i have the goodwrench 350 in my 85 and was thinking about upgrades heads cam etc. on the scoggin website the upgraded vortec head kit is $950. roller cam, lifters and other misc parts another 300. so how much would i actually gain for $1200? no comp. on my car, msd, holley 600cfm,headers, bowtie level 2 2400 stall.

 

The biggest weak link in that engine is the heads, followed closely by the cam. They are both smog-era parts. I bet the heads are 882s, or something similar, and the cam is a 929.

IMO, its a good engine to start with for a street mill, because its got a really good set of rods (PM rods if I remember right), its a 4-bolt block, and its also built with all new parts too, not reman parts.

 

The pistons are also cast and dished. Its not a performance engine. I would be better just to get a performance shortblock, then have to junk all those usless parts.

 

You stand to pick up an honest-to-*** 100+ hp easy. That is a massive upgrade...

Chevy High Performance magazine did a Goodwrench buildup back in '99 including baselines runs. The stock Goodwrench with a set of dyno headers made 239 hp if I recall correctly. By the time they added a set of Vortec heads, CompCams XE268 cam, Performer RPM intake, etc, they made 371hp...

With the upgraded Vortecs you could step up the cam to something like the HOTcam or perhaps an aftermarket roller cam and beat the numbers put forth with the XE268...

That's crazy, if you have a fairly new Goodwrench shortblock it would be completely ridiculous to throw it out unless you were really aiming for a high rpm race motor or wanted to run forced induction or something. With the 64cc Vortecs the compression ratio will be at least decent for a street motor. The Goodwrench shortblock would be perfectly fine for a strong running street car, it's all about what you intend to do and how much money you have to spend...

Should everyone with a L98 shortblock throw it in the trash, how about everyone with a GMPP 350HO shortblock? The Goodwrench's shortblock is as good or better than those shortblocks...

Yes it's not a "performance motor" straight from the factory, obviously. But with a decent set of heads and a decent cam it's major problems are dealt with...

 

thanks for the input. ive been looking a heads on ebay and jegs. how do i know which heads will work on my engine? ( i know vws. im still learning chevys. ) are vortecs the best replacement? what else if i went with vortec? roller lifters. pushrods and roller rockers?

 

.

 

I'm not saying the shortblock i'm talking about junking the heads and cam.

The shortblock would be fine if your going to do a stock-mild build. I'm just saying that you could get a performance shortblock for the about same price.

 

I have that engine in my car and did the following: TrickFlow heads (64cc chambers), Summit cam kit (204/214 dur @ .050), SLP headers & runners, 24# injectors, ported plenum.....car puts down over 400 ft/lbs of torque and over 350 hp...pretty good for a "junk" engine.

 

By the time you replace the Cam, Heads and other parts that engine going to cost big buck, I would look elsewhere.

 

Re-read what he wrote. He already has the goodwrench engine.

Replacing the heads and cam would definately wake it up. I remember reading some of those magazine articles in CHP about upgrading the Goodwrench engine. They made good power for cheap. Dont forget the Vortec heads will require a Vortec-specific intake. Is an intake included in that $950 from SDPC?

Of course, good power is a relative term. Goodwrench short block, Vortec heads, and an appropriate cam, and you easily have a 14 second car. With the right gears and converter, 13s should be easily obtainable. It sounds like you have a halfway decent converter already.

-Dave

 

The way that it comes it is junk. If you already have it, then ya do it. I certainly wouldnt pay for an engine that I have to replace the heads and cam to make decent power.

 

Why not?

If the shortblock is good and already paid for, it should be a LOT cheaper than starting from scratch and throwing away a perfectly good shortblock!

Vortecs AREN'T the only choice out there. You could port and polish a set of 305 heads--which will make excellent power on a 350. PLUS you don't need to get a Vortec specific intake manifold with it's extra $200 price tag. Add a Comp XE262 and you have one sweet running 350 that puts you into the 13s EASY

Purchase, port, polish and enlarge intake to 1.94" 305 heads = about $400

Comp XE262 cam and lifters = $200

Miscellaneous parts = $50

Total = about $650

You can't beat that with a stick

 

You didnt read my post correctly

I said if that is what you have, then go for it. But if you are buying a new one, its a waste. Just buy the shortblock you need, and go for it. Its just not practical to pay for a longblock that comes with boatanchor heads that arent worth crap and a cam thats worthless to boot.

 

Gotcha! My bad

 

i like your idea bull. im gonna assume the 305 heads are better than what i have now. that price on scoggin is the kit price and includes intake.the engine came with the car and only has about 12,000 on it. wife wont let me get my 427 small block yet. she wants new furniture, to be able to pay bills and other junk like that.

by 305 you mean off of a stock 305 right.

like i said im still learning

 

another question. i bought a parts car with a v-6. since i have never done a cam swap i would like to make a practice run first. the 6 would be the same except for the obvious right?

 

No, your stock heads are probably 416s (last 3 digits of casting number under the valve cover) and they will work fine. 601s are also good. Follow the link at the end of my sig for good instructions on how to fix 'em up

Yes, any V shaped engine runs more or less the same.

 

Sold them on E bay for $200...not exactly "worthless". And at $1200 for the entire engine minus $200 for the heads I got a NEW 350 4 bolt shortblock for a lot less than remanufactured 2 bolts are being sold for and after adding my heads of choice, cam and roller chain I was still under 2K....try to get the 350 HO for near that price, not to mention those "worthless" vortec heads on it. I say "worthless" because you are limited to 1 FI intake that costs an additional $300.

 

stupid innernet glitches....double post

 

I read you a little bit wrong on your post (Really, that is my second bone-headed reply on this one thread )

Yes, 305 heads (416s and 601s) will work out much better than the ones that came with the Goodwrench 350 (probably "smog" 882s). They are the unheralded junkyard jewels and a lot of us have found this to be true. They will easily pop your low-compression 350 up to at least 9:1 and with a homemade port and polish job will flow almost as well as Vortecs. (Actually, F-Bird'88 turned us all onto these el-cheapo 305 heads and he gets his to substantially OUTFLOW the Vortecs! )

They will only cost you $30 or $40 at the wrecker and to completely rebuild them and port and polish them should only cost about $400 TOTAL. That is using all NEW parts

And as I already said, add a Comp XE262 cam and that 350 will be well into the 13s consistently. With the parts you already have it'll make about 350 gross hp at the flywheel. And that is a fast car in anyone's book :hail: :hail: :hail:

Just promise us you won't street race it. Please, do it on the track

 

thanks for the info. no street racing for me . i drive a truck so it would be kinda hard to keep my job with no liscense.

any 305 head with 601, 081 or416 is ok? will the tbi heads have a different number?

 

Yes, the LO3 TBI heads also have "swirls" cast into the intake bowl which are supposed to provide better low end power. But they destroy all flow potential above 3000 rpm, so avoid them like the plague.

081s have a different bolt angle for the centre two intake manifold bolts on each side, so if you actually have a 1986 or older engine just use the 416s or 601s.

Have fun!!!