There is a possibility that I might be able to get about $4k in the very near future. My odometer has just hit 101kmi. and I want more power. I don't want to stroke it because it's my daily driver and I just graduated high school so I don't have alot of money for gas. I just want to be able to build a 400rwhp engine that is reliable most importantly. Would $4k be enough to build a reliable 355? What parts should I get? Thank you for any advice

 

what is the cost of doing a complete rebuild
cutting no corners??

does any one have a ball park figure

 

Lets just say that if you're sitting on $4000, and want a new rebuilt 355 pushing 400 HP, it's not going to happen. A no corner cut bottom end rebuild will probably cost in the area of $2000 if you go all cast, and starting at about $2500 once you start throwing in forged components.

Lest we forget a set of ported heads ($1000-1500), new cam (200-400), valvetrain, headers, intake, throttlebody, ect.

Personally, my advice would be to do a compression/leakdown test to see if the bottom end is ok. If it is, you can do a VERY nice Head and Cam package from a couple members on this board that will easily net you your HP goal.

 

Like stated above, if compression is good i'd leave the bottom end alone. There are plenty of people here making those kinds of numbers on stock bottom ends.

If you really want to rebuild oyu could keep the stock crank and just get some forged pistons and rods. You can probably get away with about $2,000 for the parts and labor on that kind of setup, then you gotta think about heads/cam/headers like others stated. But with $4,000 that should be plenty. I have now done a bottom end rebuild, heads+cam for about $2,500 and if you put it together yourself then you save lots of labor.

 

down here in south africa we just say

" FOR ALL ELSE THERE IS MASTER CARD"

LET THE BANK PAY FOR IT!!!!

 

Shortblock I.E. crank, rods, pistons, oiling system, ect.

 

SRP pistons, 500$, Eagle or Scat I beam rods, 250$, bore block ,balance, vat, freeze plugs, new cam bearings 310$, Polish crank 110$, bearings 100$, rings 100$, cam 235$, lifters 180$, pushrods, 89$, Heads 1200$,headers, Y , cat-back,plus welding 1000$,T/B (bored stock unit) 150$,computer programing 150$, odds and ends like oil pump all lubes , gaskets, and misc fasteners 300$. grand total doing everything....4374

This is assuming you do all the work or have a freind do it , then you add about 50$ for beer.