I decided against the junker 454 build (pitted bore) so went ahead and ordered up parts from northern auto
basically its a dished piston 350 small block. elgin .450 lift 218 duration cam. gmperformance vortec heads with Z28 springs. professional product airgap intake, mech. adv. mallory dist. 32* advance. headers, 750 eddy carb.
Going this route, I can reuse my less than year old waterpump, fuel pump, headers, plug wires, etc. I bought the head package about a year ago, its all new, including the rockers, etc.
Anyone else using a similar cam/head/piston package? thanks. jim

jim are you using stock rockers ??? if so your right at the limit .... I'd recommend using long slot rockers ......also adding screwin studs is cheap insurance while its apart :D

I played this same game on my sons 350 :thumbsup:

All looks good except the cam choice...I would have liked to see you use one of the milder Voodoo flat hyd cams...either a 60101 or 60102.
Ran a stock, dish piston 350 with Vortecs and a 60102 Voodoo in my '67 Sedan.
Nice combo! :thumbsup:

I hope the cam works out. Ive already got it in the mail! the elcamino will have a 2500 stall converter and 3.31 gears. Is there a easy way to check to see if the rockers clear? Ive already got them on the shelf too. Theyre new gm self align rockers. Jim

I've used the stock GM stamped self aligning rockers with a slightly larger than a .450" lift cam...no problems.
Enjoy!!:thumbsup:

going to bring up a old post. Decided to go ahead and just have the block bored, when I ordered the master kit, it came with sealed power hyper flat tops with the 4 eyebrow reliefs. H345NP. So in a stock unmilled block, with stock 062 vortec heads am I pushing right around 9.5 to 1? The cam is cl1785pk elgin cam .450 lift with 218 dur at 050.
Any idea what kind of real world HP this combo will make? I would imagine this will be running on premium too? Jim

Geez!

You don't need long slot rockers at .450" lift! Stock is FINE here!

GREAT!! NO dished pistons instead of early stock type, 4-notch flat-tops!

B/c along w/ 64 cc heads you can create a right at a 10 to 1 CR. engine so that the cam you picked will run it's best!!

At 10 to 1, you will be right at 340 to 350 or so hp, imho!!

Add a cheap set of 4-tube, long headers and let her breath and maybe up to 370!!

Sucker will pull like a freight train!!!

pdq67

Paul, thanks for the input. Now about a torque converter.
Ive got a stock th350 converter in it now. Ive got a 2400 stall B&M holeshot converter. When I do the engine swap, would this converter help or hurt the performance? rear end is a 3.31 ratio. 275 60 15 tires.
I was even thinking of swapping the rear out of my daily driver. 3.73 ratio 10 bolt at a later date. Jim

mech. adv. mallory dist.
I would want a vacuum advance.
Should offer better economy, better part-throttle response, and perhaps less heat load on the cooling system.

750 CFM might be a little big on this combo, 650 would probably do the trick. You could always get a trick kit and rework your 750 too. Just my 2 cent. Sounds like a decent combo, should make decent power and be a good driver.

What is the rpm range on the intake? Is it matched with your camshaft? Those two items will give you a pretty good idea where your torque converter needs to be. 2500-3200 always seems to be a good street stall.

the intake is for 1500-6500, cam says 2200-5200. Ive got a stock hei with probably a smog advance. As of now, we tow the elcamino to the track because of no insurance. The carb is just what I have on the elcamino right now. Im picking up a 750 holley vacuum secondary. may give it a shot later. jim

He, He!!

Jim,

It just hit me........

"Oh Jimmy Mack please hurry back" as I think the old song said?

It's been years!!

I have to say, fix the BB b/c it will out power a SB bad!! I'm talking 500 hp easy here.

Heck, my mild 496 should be 550 hp at 5500 rpm. It's probably just a cam away from 650 hp.

Me w/ a 406 SB on my engine stand too!

And a 283 on the shelf that's going to become my next junk 292/301/306 engine depending on availability of cheap pistons?

I'm gonna shift it at 8,000 rpm just for grins!!

pdq67

so, did you buy a rebuilt short block from Northern?

if so, take a look at the deck clearance. sometimes (usually) the mass rebuilders use "rebuilder" pistons that have a short deck height. Often this leaves the pistons way down in the hole, lots of deck clearance, lower compression, poor quench but safe for rebuilders who don't know who is going to end up with it what heads and whatnot will be installed.

just FYI, check and see what you've got.

the intake is for 1500-6500, cam says 2200-5200. Ive got a stock hei with probably a smog advance. As of now, we tow the elcamino to the track because of no insurance. The carb is just what I have on the elcamino right now. Im picking up a 750 holley vacuum secondary. may give it a shot later. jim


2500 stall should be fine, you'll be in your power range. Holley is a better carb IMO. Good luck, let us know how it runs.

Tom, I bought the rebuild kit from northern, upgraded to the #345 hyper pistons for 18 bucks. I think the cam cost a extra 8 bucks over stock.
What started it all is I bought a vortec top end package at last years swap meet. It was all new stuff, guy had a change of plans and went with AFR's. I got a good deal on the heads, intakes, bolts, rockers, valve covers etc. couldnt see throwing new top end on a out of round used pistoned shortblock.
The 454 is going to be just a cheapie junkparts build. rings, cam, handlapped 781 heads, action plus intake. 8-1 comp. we'll see how it does. jim