[ElkyVelle69]

Hello, I had a question for you guys. I currently have a stock 1969 el camino small block 350. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to rebuild the 350 small block engine? Or put a 383 stroker in it? Or just buy a new crate 350 small block engine? Please let me know what you think? Thank you!

 

[troposcuba]

if you are rebuilding it anyway, the cost of building a 383 out of it is only a minimal increase. well worth it in my experience.

 

[kettbo]

Hello, I had a question for you guys. I currently have a stock 1969 el camino small block 350. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to rebuild the 350 small block engine? Or put a 383 stroker in it? Or just buy a new crate 350 small block engine? Please let me know what you think? Thank you!

All depends on your goals, your building skills and your budget.
What are your intentions? Got connections for engine stuff?
My own preference is to go BBC. I went this way as I had some low mile BBC heads lying around....

Stock SBC heads are OK for a 350, grunt heads for a 383. To make a 383 go, need to upgrade heads $$$, get a lotta aftermarket stuff $$$$$ to do it proper. By then you could already have a 454 in there....IF you are patient and shop around a BBC swap is not that expensive.

But if you are cruising around a lot, daily, just make a mild SBC and be done with it.

 

[richietables]

There are an awful lot of options for building a 350, including stroking it. If yours is stock, even a mild performance build will wake it up quite a bit. You don't necessarily have to jump up in cubes to make a big difference. There are top end kits where they've already done the math for you (carb, heads, cam, intake, etc.) or you could just ask around and put your own combo together. 350's are the cheapest engine to rebuild since there are so many of them.

Hey, there will probably be way more guys telling you to go 383 or big block, but you can do a ton with a 350. Build it yourself and you'll have a big grin on your face when you're cruising! (plus you'll know exactly what's in it, no presuming, no guessing)

ps- move this to the engine or performance forum for a lot more response!

 

[Marv D]

This could easily become a BIG debate between the sbc guys (myself included) and the BBC guys.

But budget is key to what is the best option IMO. You can go FAST without a big block, and you can spend a little or a lot. Generally reliability is what suffers when the budget is cut to the bone. But there are ways to put the big block cars in their place with a little ol mousemotor without spending a fortune

all in good fun guys

 

[Jim Mac]

You really need to be honest with what your doing with the car. Is it a daily driver, thats getting a lot of miles put on it every year? then a complete rebuild would be great. Is it a hotrod, going to the track once a month or more? a 383 or a built 350 would be nice. Is it a weekend toy thats really not going to be driven all that much, say to a cruise in or show? then you could get away with a basic rering and valve job, maybe a mild cam.
Just how deep your wallet is, is going to determine how fast it'll go. But for the most part, a 350 with a dual plane intake and a torque cam would probably work for most folks. Jim

 

[rak1]

SBC or BBC.... Tough question!! As stated above it depends on what you are planning to do, how fast you want to go, and lastly how deep are your pockets. I went with a small block with the idea that if sometime in the future I want more power or a BBC I can. I would build your 350 with a mild performance build and see if you like it, then if you want more power decide then. I wouldn't build it with the idea of being a badest on your block because someone is always faster. Just build what you can afford and have fun.