I would like to know an approximate amount of horsepower an average 2 bolt main 350ci can safely handle!

450+, but it depends on the duty cycle. In a street application it will handle more power than a drag race application, which will handle more power than a circle track application, which will handle more power than a marine application,etc.

The jury is still out on mine. I have a 350 bored .060 with no block filler. 2 bolt studded main. Have only made 8 passes in it with lots of street abuse as well. I accidently hit 6800 rpms once from a personal screw up and rev chip wasn't in. I shift at 62-6300 when racing. Engine still running ok. I have no official dyno #'s on my engine but in its current state I guess 460-480 hp. So only time will tell when I starting putting some nitrous through it as well.

How much can a 454 2 bolt withstand?

Thanks guys. I plan to build my 2 bolt with 400 hp and just wanted to know if that would be too much abuse for my old engine.

Aubrey, plenty of 2 bolt big blocks in competition use - you would be amazed how many super gas cars have 2 bolt main BBC's. My 496 is a studded 2 bolt block. Just like Gary was saying for the small block, the limit will depend on the duty cycle. I've always thought that ~ 750 to 800 hp to be a safe limit for a 2 bolt BBC.

Thomas

I have an early 2 bolt 388 (.060 350 block) making around 440 HP flywheel and have been racing it for 8 yrs now (600++ passes and street miles). Just have ARP main studs. Have been running nitrous all year making 450 HP at the wheels (say 540 flywheel) with that with never a problem.

I make sure I have a good tune on it though.