Hot Rod Forum banner

SBC 350 superiority rebuttle...was:POWERED BY CHEVY, WRITTEN ON A FORD, (from 'Engine

19K views 49 replies 37 participants last post by  twinturbosbc350 
#1 ·
Taken from the "Engine" section of the message board, from the post, "POWERED BY A CHEVY, WRITTEN ON A FORD, DON'T YA JUST LOVE IT??".
It seems there has been quite a bit of SBC 350 favoritism around here lately, much talk of how mighty the SBC 350 is, and as someone who's walked around the block a few times, I know this to not be so, and I just couldn't remain silent anymore. I'm sick and tired of people steamrolling over the GM division which SHOULD be taking all the praise, and hailing the "great" SBC 350. Everyone knows there a dime-a-dozen, and by George I just had to say something.

From user, 'bullheimier",...

<as far as dependability goes, i DONT hear of <peoples sbc's blowing up due to all <this "stress" you're talkin smack about. ever <hear of Darwin? survival of the fittest?. also, <a sbc is small. equals "fits anywhere" and what is your hang up on being stock? if you want stock, why dont you match up ANYTHING BY ANYBODY against an LS-1 or LS-6 in the new Z-28's and T/As. Yes, i know caddys are bad *** . my mom has had a 70 since '72 with a 472 that i threw accel wires etc on back in the 80's when i gave it it's first tune up. its fun to stomp on the gas and hear the one back tire squeel. now lets look in the summit catolog. sbc performer: $109; caddy: $250!, Cam kit sbc:$116; caddy: call for price. Heads? dont ask. as for tech. advice. look at the posts re:chevy engines and how fast someone gets an <answer. then look at a post re: caddy or old hemi <or BOP and look at the 0's after a day or two. as <far as i'm concerned sbc are the best engine out <there. but they are not perfect (almost, but not <quite). they have one GLARING design flaw that <everybody knows about and we would ALL like to <kick the designers *** up thru his elbows for: <putting the g.d. distributor in the back of the <engine!! as for you starting your own fan club <you can go to <a href="http://www.442.com," target="_blank">www.442.com,</a> <http://www.442.com,> <and you scream about my cookie cutter sbc <(exactly as you descibed it in my photo album-<hahaha)all you want. i also own a pontiac and <know how fast the 389-400's and 455's can go, <which is why i ask HK why in the hell put a caddy <in a T/A when a 455 will drop right in. your <point @ the monied using a sbc is well taken <however, as they are NOT the least bit different <and if i was building a truly special rod i <would <definitely not use a sbc unless it was the <aforementioned LS-1/6. if for nothing else than <the fact that their are so many "snobs" if you <will, that would turn up their nose at my motor <no matter how fast it was. btw. my high school <buds crane fireball cammed 396 '66 chevelle got <smoked the worst, not by any 440 chargers we <raced (and beat) but by a little dodge dart with <a 273!!! sbc's are easy to work on, VIRTUALLY <INDESTRUCTIBLE(nuts to you!) cheap, and easy to <FIX, and their parts interchangability gives <unsurpassed potential of different combinations <for whatever vehicle you want to build. they are <virtually idiot proof, which i can attest to <cause i built mine. hell my neighbors even ran <like a raped ape when he put 307 rings in his 327!
<sorry. i did not mean to write a book. i just <love chevies! also, dont even TRY to compare gas <milage of a caddy-whompus to a mouse

and my reply...

(Just to be clear, I'm an Olds man :.)
So, okay bullheimer, and what do you expect me to say to that? You don't think I haven't been knee-high in bullshi* about how hot the only SB in the world, the SBC 350 is, and how Chevy motors are vastly superior to any and every other American built V8 motor for about the past 25-30 years of my life? Well guess what, I have!! The last thing I WANT to hear is more song and dance of how "Chevy parts are stronger", and other similar fairy tales.
So what if they are cheap (I'll cover this in a minute), easy to fix (for the dope who doesn't have the competance or motivation to learn how to unlock the awesome untapped power of the Olds) and "their parts interchangability gives unsurpassed potential of different combinations for whatever vehicle you want to build"; these may be good reasons to invest in Chevy power if you're an incompetent novice (one or the other, or both), but they CERTAINLY don't qualify to say that Chevy motors and Chevy parts are superior to others; I'm sorry friend, they just aren't. It's time to get over your Chevy fixation and learn to appreciate the TRUE GM automotive and performance innovator 30+ years ago which without, your precious, almighty SBC 350 wouldn't even exist; Oldsmobile. (As an engineer with more than 20 years experience, I think I just might know what I'm talking about.)

