I am currently restoring my 71 Malibu and the original engine still runs great. What would be the cheapest way to add 70 to 100 HP. Can I take it apart and rebuild it with new bearings without having it machined? Will the stock pistons have enough compression to get that much HP? The heads need to have seals and springs put in them too. I know I will need a new intake, carb, cam, headers and exhaust. What is the biggest cam on stock heads I can use? Any advice short of buying a crate engine for 4K to 5K would be appreciated.

If its a strong running motor and has good compression and mimimum leakage,a cam/head swap would be a good choice to reach your hp goals.And its not just the cam,its the overall combo that matters.Example: you wouldn't want to run a "big" cam without the proper gear and convertor (if you're running an auto) For a decent small block combo,one of those Comp XE series cams and some aftermarket heads,in conjunction with 9.5-10:1 compression,3.55-3.73 gear and a convertor in the 2800 or so range would net you some decent 13 second timeslips with traction of course.

Nitros Oxide

The first engine I built for my '78 1/2 ton was a 8.4-1 compression 355 with lightly ported 882 heads, weiand 8004 dual plane, 600 edelbrock carb, 266 crane energizer cam, 1 5/8" headers, and dual 2 1/4" exhaust. I later added a set of vortec heads which bumped the compression to 9.4-1, comp XE268 cam, and a vortec performer rpm intake. Same carb, exhaust, etc. The only other change was adding a 2000 stall B&M convertor. I lost .8 seconds in et and gained a hair over 8 mph in the 1/4 mile...by the general rule of thumb this is roughly an 80hp gain. Compared to a bone stock engine this could conceivably be a 100+hp gain. It is very streetable and gets pretty darn good gas mileage for a 4500 pound truck with 3.08's. I have made a few small changes since then that made this setup even better.

Travis hit the nail right about on the head.

A good shade-tree overhaul, a 268 to a 274 hy- cam, 1.625" four tube, long headers, good mild intake system and about 9.5 to 9.75 to 1 CR. using needed mildly reworked stock heads, headgasket and min. quench should get you right there...

pdq67

..I'd step the cam up to the 272H Crane :D
Throw in some 3.55-3.73 gears and a 2400 stall..woo-hoo graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Outstanding information. Thanks for the replies. I think I will have the heads rebuilt then cam it up, stall converter, headers and new gears. I should have a nice ride.

Just keep in mind, no matter how well you plan it---THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CHEAP REBUILD.. ;) ;)

Sure there is if you do it yourself and just build a good beater motor!!

Try Northern Auto Parts, PAW, S-O-M and Powerhouse for starters for inexpensive kits for 350's, imho...

BUT not if you want a better, more powerful hi-po motor, then you get into more machine work and stuff.

But if your cylinders aren't all that big, a ridge ream job, and dingle-berry ball hone will do... ANd make sure you don't knick your crank and if it isn't all that bad, put her back together with no more then a polish job.. Then do a valve job on your heads and add new seals and go..

IT won't be a hi-po OR a 100,000 mile motor BUT it will run a long time if you don't beat all that hard on it!!

Heck, I beat on my junk 301 all the time so use your own judgement!!!

I just got a new cat. from Midwest Motorsports in Ames, IA and they are selling an unassembled 9.4/8.4 to 1CR., depending on head cc, 355 claimer short-block kit for $799.99 or so...

PN TC355SBF

pdq67

i just priced a master rebuild kit from advance auto parts, it includes as follows:

pistons
rings
rod bearings
main bearings
cam bearings
brass freeze plugs
complete felpro gaskets
timing chain and gears
stock cam
hyd. lifters
oil pump

all parts are new and manufactured by speedpro. for less than 300.00. if you have to bore your block there is no up charge for oversize pistons, rings or bearings. just go in with your spec's from the machine shop and order and they can have it in 2-5 business day's. usually i get the next afternoon. hope this help's. for about another 110.00 you can order any speedpro hyd cam. you still get the stock cam but you can use the lifters in the kit.
eddie