So walk me through a 350 SBC challenge build: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Feb. 7, 2009 10:18 p.m. NBS2005 Dork

That other engine thread got me thinking. I honestly have not thought about Detroit iron since I left the Motor City 19 years ago. So walk me through a 350 SBC Chevy build up on a challenge budget. And just for giggles, assume it's going in a stripped XJ body with a minimalist wiring harness (enough to be street legal, lights wiper, window blower) ie, the Jag E36 M3 has all been ripped out. I'm talking simple carb NA setup. No fancy electronics. Can you get 350 hp @ the wheels and keep it under budget? What manual trans? What rear end?

Links are nice, but I'd love to hear personal accounts from folks who have done something like this.

Thanks,

JD
Feb. 7, 2009 10:25 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

Car carft can be a big help as they specialize in low buck junk yard chevy builds.

My build up from the other thread

junk yard chevy 350, junk yard vortec heads, a good cam/intake/carb combo. 400-500 HP is easy, just depends on how high strung you want the engine.

Not sure what you will drop for the short block or heads, as this veries with local market conditions. High rise dual plane intake, $100-$200 new, cam $50 and up, and for carb, too many veriables.

To me the biggest veriable is the rotating assembly. Is it good to go, do you need new rings all the way up to a new crank and all. But if you drop a little extra here, it will be all the more durable in the long run
Feb. 8, 2009 2:14 p.m. Travis_K Reader

Any decent 350 short block is fine, cast cranks even hold up better sometimes, becasue they will flex rather than snap. A good carb is either $$$$$$$ or alot of work, one or the other. Heads and cam are where the power is. 487 or 487x heads are good for old ones, along with 350 tpi camaro, but vortec is still better. Buy a good cam, even the most expensive ones are under $200.
Feb. 14, 2009 6:47 a.m. wheels777 HalfDork

If you are anywhere near eastern PA....The best place to get carbs, heads and an intake is the first Saturday of November at the Harrisburg Farm Show Flea Market. The best source for cams, valve trains and small parts is at Kreitz Flea Market on the last Saturday of November. The best place to get short block and/or engines is at Maple Grove Flea Market and they have their first event of the year on March 28-29. Eight Challengers have joined us in the past and you are welcome to come along to any of these flea markets. FWIW, the Nova and Datsun short block was purchased from the MG Flea Market. As for the walk through a build, there are many variables. I personally just find out the head flow, determine how much HP they will support and at what rpm, gear it to match the HP/weight and expected speed, and tune it as a package. Nothing high tech.
Feb. 14, 2009 7:17 a.m. AngryCorvair Dork

minor threadjack: there's an excellent pic of the Nelson Family challenge bug on page 37 of the April 2009 issue of Hot Rod.

there's also a vintage camaro with a 2JZFE (iirc) toyota engine boosted to around 800 hp. This could only be featured in the April issue, although the car is very real.