I'm not mad at you, and I'm not trying to beat you up. However, the two of us (and plenty other Chevyholics around here I'm sure) have got an almost completely different world perspective and historical time-line. I'm guessing you're mid-thirties. I'm 53. What I see around me
now in the performance engine world is very different than it was in 1963 through 1975. In some ways, it would appear a lot of what we really knew about Olds engines 30 years ago has been forgotten, and that's very sad.

Olds 442s, W30s, and W31s were class dominators 30 years ago. Don Mann in Kansas City was a good friend and a deadly competitor, in his several Olds A-bodies. He always used a 4-speed and could shift just about as fast as Ronnie Sox, of Sox & Martin fame. I first met Don in December 1968, when he bought the 4-speed, bellhousing, flywheel, and clutch plate and disc off of
my '64 442 Cutlass, which would later be born in the Spring of 1971 as Thunder Lizard. Don was the first to state that oil restrictors in an Olds
engine was complete bull, and it only addressed the symptom, not the cause of the problem. He won both local and national titles, taking the trophy
away from Chevys, Fords, and MOPARs. There were many others who could do the same thing, including Joe Mondello. Yeah, I don't agree with a lot of what Mondello says, but he did win sometimes. I can't remember the names of all
the other Olds racers, but they were there. But, to be really honest, we've got to go back even further into History.

Who had the lion's share of R&D labs for GM during WW2, to turn out improved weapons to win? It was Oldsmobile. Who lead GM engine R&D for all divisions, including Chevrolet, for more decades than I even know? It was Oldsmobile. What GM engine R&D lab developed the Chevy Z-11, the successor to the 409 and the forerunner of the 427? Oldsmobile. It's no wonder that when GM
corporate edict finally drew the line and stated *ALL* performance engines would henceforth be under only the Chevy emblem, is it no wonder the DRCE block came from the Oldsmobile R&D engine lab? We knew this fact 30 years ago. It was no secret.

I will assume you are aware that all the old time legends in NASCAR, such as Richard Petty and Junior Johnson and Smokey Yunick, honed their original racing skills making moonshine deliveries in tanker cars. Rent or buy the movie THUNDER ROAD with Robert Mitchum. There is a lot more truth than fiction in that movie. In 1959, Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 in a '59
Olds Super 88. He did the exact same thing in '60.

GM used all of the Oldsmobile R&D labs, not just the engine lab, to develop and pioneer almost every single innovation that GM marketed from the end of WW2 up to around 1975. The Arab oil threat enabled young up-and-coming GM executives in other divisions to flex their egos and divert the original GM business plan, because the stockholders were scared down to their toenails
of the Arabs. Things began to change.

I was in the speed shop, with our high performance engine machine shop, from 1969 to 1975. By 1972, Grumpy Jenkins had taught us most of his engine building secrets, and with his very open mind, how to apply those ideas to other engines, and where to modify as needed. Most people don't realize that William "Bill" "Grumpy" Jenkins also had considerable skill and experience
with MOPAR and Olds engines, in addition to his Chevys. Grumpy was a true Renaissance Man.

On another note, when I joined the Olds Mailing List about 18 months ago, I was shocked at what I
read some professionals telling some of the guys there to do with their engines. At some point, I couldn't keep my mouth shut anymore. It was like winning WW2, and then by the time Korea rolled around, we had forgotten how to fight and had to re-learn all the lessons all over again, the hard way. I saw the exact same thing had happened with how to build a hot Olds engine. The Olds engine was being treated like a Chevy. It isn't. The Olds engine has its own peculiar design parameters that must be addressed. Those parameters are much different than from a Chevy. By the late '60s, the handwriting was already
on the wall for Olds. The Chevy bow-tie would take the performance lead. That's why '68 and later 455 Olds engines got cast nodular iron cranks and the forged steel cranks only went into stationary industrial engines and marine engines. There were occasions where an Olds stationary industrial engine, out in the boondocks somewhere, suddenly turned up missing. The corporate owner couldn't ever figure out why. Quite a change from earlier 425s that all had forged steel cranks.

