BUDGET 350-400hp 5.7L chevy

[sorestgore]

this may not be in the right category, so tell me where it belongs if it should be moved

 

I have a 1972 Chevy C10 Stepside, i bought it for $400, and i am in the process of restoring, customizing it. i can handle the bodywork, airbags, all that, but what i need help with is horsepower!

 

when purchased in the early summer of '05, it had a fairly stock 350ci, i beleive it's a Gen II. the previous owners had installed an Edelbrock 650cfm carb and Edelbrock intake manifold. After driving it for a while, i wanted people to hear it, so i put on a set of DynoMax Headers, and using 2 1/2 inch tubing and a Thrush Glasspack on both sides, exited the exhaust in front of the rear tires. I could feel a difference in acceleration, and maybe top end, but not by much. I've read up on adding power for a long time, and the more i read, the more options i uncover, and i eventually become overwhelmed by information. There's nitrous, superchargers, blowers, turbos, methanol, and i'm sure there are others i haven't even stumbled upon. Can anyone clarify some of these, i know how the forced induction systems function, but i don't know what kind of numbers they produce.

 

What i want to make is a 350hp minimum 350ci engine, but i am on an EXTREME budget. To simplify what i mean by a budget: i don't actually have an income. I'm a senior in high-school, i'm 17, so employment sucks. I may be getting a job soon, but i'll assume i won't for this build. Also, i want to be able to leave my engine in the truck, because this is my first vehicle and i don't want to mess something up. Does ANYONE have any useful advice on producing power without going broke? Oh one more detail, i have a daily driver, a little VW, that gets 36mpg, so i couldn't care less about fuel economy for this engine.

 

Cams, heads, lifters, valves, exhaust, intake, scoops, pistons, springs... Anything to make cheap power. ANY advice that could help, thank you

 

colin

[svensk]

You need an agressive cam to go with those new headers. Your engine is probably breathing pretty good right now so its time to raise the compression ratio to build more power.

[sorestgore]

You need an agressive cam to go with those new headers. Your engine is probably breathing pretty good right now so its time to raise the compression ratio to build more power.

 

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so to boost the compression ratio, what would i need to do? by installing a more aggressive cam, that would like modify the intake/exhaust timing, right? i do know about external stuff like exhaust and intake and stuff, but when it comes to internals, i'm lost...

 

thanks for the quick reply btw

[svensk]

Yeah, with that new agressive cam you would want higher compression pistons probably something in the 12:1 range. I bet you could make that 350 get close to 387lbs of tq with 93 gas on something like that.

[95Sierra2500]

There's many ways to up the compression. It can be done with pistons (which is probably the cheapest), or you can throw a 400 crank in it (make sure your journals are right) and bore the cylinders .030 over to make a 383 stroker motor (proper cam/timing/intake/exhaust puts you well OVER your 350 hp desires). Another possible way is to mill the heads down, decreasing your combustion chamber volume and upping the compression. This requires alot more machine work though, as you also have to mill the intake side of the head, or mill the intake/get a new intake so it will still bolt up properly.

 

A cam would be a good place to start though. Happy hunting.

[sorestgore]

alright, which is easiest? i have no idea where to start when it comes to cams, because there are so many things to consider, like how aggresive they are, if they are "big" cams, if they are hydraulic, i'm completely lost, anyone have a certain part in particular i might want to look at?

new pistons would probably be a worthwhile upgrade, but i've never opened that engine up, so i'd do anything i can before i put new pistons in it. what about roller rockers? i've got both a Summit Racing and a Jegs parts catalog sitting in front of me, there are so many options, any recomendations?

[Clavin78]

Best thing for you to do is find a buddy who is profficient with engines and team up with him...you will learn a lot.

[sorestgore]

Best thing for you to do is find a buddy who is profficient with engines and team up with him...you will learn a lot.

 

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well yeah that would make sense, but i know more than you'd think about engine stuff, i mean I'm on a BMW scholarship at UTI come this next summer, i'm just afraid to apply this knowledge because i could screw up, and this being the first and only vehicle i actually own, that would be problematic.

[95Sierra2500]

Best thing for you to do is find a buddy who is profficient with engines and team up with him...you will learn a lot.

 

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well yeah that would make sense, but i know more than you'd think about engine stuff, i mean I'm on a BMW scholarship at UTI come this next summer, i'm just afraid to apply this knowledge because i could screw up, and this being the first and only vehicle i actually own, that would be problematic.

 

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One of my favorite quotes can be modified to fit here:

 

"Use it like ya STOLE it!!!"

 

In other words, don't be afraid to apply your knowledge, just be smart about it and make sure you've got a back-up plan (both short-term and long-term).

[superbee]

boring doesn't make a 383, stroking does.

[95Sierra2500]

boring doesn't make a 383, stroking does.

 

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I do believe I covered that when I said:

 

throw a 400 crank in it (make sure your journals are right) and bore the cylinders .030 over to make a 383 stroker motor

[superbee]

Sorry, you sure did. I was reading too fast.

[95Sierra2500]

Sorry, you sure did. I was reading too fast.

 

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That's what happens when you get used to moving too fast. I've done it before. Now I try to take the time to smell the flowers.

[superbee]

Seems like mostly what I'm smellin these days ain't flowers!!