[Calderone]

Hi everyone ! Back on building engines again !
what do we have ?
My friend has a .60 bored 1979 350 Engine bottom end with flat top pistons.-
His goal its to achieve 400 HP
He also wants a double four barrel intake manifold plus 2 Quadrajet carbs.-
Will it work ? What heads to choose ?
what valve springs / roller rockers and which cam ?
Do you think its possible ????
He really dont care about the mileage,he wants power but a streetable machine...it will be on a old chevy nova.-
thanks !!!!!!!!

[F-BIRD'88]

Yes it will work but the qjets will make it much more harder and expensive to tune than it needs to be. (even if you own them now)

Two matching Edelbrock/Carter AFB's make the deal a hole lot easier and cheaper all said and done.
Whats the budget? Will he be burping the wallet for aftermarket heads or working with (reworking) a OEM junkyard cylinder head?

[Calderone]

he wants new heads,he has $5000 to do it ...or a little more
but he is not worried about it
what's the AFB's you suggest ?
he is kinda in love with a double q-jet setup i guess just for the look

[DENCOUCH]

I recommend 'FBird-88's Vortec build!

[Calderone]

are the vortec heads the ones that make too much power ?

[DENCOUCH]

No, I meant what I said.

Going to the 'net for information is a somewhat risky proposition. One has to lurk and get a feel for the smart guys vs the others out there.

FBird-88 has a basic build that he recommends that requires minimum machine work, has all the right parts that work as a whole, and leaves one with $$$ in their wallet after the build.

He has spoken in the past that this build dynos at around 400 HP.

I took my just completed FBird-88 out on the road this evening and it is so much more than what I had, it is "Scary-cool".

The very first thing I noticed was how little gas pedal it takes to go fast. Rapping the throttle in the driveway and the motor tachs FAST!

This motor has an urgency about it and a ton of torque in spite of the cam grind.

I cannot say too many nice things about this Fbird-88 and his build.

If you did not give this build the consideration it deserves, well, THAT is what I would call a "Joke".

[Calderone]

i replied wrong window ..i meant it for another thread
yes im watching his setup and the other thread ...
wow...maybe the vortec has something to do with it ?

[F-BIRD'88]

400+ or so hp is not that hard or expensive to achieve. Even with dual carbs.
You bud needs to fall out of love with the Qjet idea thou.
How about a pair of Edelbrock thunder series AVS 650's?

How about a tunnel ram manifold? Nothing catches your attention (short of a 8-71 blower) like a Tunnel Ram pokin out of the hood.

What fuel octane will he be using?

[Calderone]

here its only 93-95 and 97 octane fuel
why a NO NO for the double 4 barrel setup ?
thanks

[F-BIRD'88]

Originally Posted by Calderone

here its only 93-95 and 97 octane fuel
why a NO NO for the double 4 barrel setup ?
thanks

Qjets are a very refined carb for the origional OEM appliation. This fact, is much of the problem when it comes to using them on a racey motor. While they certainly can and are modifed for racing (stock eliminator, super stock class racing, hill climbing etc), the expense and effort in the end will have him seeking a divorce. It's a lot of work and detail to dial them in. The nessessary upgrade and tuning parts X2 gets nasty. a apir of AFB, AVS or Holleys will make more power with a lot less hassle.

I have a few ideas in mind. I like to recomend stuff that I know you/he can achieve and have a lot of fun with.

Should be able to do the whole car for $5000.
Do they have disposable diapers there? When I get thru with it he'll need then for his first ride...

[Calderone]

Oh im sorry,when i meant QJET it can be any fourbarrel carb !
what's best ASV or AFB ? Double AFB ?
thanks fbird

[SSedan64]

Good 1 Fbird, "Diapers" . You don't think he'll soil himself do you?

[CNC BLOCKS NE]

We have built some 355's with Vortec heads that have been worked with seat cutters and a bowl howg, deshrouding and cut for 64 CC's screw in studs hyd. cam. The block was zero decked we use 6 inch rods in our builds to lighten up the pistons.

The last build with a single HP 600 carb made 432 horse and 460 ish on the torque.

Our circle track engines we use Ford flat tappet cams (solid) heads cut to 59CC's which we shoot for 11:01 and we are restrcited to a 600HP carb and we have seen 515 on the dyno and 485 on the torque.

The money you will save on buying 2 carbs and an intake manifold you put into a good lower end.

Good luck with your build Carl

[454C10]

Forget the dual carbs. Much more trouble and cost and no hp gain. All he needs is a Performer RPM intake and a holley 3310 750cfm with vacuum secondarys. Spend any extra money on a 383 stroker kit and/or better heads.

What year nova?

Easy to build 400hp. Plus, a stock bottom end will hold that with no problems Especially with a street car, that will not be at max power for long durations.

What gear and transmission is he planning to use?

Go with aftermarket or vortec heads (160 to 180cc) and a cam with around 230 degrees duration at 0.050". Edelbrock, Dart, AFR are good aftermarket heads to consider.

Hyper pistons with 9.5 to 10:1cr should be about right.

Maybe upgrade to some better rod bolts.

A 400hp 350 cid will need at least a 2800 stall and 3.73 gear.

A 400hp 383 cid will need at least a 2400 stall and a 3.55 gear.

You can build 400hp with a set of stock heads but would take a much bigger cam (240-250 degrees duration), 10.5:1 cr, and would require a 3000 stall and 4.11 gears.

[killerformula]

My vote is for cubes. You can stick your stock heads on there and replace them later while the motor is in the car, but you can't swap out the bottom once you get it in place! Cubes are king on the street. They give you a nice, wide power band to play with and are more forgiving with weight/tall gears.

Good luck whatever you decide-

K