Any engine, no matter what it is, size for size, can be made to perform just
as well as any other engine of the same size. You can't argue with the Laws of Thermodynamics. However, it may take more money, a LOT more money,
particularly if no one has ever done the R&D. That's the Chevy advantage. Because of GM corporate promotion and exposure, everyone and their uncle has done Chevy R&D. There's more Chevy info and custom parts out there in the world than you can shake a stick at. High performance Chevy parts are now even being
made in China and imported here, into the United States for cryin' out loud! For Olds, we did
extensive R&D 30 years ago, but somebody threw most of it away. That somebody should be hanged. My access to that Olds R&D resides in my feeble
memory, inside Thunder Lizard, and in a few notes scattered here and there.

One quick note about the 'Crower' rods. Someone on the Olds List brought up the Oliver Chevy rods.
I had to show there was at least one old time, honorable, manufacturer who still made an indestructible Olds aftermarket part. Crower, and their steel billet Olds rods.

Also, Milodon and Offy still make a wide range of Olds extreme duty racing parts, just like they also do for Chevys. Crower, Milodon, and Offy don't discriminate. It's funny, Thunder uses a Crower cam, Milodon oil system parts, and an Offy intake. It looks like its appropriate.

You've also got to realize something about me. The absolutely worst thing anyone can ever say to me is that, "you can't do it, that's not possible, or you're not competent enough." Steve H., Chris W., Charley B., Paul T., Frank F., and Ian D. should know why, by now.

I like Olds. I grew up only with Olds cars in my family. It's just the way it is. I'll build Olds cars and engines, and they will work and work very
well. When I build something, I keep it...like Thunder Lizard. I bought her in November 1968, she first hit the bricks in the Spring of 1971, and she'll be my coffin. I'll also keep our 3 other '64-'65 Olds A-bodies. It's a long term commitment. Those 6 other characters above can understand what I mean by a long term commitment.

May the Olds legend live on,
~John~
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Damn Oldsmolac,
You need to lay off the coffee a little. Man I got to reading all of that and it got me stressed. Everyone has there preferences as you do also. Chevy people love there Rides, Ford people loves theirs, Mopar ditto. Chevy 350's are probably the most popular though so thats why you hear more about them. There is an over abundance of them and since there is then the aftermarket makers cater to that. I found out from one engine builder awhile back that one of the hardest engines to buy parts for is the Oldsmobile. And when you do find the parts they cost twice as much as other engines. Would I knock on Olds for it. Nope. But if I had an Olds chances are I would swap out the motor for something I could readily get parts for. If you decide you are going to work on your car and it gets to be late at night and you find out you have to replace the head. Chance are you're going to find a Chevy head before you'll find a Ford, Mopar, or for that matter an Olds. Myself, I'm not gonna stand up for anyone because I've had Fords and Chevies. The quickest I owned was a Pontiac GTO which would just about blow anyone away where I lived. Buddy of mine had a 442 which was built to the hilt. No one could touch him. But I guess all I want to say is that from where I stand and looking up the road from the middle of the fence you just stepped over into the bull**** that you were just complaining about. First you complain about all the bull**** about 350's bla, bla, bla, now I'm hearing all the bull**** about Oldsmobiles bla, bla, bla. Whatever each one owns is the best in their eyes. To me anything that is saved from the scrapyard, worked on and sweated over, tweaked and tuned is the best. It shows me that there are still people that has the mechanical ability to do SOMETHING constructive and be proud of what they do. Where I work mechanical ability is slowly becoming a thing of the past (most can't tie their own shoes) and when a group can get on here and talk cars (any cars) then that is something to be proud of. Now if everyone want to really shove what they prefer down someones throat then go to a ricer site and stir up some ****. Because we all know that they rule!!!! (HAHAHAHAHA) Anyways thats my $.02 of slinging bull**** too.

