I have the oportunity to purchase a 350 roller motor with Vortec heads, pink rods, for $400. Is this a fair price? I would build it most likely into a 383. I plan on buying new pistons, cam if the stock can't be reground and having 2.02 valves installed in the heads. watcha think?

Thanks,
Todd

This is a joke right? I'm sure that you have picked up a car magazine every now and then and scanned the ads. New Vortec heads are in the $400 per pair range - and you are getting the rest of the engine included.

What I think is that you are going to be too budget conscious in building this engine. I say this because you state that you are going to regrind the existing cam, and that leads me to imagine other cost saving decisions that might seem good, but will keep your power low.

Okay, back to the original question but rephrased: is it possible to find running Vortec engines for less than $400? Yes it is possible - but I'm gonna guess that you haven't found one in your engine search.

Unless it is seized up or has some other possibly terminal damage it will make a wonderful basis for a steet engine buildup. Good luck.

Thomas

------------------
"Bomber" '67 El Camino, Beater comes back to life.
Was 350/TH350 14.90 @ 93mph, 360,000+ miles on car.
Now 406 roller, 340rwhp, more hp coming, 3.08 gears.
Street radials, left in drive, 13.20 e.t.@108.35 mph.
8/1/01 added Plum Mist '67 to collection
ProCharger D-2R 468 in the dyno! 1st pass = 716.6 tq @ 4300, 604.4 hp @ 4500, much tuning left!

Make sure those are actually Vortec heads and not the earlier center bolt heads. Those early heads are not worth using. If they are Vortecs, changing to larger valves gains nothing.

------------------
Pat Kelley
66 El Camino, daily driver
67 El Camino, STRIP/street (12.08, 113mph, 7.500@92.14 1/8 mile) 355 powered
Pat's Page (Dynamic Compression Ratio Calculator, car specs, Spark plug reading info) (http://cochise.uia.net/pkelley2/)