I'm looking to build up my 350 as a good street performer, but not sure how. I've read all duration/lift, rocker arm ratios, etc. Is there some book, website, or other that will explain this kinda stuff? I feel like such a tard, but I just don't get this technical stuff. Most everything I know about cars, (read:not a whole lot, but enough so far) I taught myself. Any help appreciated, heckling....expected http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
Thanks guys!

I am in the same boat as you. The only thing I have done before I got my 68 (3 months ago), was replace the starter on a 70 and rebuild a briggs and straton for shop class. Now I am having to tune the carb, rebuild parts of it (really need a new one, mine is junk) and fix other problems. I have learned a lot in the last few months and I really want to, make that will, put in a Rat someday (someday because it will be hella expensive to change over from a 307 to a BB). So I also figure, that if I am doing that I will have to build the thing myself and thus learn how to first.

I am thinking of going with a package (Edelbrock Performer RPM). Have you checked out any packages? I like the idea of them because the hard part of which parts would work best together is already done.

Also, if you dont have one already, get a suscription to Car Craft, and at least check out all the other magazines at the stand to help you.

Luke

I just recieved a new NPD catalog and in the back there are 3 pages of how to books by several authors that would give you the info your looking for. www.amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com) is also a good source. You can buy a book on almost any part of the restoration process. Most of us have learned from trial and error and sharing our success's and failures here at TC. No question is to dumb and the hard time you may get is meant to be humorous. Along with advice we like to have fun.

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Philip Valentine
Lakeside, AZ
Team Chevelle Member #42 GOLD
philip@chevelles.com

Good reading is at our 'Combos that work' section managed by Jon Vore. There are lots of real world combos there to read about.
www.chevelles.com/racing/ (http://www.chevelles.com/racing/)

We have some good books listed here:
www.chevelles.com/books (http://www.chevelles.com/books)

plus we are always willing to help with specifics here.... would love to heckle, but can't really think of anything to heckle you about so I'll take a 'rain check' on it http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

If you want to get started on building Chevy engines, the first thing I would do is buy a book named "How to Hotrod the Small Block Chevy". I don't remember the author but this thing is a gold mine of info..The book is real outdated on the parts but all the stuff on machine work and assembly is still primo. IMO, the best thing about this book is the attitude it helps you get toward building engines, shows how to evaluate and skip most of the phony BS that floats around out there. Tom

Tom Mobley beat me to the punch on this one. This is an excellent first book for what you want to know. You can never read too much, you can never learn enough. And anytime you read something that is supposed to be gospel, check it out for yourself. Sometimes typos occur and authors notes and info get mixed up. As an example, I have seen photos in magazines, such as Super Chevy, that got reversed by the printer/publisher and causes people to swear that something came from the factory on the left side instead of the right side.

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Tom Parsons

i had the book tom mentioned, a buddy borowed it and never returned it. I have a newer book that is real good. Small Block Chevy performance by Dave Emanuel pub by HP books. There is lots of good info on carbs intakes cams and heads. Also covers TPI and LT1 engines. I also have Chevrolet Small block v8 ID guide by Pierre Lafontaine. Covers nearly all casting numbers for all stock parts. great for decoding what you have, saved me from buying a 73 impala claimed to have had a 400 actually a 350 two bolt, that would have bummed me out if I bought it.

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Frank W
Melrose MA
Gen X Member#22 (MA)
73 Malibu Coupe
hometown.aol.com/folingo/folingo.html (http://hometown.aol.com/folingo/folingo.html)
Mighty 305 Power

I've also got the book that Tom talks about. It's a "true fact" type book. To tell you the truth though, I'd be surprised if it's still in print. If it's available, buy it!

I tend to buy and read a whole bunch of car magazines (I relate to Popular Hot Rodding the most). The problem with them is that they are there to sell advertising. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES! They may not make a big point of the fact that you need some small item that is custom fabricated out of unobtainium. The classic truck magazines cover a lot of good information and ideas, as do Street Rodder type magazines.

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Wes. Vann
Technical Reference & Wagons sections
Gold Member #5

The concept that helped me the most when going through the phase of learning you are in is this: Think of your engine as basically an air pump. Anything that will help it pump more air or the same amount more efficiently will help the cause. All the factors come in to play. Compression ratio, valve size, cam lift, duration (which affects intake opening overlap), intake restrictions, exhaust backpressure, etc.

Then the process becomes deciding what compromises you are willing to make, or risks you want to take. Nitrous fools the motor into thinking there is more air and fuel than can be normally breathed in. Higher CR makes HP but leads to possible detonation or pinging on current gas. Wild cams help high end power but sacrifice low end grunt due to intake exhaust overlap diluting the mixture. Stock exh. manifolds are quiet but introduce enough backpressure to keep the exhaust gases from leaving completely when the valve closes, diluting the next incoming charge. Learn to calculate the most CFM you will need from a carb based on the highest RPM you are going to see with your choice of engine to keep from buying one bigger than needed, which reduces power. Think about a low profile blower if you really have the need for speed. As much as I would love to have a high RPM screamer, I'm looking forward to a 454 that will launch hard at low RPM and pull hard to 5500 or so, run on pump gas through a single four barrel, and be as reliable as anything.

As you get a feel for what your ideal motor is, let us know and I am sure the small block guys out there will share their wisdom and let you know the pros and cons of your ideas.
John Walker

Maybe you might take a look at an HP book
"John Lingenfelter on small-block Chevy". To
me this guy is a more modern guru than some of these books from the 60's and 70's.
His basic strategy is big torque with a very
flat curve. Monster torque. When you see the numbers these motors generate you wonder why
people are so in love with big-blocks.
Anyway the guy's track record is impressive and his concepts will build you a powerful and reliable street/race car.Check it out.
-----Richard