I'm building my first small block and need some help on what to do. I want a good reliable motor that will run on pump gas. This car is a weekend driver that may see the track maybe twice a year. I'm looking to make around 400 horsepower (give or take a few) without having to go the 383 route. I may go with nitrous later down the road, but not any time soon. What combo will I need to accomplish this?
This motor will be going into a 76 vette with a 350t trans

 

400 hp is easy with a 350.

How much money do you want to spend?

Budget: Hyper flat top pistons, vortec heads (worked for more lift), edelbrock RPM-air gap, 600 holley, with a flat tappet cam to match

More money: Forged flat top pistons (floating not pressed, for rpms), Dart Pro1 200Ps, edelbrock rpm-air gap, 750 holley, roller cam to match combo, comp pro magnum ultra rockers

 

+1 on vortec heads. that will do wonders for your power. When I have more of a budget I may go that route on my 79 myself. The SBC does have potential if you know how to wake it up.

 

Ram Jet 350 crate engine might be an option. Do some measuring and see if it'll fit under the hood. It should.

Is this a roller block or the original 1976 engine being rebuilt?

 

400+ with 91 octane and excellent manners is not hard for a 355.

We just did one this week for a '67 Camaro

Dart 200cc Platinums + just a little extra time rolling the SSR
KB hyper pistons @ 9.5:1
Scat I beam rods(only because his were junk)
Victor Jr. Intake(already owned - RPM Air Gap would work just as well)
Comp XE Hydraulic Roller cam
650 Holley(non-HP series)

Made 375 at the tires at only 6K RPM, that's 430 at the crank - just a real basic cruising motor that has an absolutely flat torque curve. If you want to make more you can switch to aluminum heads and bump the compression.