My Cheap engine build! OPINIONS!!

I just bought a 87 transam, I have a 86 z28 tpi 305 for my daily driver and I want to build a weekend car out of the transam. The transam came with a 350 that runs decent but isn't much so I'm going to pull it and build this:

350 .030 over - 355 (using rebuild kit hypereutetic pistons 9:73:1 comp ratio)
stock crank/rods (will get inspected by machine shop)
New crank/rod bearings arp bolts.
Vortec cylinder heads for high lift cams up to .550 lift (stock unported)
Lunati Voodoo cam 233/241 dur. .504"/.525 lift
Edelbrock rpm air-gap vortec intake 1500-6500 rpm
Edelbrock 750 cfm performer carb mech. secondaires
Flowtech shorty headers into dynomax bullets dumping before rearend.
Turbo 350 transmission with 2500-3000 rpm stall
either 12 bolt or ford 9 inch rear with 4.10 gears

That about sum's it up besides odds and ends. I'd like to run low 13's high
12's with this combo with weight reduction and sticky tires. This engine will not be sprayed and only driven on the weekend mostly on the street with a trip or 2 to the strip. What do yall think and what would yall change?

Thanks in advance!

stick with the 12 bolt, makes life easier, go with a strange 12 bolt
do u need a turbo 350? why not a built 700r4?
if you go with a built 700r4 and a 12 bolt u can keep a stock length drive shaft

i know thats not excatly a compelling arguement but it would convince me

Ditch the flowtech headers and get hooker's either shorty, or for a weekend car get longtubes. Also, get a DP carb instead of the edelbrock, other than that looks good!

With that combo there, I would definately suggest getting a decent port job done on those heads, it will be worth it in the long run.

+1 on the port job for the heads, hell buy a book on it and do it yourself! It will be worth some horsepower.

It sounds good the way it's listed. If it were my weekend warrior, I'd do:

Holley 750
Headman 1-5/8" Longtubes
3500 stall, no less
28" Drag Radial
3.73 gear
Super Victor intake? I'd be tempted to try it with a larger stall and more cam but that's going more of a strip only route...forget it...I've talked myself out of it.:)

Once it's all paid for, nothing seems budget but I'd still "splurge" when it comes to the converter. It probably doesn't call for a custom 9.5" but most people rave about them. Neal Chance, PTC, Edge can all build a custom 10" converter for a LOT less than your normal $700-900 Vig or Yank. It won't have all of the billet internals but you said you won't be spraying, etc so it's a GREAT way to go instead of an off the shelf TCI/B&M. It should make similar power to a mild LS1 build, Peak hp in the 5800-6000 range, shift at 6300-6500 should be fine with ARP bolted rods. I'd shoot for 3400-3800 stall and the 3.73 gear because having no OD sucks and 4.10's make it suck even more. The difference at the track will be very hard to notice.

I have a ProBuilt 700R4 if you're interested...:eek: OD plus lockup :D Goodluck with the build!

you will do better than you think, I built a 305 with stock heads...a lunati bracket master 230/230 a holley and a edelbrock performer rpm headman headers went 13.0's@106+ with a 1.9 60'
you should do well....

Oh! and I promied myself I'd never do a flat tappet cam again because I had 2 wipe out a few lobes and it killed the bearings and cyl walls of a brand new engine...Hyd roller would rule but not too many people had the problems I had.

you may want to check out cnc-motorsports.com great prices on premium parts

I'd go with a hydralic roller cam, flat tappet is a thing of the past (flame suit going on).
Go with 1-3/4" Hooker longtubes, 1-5/8 is what I'd use on a 305.
I'd go with a Holley 750 also.
700R4 trans is the way to go, I think a TH350 is overkill with your combo.
The Air-Gap intake is a good idea, should work well with that.

As for the heads, I think those Vortec's would work well but I'd get the chambers and pockets cleaned up a little to make use of the lower lift numbers. A full porting job would be a waste of money, they flow plenty as is for that cam you chose.

And 4.10 gears are a bit much for that setup, I don't see it turning the rpm's to need that kind of gear. 3.73 sounds about right.