Kevin
 
#3 ·
well i must say that after reading some of the dribble around here lately its nice to see a "spirited" discussion thats opinionated and respectfull. thank you.

oldsmolac911 i would enjoy reading posts on other gm motors. maybe you should start a few threads with some general points of interests or questions and hopefully spark a few disscusions. or you could gather some basic tech facts and add them to the knowledge base for all to use.it sounds as if you have a lot to share. so welcome and let the debates begin!! :cool:
 
#5 ·
Well that's beautifull GR8, that is just beautifull!!! <img src="graemlins/drunk.gif" border="0" alt="[drunk]" />

Well, I don't believe I've ever mentioned that Chevy motors and Chevy parts are BAD; oh not at all! Anything GM built 30-40 years ago is bulletproof. Chevy motors and parts are good, stout machinery. Powerfull, durable enough, reliable enough, and certainly cheap and plentifull, but let's take a dose of reality with our Chevy fanatacism here. Chevy automotive is NOT the best, it just isn't. I wish I could say it was just as much as the next guy, and it sure would be nice to be able to say that the best in American V8 power is in Chevy, and it is because of this that they have such enourmous popularity and high numbers, but it isn't, bottom line. As the lightest research will show, Chevy engineering in general has been lightyears behind the Olds division for decades, and the many Olds powered myths that abound in hot-rodding circles are just as behind themselves. Yes, I've heard them all; but here's a few of my favorites, such as...

"An Olds, even with a stroked crank the rod center to center length is too long, so you couldn't use it anyway (to use an Olds rod, you'd have to move the piston pin much higher, probably into (or past) the oil ring groove)."

Not necessarily.

For decades, everyone in Detroit insisted the top ring land could be no closer than 0.340" to the top of the piston. Any closer, and combustion heat would cause the aluminum above to fail, the top land would disintegrate, and the top ring would pop off the piston. That's not the case. Extensive research, testing, and track performance has conclusively proved that top distance can be reduced to 0.150". The piston and engine doesn't care. Further, by reducing the dead space between the top ring and the top of the piston, there is much less room where leftover combustion gases can be trapped. The combustion process is cleaned up considerably and each air/fuel charge burn becomes more efficient, producing more power. However, even more importantly, at least 0.190" of room is freed up for moving the piston pin upward, giving more room for long rods. In addition, the distance between the top and second ring can be reduced to 0.150", the distance between the second ring and the oil ring can be reduced to 0.090", and the distance between the oil ring and the top of the piston pin bore can be reduced to 0.010", which is somewhat unbelievable, but it is. That leaves a lot of room to design a proper ultra light-weight piston for long rods and a reasonably increased stroke.

These piston ring land dimensions have been and are being run at the Indy 500, Daytona 500, the 24 Hours at LeMans, and countless other endurance racing events with absolutely no problem. They've been in racing use for over 30 years. If it will work there, it'll even work on the street, and it does.


"And, an Oliver BBC rod IS stronger than ANY factory Olds rod ever produced no matter how much prep you put into it."

35 years ago, Crower made billet steel Olds rods, and they're still
available.


"For those of you who think a big block Olds will out perform an equally prepped BBC, get over it, it'll never happen. The only engine a big block Olds will out perform is the Pontiac."


Well, that statement doesn't exactly coincide with history.

The CRO-SAL all aluminum 455 Olds engine, built by the Olds R&D engine lab, did. It was an all aluminum block and heads, 2-bolt mains with no steel girdle, with quad webers sitting on dual intercooled turbo-chargers. There were 3 CRO-SAL CanAm Formula One cars with several engines as backup. These 455s ate the pants off of the Chevy 496s and 518s and had 1000 RPM more over the Chevys. The 518s were restricted to 6000 RPM and the 496s were restricted to 6300 RPM. If either engine hit 6800, as recorded by the onboard sensors, the engine was pulled, for the lower end was compromised. The CRO-SAL 455 was good for 7300 maximum. Normal shift point was 6800. No CRO-SAL 455 was ever pulled because of a rod, crank, any bearing, or oiling problem.

