<img src="graemlins/evil.gif" border="0" alt="[evil]" /> Hey Tony350,
The easiest engine with the ability to be worked on and hold together is the 350. I've been an ASE Master tech for 10 years and have just gotten out of an ASE certified Parts Specialist job. I've built many stockers for work and several highly modified small blocks. The 383 is great for torque at low end...it's a stump puller,LOL...but the 400 has the better cubes. I recently read an article on a 427 small block! Wowee! Too many dollars and by the way, are you rebuilding an engine you have or are you going to get a crate engine? You weren't too specific. The crate engines can cost mucho dinero...you know? But you'll have an engine with a warranty you can thrash to your hearts content! Also, the 350 is a good "budget" engine as almost everything aftermarket in the world is made for it. I built my first LT-1...circa '69, it was a thumper...over 400 hp with just some gentle head work, .030 11-1 TRW's, TP-112 TRW camshaft, 2.02/1.60 heads with polished 64 cc combustion chambers. I also port-matched the intake to the heads. Stock 1.5, LT-1 rockers, stock rods, stock crank(cast), 4-bolt main, hi-vol oil pump. Oh yeah, Edelbock single plane toker manifold with the old 3310 Holley when it was advertised as 780 cfm, with the dual point Accel dist. and the Moroso Blue Max wires and Accel plugs. I used Hooker 1.75 primarys into 3 inch collectors into 2.5 exhaust tubing all the way with super turbo muffs...this was in my '69 eL Camino, not my Big Block SS. I had a turbo 400 with a B&M Holeshot and kit going into a 12 bolt, 4.10 gear turning M50/14 "phatties" on 10 inch Cragar S/S mags. I kept the interior stock, except for the "8-track stereo"...that was the newest thing around '75! Anyway, that 350 was the cat's *** and I kick myself everytime I think about having sold that car/truck! I've been lQQking for another one ($6.5k, $8.5k, $10k, 12.5k or more!)these prices are holding me back. I don't have the physical capacity anymore, to do all that type of resto work for myself. I've been forced to retire due to an old auto accident that has me physically destroyed now. I can't bend like I used to, and any excess up and down and in and out...you know how working on an auto is!...so I'm waiting to buy the one I want already all tricked out, but most of all, one that will be reliable and have a min. of upkeep and it'll be an everyday driver. Dreams.........oh well, another el Camino another day, maybe! Back to which engine? I'd choose at least the 350, definately the 383, and if the opertunity to install a BB comes along, jump on it. There's nothing like cubes to get you where you want to go...fast! And face it, Chevy parts are a dime a dozen if you go to the swap meet and know what you're lQQking for/at! Swap meets are great. The one in Carlysle is awesome and even though I no longer have a muscle car...I now drive a '95 Olds Achieva 2.3 Quad 4, 4TE-60 Automatic 4 sp. This is the nicest runnig, well powered/mannered little car I've had! I put a K&N filter in it and some Splitfire plugs along with a SuperChip computer chip and I'll tell you what...it flies for a 4cyl.! I can't imagine what an HO Quad4 would be like...'91-'92 Achieva GSX with the W-41 engine code...nice! 190 hp stock!Well, enough from me for now and good luck with your project! Bonedady58