Lohkay

Ok..here is what I have..

350 2bolt
cast crank
stock rods
aluminium flat pistons
hydraulic flat tappet cam (no idea what it is but its mild)
roller rockers
torker II intake
cast iron heads with angled pugs (I have no clue what those are...will get a part # soon)
q-jet carb

The engine was an L48 out of my '78. The guy before modified it a bit and it makes around 250rwhp. I want to add some power but at the lowest cost. Here is what I think: Keep the bottom end as is. Change the cam for something a bit more wild. port match the intake and the heads. polish the combustion chamber.

I know the heads are probably my biggest limiting factor but new heads cost too much. What else could I look at?

EDIT: What the hell? I post this in engine mods and it gets moved to C3??


[Modified by Lohkay, 1:16 PM 1/11/2002]

nunus79

The angle plugged heads are probably aftermarket or GM hi-perf pieces. Stock heads weren't angle plugged to my knowledge. So you might have a decent set of heads already.

Your engine build sounds pretty close to mine. The ET too. Do you have starting line traction problems?

Lohkay

Nope...not at all. I have 275s rear tires and the only way I was able to break them loose is by dropping the clutch at 5000rpm. :D I'll get the casting numbers of the heads tonight and post them next week.

How much trouble is it to work with irons heads? I suppose my dremel tool ain't strong enough? As you can see, I have never done a job like this and any comments or suggestions is greatly welcomed.

Maco Shark

Remember if you are using an automatic trans.
More cam is going to require a stall converter if you get too wild.

Lohkay

Nope. 5spd from richmond. And this time I won't drop it from 5k I swear! :blueangel:

PatsLs1vette

the angled plug heads are older gm ones probably 492' castings or 292 or 370 version...still better then other heads out there like 882 or 624's.i ve had several sets of the 492 for years ran a 327 with them..the 492's on the 327 ran in the 7000 rpm with no problems.


[Modified by pats406nitrovette, 1:57 PM 1/11/2002]

Lohkay

Thats great to hear as I intended to put a solid roller cam to rev it up high. I just had the heads checked and got new bronze valve guides installed.

nunus79

What kind & size of headers are you running? Are you using a balance pipe?

One of these days, I plan on trying some simple head porting & manifold matching on my iron heads. I've heard carbide bits are the best way to port iron. The paper roll stuff probably just tickles the iron, especially on a dremel. The horsepower is in the heads!!!! Good luck.

Lohkay

My old headers are scrap so I'll buy new ones. We'll see when I put the car back toghether....ya just made me think about a joke with that "horsepower is in the heads".

A corvette owner walks up to a rice owner and starts to talk about cars and stuff. Then he says, looking at his vette, "The horsepower is in the heads!"
Then turns to the rice car and says "but your horsepower is in YOUR head"

...... :lol: ...seemed more funny when I thought about it. Haaa well...its friday. :jester

Lohkay

ttt (going away for the weekend)

ZD75blue

I like that... :smash:

dont know what to say about the heads... but the jokes good

Sean Willard

If you haven't upgraded you ignition system yet that would be relatively cheap HP. Another thing to consider is an intake manifold upgrade and a free flowing air filter like a K&N. I noticed a pretty considerable increase when I made these mods on my 77' L-82. Good luck!

Lohkay

Okey..I got the casting #s of my heads. 3991492. Can someone please tell me the specs of those heads? valve size, etc?

weekend update: I started stripping the paint off my block and heads. Sandblasted my intake and looking at polishing it. I'll need more tools for that. I'm thinking about putting a blower on top of that engine but the price is a little high. Is there anyone that has one on sale?

Lohkay

ttt