Chevy stuff enjoys an immense popularity because it was heavily marketed, just like the difference between the VHS and BETA formats for VCRs. The most marketing gets the most bucks and draws the most people in. That's the way it works. Therefore, all the R&D is performed on the Chevys. The small guys get the pleasure of doing OLDS R&D out of their own pocket.

My forged steel crank for my 455 came from the CRO-SAL engine program, after GM corporate sponsorship was withdrawn and the team was disbanded.

I could go on, dispelling many other Olds myths (Lord knows they abound), but I won't. I'll leave the research up to you guys, I think it's more rewarding that way anyhow. Chevy parts may be strong, but Olds are stronger; the proof is in the pudding. I usually don't get this worked up over the whole "Chevy Olds" argument, but sometimes I just can't keep quiet.

But, you know, all bullshi* aside, let's just all remind ourselves that no matter what make, brand, division or model one may show bias or favor to (even if history and fact happen to coincide with mine...lol, sorry guys, couldn't help it), let's just try to stay focused, reminding ourselves that there is at least one thing we all share; the preservation of the great American muscle-car. We, the bold, the brave, the noble, the few; the small faction of American V8 performance enthusiast who remain true to great American automotive engineering. Those who the likes of Raplh Nader say are "enviornmental public enemy#1" and Tom Daschle, "they fund terrorist with their gas-guzzling, polluting, automotive dinosaurs"; YES, it is us that must restore and preserve what alas may soon become a relic; the American, RWD performance automobile.

It truly will be a dark day in history when Chevy (yes, Chevy) gives the old heave-hoe to the Camero, Pontiac, the Trans Am, and Ford, the Mustang. If they are dropped, will they return, like the re-incarnated Thunderbird? Maybe, but don't count on it. I shutter to think of where the American automobile will be in another 10-15 years, I do...but, me, I should be O.K. for now.

Sorry, I'll stay with the second generation Olds engine.

Stay strong,
~John~

[ November 15, 2002: Message edited by: Oldsmolac911 ]</p>
 
#8 ·
Olds,
I agree with you 100%. We need more biased opinions around here without arguments. I find it interesting reading others opinions and have learned quite a bit. I myself try to straddle the fence instead of standing on one side. Keep bringing it on. We need opinions from all types of different car owners. I really appreciate Drgwgns comments because he drives something others would never consider. That's what makes this hobby so interesting and versatile. As far as the long post you have got to have callouses on the ends of your fingers. And some post do need to be shortened because NEIL does have problems with them. RIGHT NEIL?
JUST KIDDING


Kevin
 
#9 ·
well here i am again. firstly, if i liked reading a book! i wouldnt be HERE! second, i'd rather hear some kind of real world arguement from old man like this: "muscle car magazine did race tests with stock 60's muscle cars and the quickest one thru the quarter mile was the small block -NOT THE BIG BLOCK olds" whatever W number that was. That would make me shut the hell up, not the BULLoney put forth. and after reflecting the last week on how i love chevies, to get back to the original post: i have thought about going to chevy power in my Tempest but i sure as hell wasnt thinkin about SMALL block power, if anything it'd be a big block, but i have decided that a 400 or 455 is definitely what is in store for the (distant) future. btw: as far as the most superior engine ever built goes, try this on for size: how bout an engine that was only produced for TWO STINKIN years in the late FIFTIES that TOTALLY dominated drag racin for the next 30+ years??? i am referring, of course, to the 392. How many ways is Oldsmobubble mo better than them? Here is what an Olds engine expert says about rebuilding them in May 2002 HRM: (sorry, there's alot here, and it aint good):quoting Dick Miller Racing "the stock oiling system isn't safe over 5000 rpm....an added precaution against oil starvation is main bearings with enlarged oil feed holes and my oil restrictor kit that redirects oil flow from the cam to the mains and rods. The stock cam button allows a 1/4 inch of cam walk that raises heck with the ignition timing, chain and cam/lifter wear...the stock alternator mounting location is very far away from the crank pulley and calls for a very long drivebelt that wobbles at high rpm...cure:a serpentine belt system...the stock 5/16's inch rocker arm studs need help, and the stock pushrods are too short for use with reduced base circle cams. the solution is 7/16 screw in studs and either adjustable or extra length pushrods."
okay, so olds' aint so freakin perfect either i guess. so eat some humble pie and bow down before the hemi like the rest of us (should)!!(and never mind the fact that it wieghs a ton). btw i do respect your opinion, even so, you do need to lay off the coffee beans :D AND ANOTHER THING!! the best damn mechanic i know, who can fix any car foreign or domestic, and works at a chevy dealership is the one who told me about the 442 web site, he LOVES olds engines too, so there must be something good about them. ps. maybe if olds ever made a car that looked as good as a chevy they might have been more popular. oh stop me! what muscle car did they ever make besides the 442 anyway? the 66's have grown on me but come on! most of them are just plain UGLY BOATS! even BUICK made better lookin cars. just my three cents worth.

