acerocks666

I am about ready to pull my 350 out of my 83 Z28 in the next few weeks. Now the engine runs just fine and doesn't have anything wrong with it that I know of but I need a new tranny and would like to do some work on the engine (plus the engine bay needs to be cleaned up) So I am having trouble deciding what to do to the engine. I know for sure I am putting headers on and matching my edelbrock carb with a new performer intake manifold. After that I am not sure where to go. My thoughts have been to install an engine kit from northern auto parts plus put on some new assembled heads such as rhs or edelbrock. I am new to most of this though and am not sure what needs to be matched with what here. So i guess my biggest ?'s are:

1. What would be a good set of heads to go with and should I go with aluminum or iron...

2. If I do get a set of already assembled Heads what else do I needs to make them complete as in rocker arms...

3. Will the assembled heads include parts that would be in the engine kit from nap so in theory would I be buying the same thing twice...

4. What is a good cam size to go with and will it have to match somehow to the heads that I choose..

5. I guess an easier ? is if I gave you a complete 350 to overhaul and around $2000 at most what would you do to it...

6. what kind of machine work would I want to get done if any at all...

7. Finally would it be best to spend the money this way or to just buy a fresh 260hp crate and not have much leftover to do much to it...

The car is my summer pleasure car that I am restoring slowly but surely and is a daily driver type car not looking to take it to the track or anything but I do like getting the best my money can buy...

Appreciate any advice guys....

Atilla the Fun

by 260 hp crate I assume you mean the Goodwrench 350 that GM sells for around $1500? NO! It's got about 8.0:1 compression. Before picking parts, it would help to know how you use the car, what gearing is in the rear axle, and a few other details. But if I had what you describe, and $2000 as you say, I'd spend the first $575 on a new bare pair of Patriot Freedom heads, then $80 for new stainless 1-piece swirl-polished valves from www.competitionproducts.com, and a set of their 98111 springs for another $26. Add another $15 for valve seals, and reuse your old retainers, rockers, and pushrods. I'd get a Weiand Stealth AirStrike intake instead of a Performer, and for these heads, and having to assume you have stock dished pistons, a 218/224-110 cam from COMP. That cam, plus lifters, lube and oil additive, and a timing set, eats another $250 or so, and will put you past 350 crank HP. And will take about 50 pounds off the nose of your nose-heavy car. This build would like a 3.73:1 axle, but a 3.42:1 would be okay. I'd use a 750 carb. As for buying any kit from NAP, why? If your bottom end is running well, then keep running it. Stock stuff is fine for a 5500 rpm upshift, and that's part of why I chose that cam.

acerocks666

Thanks for the input atilla I was talking about the GM Goodwrench crate 350. So I should just scrath the kit and just go with some bare heads with a few other new parts. I have a 650cfm edelbrock now that is brand new so I would like to keep it. I am not sure what rear end I have I am assuming it is just the stock 83 rear end. I will use this car just as a daily driver really any other suggestions....

acerocks666

I have been looking around on ebay at heads and saw these and were wonding what you guys thought of them http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-S...Q5fAccessories

also what would be a good cam to go with these or the gm performance vortec heads..

Atilla the Fun

I've never heard of those heads, and I do this for a living! It's difficult to get the right cam when you don't know how the heads flow. If it has average exhaust flow better than 75% of average intake flow, you do better with a single pattern cam, while if the average exhaust flow is less, you do better with a dual-pattern. I know the percentages of every other SBC head on the planet, but those, IDK. For Vortec heads from a GM truck 350, those heads like a lot of extra exhaust duration. Unless they've been modified, then it becomes a matter of who did what, but even so, all the common stuff is well-known. For performance, you really do want a good exhaust flow. Those Patriot Freedom heads I suggested are a great choice.

acerocks666

I have been doing some looking and research and I think I have decided to go with a pair of vortec heads and have a few picks. The GM performance ones http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12558060/ were my first choice but I guess they can only handle a .450 lift but I am not really familiar with the numbers for cams. The other 2 sets I have looked at are Patriot http://www.jegs.com/i/Patriot-Perfor.../2151/10002/-1 and RHS http://www.competitionproducts.com/p...ber=RHS12410K1 which I believe have upgrades that will let them do a lift up to .550. Guess my questions are should I go ahead and spend the extra buck on the patriot or rhs heads or stick with the stock gm's. Also what would be a good cam to pair with either of these heads as I have been looking at comp kits that come with lifters and timing set also...