New Engine Ordered

Well, I really wanted to build the engine myself, but multiple people thought I should just have an engine shop put it together so that they test and adjust it (also saves me time I don't really have).  As much as I want to do the build, I completely understand why I should have the shop do the build.  Anyway, had a meeting with the shop on Monday and discussed reusing the engine block along with the different engine options.  Everything from doing a straight 350 rebuild to doing a high performance 383.

After about and hour of talking, I had a good idea of pricing and what to expect out of the different size engines.  Since the car is so heavy, a high torque engine will be very beneficial.  A 383 is very well known as having lots of torque.  From the books I've read, and from talking with the mechanics, the 383 is a very popular choice for 350 blocks.  Went back today with a list of parts I had compiled to use.  We went through them one-by-one until we had the best engine for the money that would fit in the stock car, with good power, and be a good driveable car.

Here's the main stuff I ended up going with...

• New 350 4-bolt mains short block (383 rotating assembly with flat-top pistons) - Ended up being cheaper than reusing the block I have
• Dart aluminum cylinder heads - higher performance and lightens up the engine
• Edelbrock Performer Air Gap - suggested upgrade by the mechanic, and it still fits under the stock hood with a regular air cleaner
• Comp Cams Xtreme Energy Hydraulic Flat Tappet Cam - picked from a book I read with help from the mechanic to make the car street driveable
• Comp Cams Aluminum 1.6 rockers - size and type picked from the book, but the mechanic picked out the actual rockers (I had picked some expensive ones...)
• MSD Street Fire Distributor - originally picked the Pro Billet HEI, but the mechanic didn't think it was worth it for me since this is a street driver

Obviously there is more to the engine than that, but those are the highlights.  There are other things like ARP bolts, Fel-Pro gaskets, Melling oil pump, deep oil pan, and a Proform black dress-up kit.  The Dart Pro 1 cylinder heads I wanted had to be changed out because they wouldn't accept the stock size intake.  Basically, going with those heads would have forced me to get a drop air cleaner and even then it's questionable whether it would have fit under the stock hood.

In 2-3 weeks I'll have a lighter engine with a 9.98:1 compression ratio that should peak about 386 hp and 423 ft-lbs torque.  That's about 40 hp and 10 ft-lbs torque less than if I didn't have take the low hood into account.  I used a computer simulation to get those numbers.  It's going to be an orange block, natural aluminum heads, and a powder coat black dress-up (valve covers, timing chain cover, air filter cover).  So basically, it looks almost exactly like this economy 383 build (except I'll have more stuff on the front of the engine).  Maybe one day I'll get the after-market hood I want and swap out the top end for the taller stuff, but lots of stuff to do before then...