[ November 20, 2002: Message edited by: bullheimer ]</p>
 
#11 ·
Ok, this does it, I have not heard one person stand up for buicks, so here it goes. The buicks have alway run faster than any other cars from GM. You guys just don't want to admit it bacause little old ladys drive them to church and its the cheap alternitive to a caddy. In 1966, everyone was shouting GTO!!! CHEVELLE!!!! MUSTANG!!! Guess which was faster than all of them?? A BUICK GRAN SPORT!!! My bro has one and it was able to run a 13.9 1/4mi off the showroom floor. It has a 401 with a Super Hydro 400 3sp auto trans. If you look at the head designs, you will find out why Buicks are so efficient compared to the others. Also, if any of you ever seen or heard about the factory stock drags, the Buicks usually clean up too, a few years ago the top three were a 71 GSX, a 72 GS, and a good ol 69 Charger with a 440 six pack. So, all you guys need to wake up and realize that Buick's (and even ponchos) are faster and always will be. GM has come to shut Buick down by eliminating the platforms that it uses. In the late 80's they got rid of the G-body because the turbo regals were killing anything else from GM (just my theory). Now they are bringing back the GTO, but alas, there will be no B-O-P platform cars. It seems like GM is just letting Chevy run everything now, I guess Caddys are still thier own. That sounds like a good discussion topic: "Why does GM let Chevy run everything now?"
 
#12 ·
love all the hype about chevy's verse's what ever.i'am 54 years old and was really into hot cars.there was the mighty chevelle bad to the bone. the awesome coronet rts and roadrunners.the tire melting olds and buicks and all the others.i also want to mention fords little car in the mid 60's- the 427 thunderbolt hot pontiacs -javalines ect.i drive an 81 chevy caprice 2 door with none other than a 1970 bored and cammed 455 olds .when this motor goes bad someday this 5480lb car will get. you guessed it a stump pulling olds 455.i have always wondered if you put a 454 chey up against a 455 olds identical cars lets say a 70 chevelle ss same driver road condition etc. i really wonder who would win? hey i like chevys my advise is build what you can afford and hang on
 
#13 ·
on no! that does it. i've been converted. i'm convinced. BUICK's ARE THE BEST CAR THAT WAS EVER MADE, THEY GOT THE BEST ENGINES, AND THEY ARE SO DAMN FAST YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PILOTS LICENSE TO DRIVE ONE, AND IF YOU AINT GOT ONE YOU AINT SQUAT! AND THAT'S MY FINAL STINKIN' ANSWER! <img src="graemlins/crash.gif" border="0" alt="[crash]" /> <img src="graemlins/crash.gif" border="0" alt="[crash]" />
 
