I have no time limit, per se, to build this engine so that might increase my long term budget. That said, I want to replace the current 307 in my Nova with a better 307 - an over bored 302 using those much talked about 3" stroke crank and 5.94" rods from the 4.3L L99 caprice engine. Well I already have them, I'm just missing the roller block. I have a few engine building books and have read a lot about what combos will work with what engines, but I'd like some other peoples advice on this particular build. I'm looking for fun on the street, not a 8500rpm race car, eventhough a 350 is a better choice for the street. What cam would you use? Forged or hyper, pressed or floating pistons? What size heads? What intake? What size carb? What headers and mufflers?
My plan so far would be AFR 190cc heads, roller rockers, weiand stealth intake, custom grind roller cam w/ no more than .525" lift, lightweight pistons (undecided material), holley 670cfm street avenger, undecided on headers, x pipe and spintech mufflers on 2.5" pipe.
Thanks for the input!

 

so you are looking for a 1 piece rear main roller cam 305 block?

 

no, not a 305 - a 350 roller block. 4" bore is what I need.

 

Always build the most cubes you can afford. No need spending same amount of cash building a 302 type engine that will give you less hp/torque. All sorts of guys will tell you how wonderful 302s and 327s are, have some sort of mystique attached to them. Been there, prefer 350s and now 400s. Only reason to build small is to meet class restrictions, something that does not apply on the street.

Hypereutectic pistons are more brittle than regular sand cast. Ok in a factory engine with computer controls. But with carbs/mechanical spark controls, you make a mistake on the tune and it's hasta la vista ring lands. And hello crack in a cherry casting #509 400 block. Ask me how I know. Better off with forged. Pressed pin is fine.

Keep duration low, say ~ 220-225 @ .050 with a 3.42, 3.73 gear. If you want more power up top, go ~ 230, 235 and get a deeper gear. If you are set on a 307, 220s w/ 4.11s.

 

OK - at first my plan was to get a 350 w/ 300+ hp and I thought I'd be happy with that. Then I discovered a way to build a better 307 and thought why not? I just like the idea of more power from smaller cubes, but since just about everyone (not just on this site) is trying to steer me back towards the 350 I guess I should probably listen. Anybody looking for an L99 rotating assy, I won't be needing mine

 

how much do you want for it?

 

I dunno. I was thinking about doing what everybody else does. . . putting it up on ebay.

 

what about a 377?

 

377, what about it?
Are you suggesting I take my newly acquired 4" bore block and throw a 3.75 crank (that I don't have) in it or go find an old 400 block and throw a 3.48 crank in it? I'm not rev happy, I am (was) 307 happy. I wanted the roller cam 1 pc rear seal block so I could use my L99 crank and rods w/o any problem, bore it over and have 307 cubes that would make more power than my current 307. Roller cam will help the smaller cubes make power - but I have abandoned that idea and I'm selling my 3" stroke 1pc rear seal crank and 5.94" rods to offset the cost of my 350 roller short block I just purchased. Thanks for the idea though.