Winter Engine Build...
 

Considering a 'winter engine build' for Karen's 69 SS 350 Camaro. Car is a beauty...Garnet Red, black/white houndstooth, black vinyl top, M20 4spd, console gauges, 5 spoke magnums and redline radials, Gardner exhaust,.

Current small block is NOM...pretty sure the rear is 3.73 or 4.10...will have to check closer. We have a 1968 350/295hp engine...good shape. Thinking about a 383 stroker build, hydraulic roller, better heads. Would likely add an Gm performance aluminum intake and retain the QJ.

This car will run with manifolds, no headers.

Karen would like to increase the 'go-pedal' factor, but not go crazy.

Thoughts and ideas are appreciated.

-wilma

Stroker...end of story. Make it a 383 and you'll be s happy

My thinking, hard to justify 'building' a 383 using a 58-year-old 2-bolt main block when you can buy a new one with a warranty.

GM Performance lists 7 different 383s, all with a 24/50 warranty. A bud recently bought a Blueprint 383 for his '68 RS, super happy with it. Blueprint has its own block castings.

Unless it is an original engine for a restoration, there is no reason to have a shop build an engine these days.

Pay more, get more.

I'm still working on last winter's engine build.

:(

This ^^^

For your application probably the most bang for your buck - not worried about originality or a specific build spec.

Tom, totally agree with William. Get a GMPP crate engine. We have one in our '69 Z28 and it runs well. With an intake, carb, headers, bigger cam, and ported heads, it makes good power. Don't install manifolds - add headers!

I doubt that I could use a performance engine that I didn't build myself. Building it is most of the fun. I'm too picky about how they are built and I want to know every detail about how it's put together.