#15 ·
I have a chevy car and I am looking to put a chev 400 in.. does this make me a dope or a novice (although I am only 17 and haven't built an engine yet ) no, it doesn't.. Ever since grade 4 I have been reading up on engines and how they work... I used to want to help my grandpa and dad work on vehicals but they thought I was too little, so instead I sat there and watched them take the air cleaner off and adjust the carborator, and many other little things they did. The reason I am putting a chevy motor in my car is because it is a chevy... if I couldn't put a chevy in I would put some other gm product... every engine has its goods and bad...some stock heads come shaped the wrong way to produce power... some blocks do funny things when they are built up... I was reading a magazine that compared the chev 454, olds 455, pontiac, and buick motors.... they cam out as follow :1st chev, 2nd and 3rd pontiac and buick don't remeber the exact order, and 4th olds... does this mean the olds sucks... no it does not.. it means in that test the way that engine was built it did not perform as well as the other 2... compare 4 different engines and have someone else build them... I bet there is going to be a different result... it is like saying ford is better than gm or mopar... I mean come on... there is nothing that is better... it is all on what is done... there is no real secret to unlocking power out of motors... as long as you know what the hell you are doing you can get power out of anything... yes sadly enough even rice burners... even if you have to use nos, turbos, blowers, insanly high compression, whatever you have to do if you have any idea on what you are doing and you are willing to do the reading and put the money into it you can make power out of anything...
it is like how I constantly argue with my friends about compression and things like that... they don't believe it is possible to run 12.5:1 compression on regular gas but I know a guy who does it (it is a 302 boss engine that was made for racing) I have heard the engine run and he knows his stuff about cars... everything affects how an engine runs... timing, vavle size, if the block is bored, even what type of oil is in it... so please don't say that chevys are good for novice people or dopes cuz it isn't... the reaons chevy seems to be popular is because off the massive numbers of these engines out there... you don't need to do alot of looking to find a chev 350 (I found 15 of them yesterday in the wreckers looking for a 400)

Anyways that is my rant/opinion
 
#17 ·
Reading this thread got me interested and I started to do a little research on Buicks. Rather that spout off information I knew nothing about, I found a website that documented the entire history of Buick Gran Sports.

http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/buick-gs/buick-gs-history.shtml

In 1966 the Buick GS had these performance numbers:

Production:
2D Coupe: 1,835
2D Hardtop: 9,934
Convertible: 2,047

Engines:
401 V8 325 bhp @ 4,400rpm, 445 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm.
401 V8 340 bhp @ 4,600rpm, 445 lb-ft @ 3,200 rpm.

Performance:
401/325bhp: 0-60 in 7.6 sec, 1/4 mile in 15.47 sec @ 90.5 mph.

Now I realize these numbers are subjective, but I do not think they are going to be 1.5 seconds off what you claim your brothers car runs. The ONLY Buick GS to run a sub 14 second 1/4 mile was a 1970 Buick GS 455 STage 1, and it ran a 13.8.

In my opinion 350s are easy to work on and everything will and has been done to one. Chances are that if your working on one and have a question about something you dont know, you can call one or two buddies up and between the three of you the question will be answered. Most people just know what they are doing with a SBC, and people like working on something they are comfortable with. They have a HUGE aftermarket, and parts can be obtained cheaper (most of the time) for a 350 than a comparable part of another motor. Alot of this stuff has been said already, but I just figured I'd chip my two cents in.

PS: Don't think im all gung ho on SBC, because I happen to be a BBC man myself, which is what I have in my Nova.

Rob
 
#19 ·
cant we all get along? I mean, have your debates, but no arguments. I'd rather think up of "what to poll on next" than to see an hour's worth of reading in one post over a disagreement about something.

Persoanlly, I think all engines have their good points and bad points.

Matt

I should make a poll on who thinks arguing is stupid.
 
#21 ·
Wow I'm sorry about that.. I'm an idiot.

I SWEAR that for some reason this thread was on the first page of the hotrodder's lounge forum when I logged on and posted about it.. there is no way I would go searching through the forum to post on a topic like this. I have no idea why it was there, but it was, and that's the only reason I posted about it..

Sorry once again,

Rob
 
#26 ·
wow wheres rod serling????? thats freaky i read the begining and was a little bent after reading it then i scrolled down and saw that i was the third post and i agreed with him. i didnt realy have an argument with what he said but more how he said it

i may be a bit of a novice but im not incompetent :nono: :nono: :nono:
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top