performance help

[mikem454]

I need help, i have a 97 chevy truck with a 350 and i have run out of things to do to gain hp, without spending too much $. and i know hp isnt cheap, but i cant afford to go out and buy a whipple charger. i have the programmers,cold air intakes, mass airflows, throtle body, corvette servo for the trany, gear and exhaust. i was thinking bout doing a camshaft swap or put some 1.6 rockers on it but i dont know what cam would work with the computer, or just rebuild the whole thing and put some more piston in it. i just dont know if that would turn lights on in the truck or not. i just want to get a little advice before i go and experiment and probably waste my money. any advice would be apreciated thanks mike

[Wingnut]

Full exhaust, and have the heads ported and polished...Get a new intake manifold while your at it.

 

/.02

[mikem454]

do they make performance mainfolds for that kind of fuel injection? and how much hp do you think that will gain?

[snoman]

do they make performance mainfolds for that kind of fuel injection?  and how much hp do you think that will gain?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

I do not really feel that much will be gained with a different intake manifold as the 350 vortec flows fairly well stock. I would say maybe a more agressive cam with more lift and a bit more duration and deeper axle ratios to take advantage of the increased power curve. You must remember that a 350 like to make it power at RPM with its best being between 3000 and 5000 RPM or higher depending on cam. Drop in a set of "cogs" one or two steps lower with a warmer cam and a custom tune and you will think you installed a bigger motor when you drive it. Do not skips the gear ratio change though if you re cam as it will tkae a bit for low end to make more at top and gears will offeset that and then some. The quicker you get engine up in its sweet spot RPM wise and the more you keep there while accelerating the more HP you will develope and the more performance you will have as HP equals torque x RPM / 5252 and you need to wind it up to make it.

[SnakeEyeSS]

do they make performance mainfolds for that kind of fuel injection?  and how much hp do you think that will gain?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

I think Edlebrock makes one. and I believe GMPP makes one

 

Also, GM is now making a "Bow-Tie edition" vortec head. basically vortec heads already ported and worked

 

with heads I'd bet a solid 15-20 HP gain across the board