Ok guys, i am looking to build a 355 for my car here soon, but am really only familar with basic mechanic work and such, but am really really wanting to learn how to build engines and such, is there any recommnded readings or anything you guys think would help?

 

There are many books out there worth getting.
For starters, How To Build The Smallblock Chevrolet, and Chevy Performance Vol 1 & 2, both SA books.
There are about 20 "How To" books that address building or modding the chev smallblock, each of them has quite a bit of good info in it. Most of them have a lot of good photos and basic info on parts interchangability. Look at SA books and HP books, and GMPP books as well.
There are guys here who have a lot of experience, who can tell you a lot of things. But basically there's way too much to be said to expect someone else to post all the answers. Especially when you're just getting started. That's why books are a good thing.
It almost seems ridiculous that I'd end up saying that, but a lot of new guys have an aversion to books, by the looks of it.

Good Luck with your new hobby

 

Vader, where's your "Rebuilding a small block Chevy" tech article?

 

what does SA stand for? and where can i find all these books?

 

You could start here http://store.summitracing.com/produc...earchtype=ecat

 

Most auto parts stores that sell perf parts have a book rack somewhere in the store.
I live in a small town and all 3 of the parts stores here stock SA and HP books.
I'm not sure what SA stands for, they're a publishing co that prints a number of different performance "how to" books.

 

And it's an expensive one!