1980 Z28 camaro

i know that these are the low compression years and arent the fastest in the world but can anyone throw me some ideas of how to get around 400hp without the hole stroking to the 383 or any of that i would like to leave it as a 350 but like i said get around 400 on motor if you could list the products that would be incredible :metal:

check out some Edlebrock stuff, they have a set up for a 350 that will have around 400hp. heads, intake, cam, lifters, carb, roller rockers! those are just a few things. it all depends on how deep your pockets are.

yea ive seen all of those top end kits from edelbrock the price isnt bad but i dont know if they give me the hp with my engine thats why im asking thanks anyway

if you have checked into them, they will tell you what bottom end they have it on, to achieve the hp goals. I believe they have just a 9.0:1 350ci, with the edlebrock heads, intake, cam, lifters, rockers and carb.

ok quick question how would i change my 8.6:1 to 9.0:1 or higher i wouldnt know where to start i would hae just gotten an 80s camaro motor my dads iroc has a 9.5:1 stock

you may have to find out what heads you have on the motor, they could have 76cc chambers, on a standard 350 with some 64cc heads you will have about 10:1 compression. give or take a little.

Just drop in a used LS-1 in it. w/some mods you can get it to 400. Why bother with an old school cast iron engine?

it all depends on how deep his pockets are.

exactly this small block will be my back up plan if i cant find a big block thats why i was asking

The limiting factor is your heads, don't worry about the compression. Like someone else mentioned using a smaller combustion chamber will increase compression anyway.

I've always heard great things about the Dart Pro 1 heads, but the edlebrock kits will probably be the easiest route, they've done all the thinking for you.

Anyway, get a good set of heads, an intake that fits your needs, and then a cam that is matched to all of it. If you want 400fwhp then Helen Keller could assemble your motor and get 400hp out of it, if you are going for 400rwhp then you better make sure you have some good stuff in there.

Just my $.02

Jeremy

thats why the first thing i thought of was the 350 top end kit from edelbrock but im not sure if it will do what it says to my motor 415hp

thats why the first thing i thought of was the 350 top end kit from edelbrock but im not sure if it will do what it says to my motor 415hp

There is probably little difference between your motor and the one they used to make 400hp. Granted they probably had a pro assemble the motor with a level of perfection you will never bother to achieve on a 350, but the only major difference would be compression ratio. You probably have 72cc heads, swap them out with a set of heads with smaller combustion chambers and you will be fine.

There is not a whole lot of power to be made in the shortblock without increasing displacement. You can make hp with a lot of perfect prep-work to the shortblock, but it costs more money than its worth for what you want to do.

They used an edelbrock top end kit a while ago on an episode of HorsePower TV, it was a full kit with retro fit roller cam, no machining required roller lifters, full roller rockers, bolt on performance heads, intake, and carb. They stuck it all on a stock remanufactured 350 as one of their "bang for the buck" things, and dyno'd it, it did make over 400 HP, so with a little money and time, that goal isnt so hard to achieve. Personally, the LT1's and LS1's are great engines, but i love the 1st gen's as well, nothing performs like they did back in their day :D

yea i just remembered that episode thancks but do you think if i just throw the heads cam intak all the stuff that comes in the kit will i get my 190 horse 2 bolt main to 400hp or would i have to change pistonsandcraplike that

yea i just remembered that episode thancks but do you think if i just throw the heads cam intak all the stuff that comes in the kit will i get my 190 horse 2 bolt main to 400hp or would i have to change pistonsandcraplike that

Buddy, listen very, very closely. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.

Power is not made in the shortblock, it is made in the heads. They are the part of the motor that decides potential power production with a given displacement. The intake and cam decide how much of that potential power you will see.

The only possible thing I could think of that would be different on your motor is the fact that you have a flat tappet cam and I would guess those kits use a roller cam. You would then have to convert to a roller setup. If you are that worried about it then go pick up a '87+ 350 shortblock for ~$500 (and that will get you a really good one I'm sure).

Edit: And I just looked they even sell a kit with a retro-fit roller cam for your engine, so that is out the window.

I hate to come off like a jerk but you've had that question answered a number of times.

I have played with those LM1's quite a bit in the 80's. Easy to get 300hp from them but to get 400hp out of them requires you to replace everything except the block. Believe me, your best bet is to find a motor that someone built up and no longer wants. You can usually get them for half the money that is in them. Then take it to your most trusted engine shop and get them to do a tear down-rebuild for under a grand. You will save thousands.

I have played with those LM1's quite a bit in the 80's. Easy to get 300hp from them but to get 400hp out of them requires you to replace everything except the block. Believe me, your best bet is to find a motor that someone built up and no longer wants. You can usually get them for half the money that is in them. Then take it to your most trusted engine shop and get them to do a tear down-rebuild for under a grand. You will save thousands.

Please tell me what he needs to change in the shortblock and why. What about the crank, rods, and pistons needs to be changed to make 400 hp?

Thanks i feel like a dumbass for bother you guys i just started you know so im not too skilled in this sport yet, But i did some research now and i think i have a good shot at the hp if not ill just swap out to forged pistons and juice the hell out of it lol just kiding. Anyway thanks for the help ppl. I looked at the parts on the crate motor from edelbrock saying they have good pistons from the zz4 block so im gunna go with eagles rotating kits for my block and the chambers are alot smaller on the edelbrock heads so yea im gunna also go with the top end kit frome edelbrock there around 1700 bucks so im gunna back that 400 hp up with a beefed up trany and change my rear end to a posi with a 3.73 gears to get a good top end as well as hole shot

Thanks i feel like a dumbass for bother you guys i just started you know so im not too skilled in this sport yet, But i did some research now and i think i have a good shot at the hp if not ill just swap out to forged pistons and juice the hell out of it lol just kiding. Anyway thanks for the help ppl. I looked at the parts on the crate motor from edelbrock saying they have good pistons from the zz4 block so im gunna go with eagles rotating kits for my block and the chambers are alot smaller on the edelbrock heads so yea im gunna also go with the top end kit frome edelbrock there around 1700 bucks so im gunna back that 400 hp up with a beefed up trany and change my rear end to a posi with a 3.73 gears to get a good top end as well as hole shot

There is nothing wrong with beefing up your shortblock and throwing on some juice, but if you do that you better be planning on more than 400hp or your wasting your money.

And don't apologize for asking, go back and read my first few posts, we all started somewhere. If you don't ask you will never learn.:)