher horsepower range and be done with it.
And I sure agree, any used engine is a crap shoot, and be ready to do a total rebuild if needed.
Thanks
8Valve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
If the pistons are "domed", then I wonder what the compression ratio is - if its over about 10:1 it would require racing gas on the street. But of course, the compression test I recommended would give you some background on this.
The heads are decent, but even an entry-level modern head is better.
You have virtually no details, so it's pretty hard to give you any specifics. Without more information, there's no way for anyone to tell you anything specific about the engine...
For $500, you pays your money and you takes your chances.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
I don't think you'll find the acc. holes in 461s. Last set I had didn't. I have seen people drill and tap holes in them. They will have soft seats. However the 461s are in demand at times. I sold a set of 461X's for $750 to a guy in Texas a few years ago.
If you pulled them and they aren't cracked, I'd bet you could sell them for enough to pay the lions share of something else.
Like was said, running, sounds good, for $500 what the heck. Like Billa said, there is information you don't have so it's a gut hunch whether it's a good enough deal.
If you pulled them and they aren't cracked, I'd bet you could sell them for enough to pay the lions share of something else.
Like was said, running, sounds good, for $500 what the heck. Like Billa said, there is information you don't have so it's a gut hunch whether it's a good enough deal.