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Instead, we sprung for a set of a mid-'90s GM Vortec heads, the best-flowing small-block castings ever installed by GM on the assembly line.
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We didn't buy a complete long-block because old-school factory heads suck-and the cylinder heads are one of the primary determinants of an engine's power potential. If you don't have an old engine to exchange, Coast will charge you a $200 core fee. We got our assembly from Omar Carrillo's Coast Engine Supply in Canoga Park, California. Stock replacement short-blocks are built and sold by thousands of independent local rebuilders and auto parts stores nationwide. Cores for this vintage small-block are starting to get a little scarce but at least in California are still less expensive than the later one-piece seal motors. For $520, Southern California rebuilder Coast Engine Supply sold us a '71 to '85 two-piece rear main seal 350 with a cast crank, stock rods, and dished four-eyebrow cast pistons. The foundation of Cheap 350 is an econo, stock-replacement short-block. Goodwrench engine could be a better alternative (see sidebar on page 95). If starting from scratch with no prior engine, a stock-replacement Mr. We assume you have a worn-out engine to trade in for a remanufactured assembly after removing reusable parts like the oil pan, front cover, water pump, distributor, oil pump driveshaft, and common fasteners. We shelled out the cash only in areas important for making power-cylinder heads, intake, exhaust, carburetor, camshaft, and valvetrain-holding back everywhere else with econo, stock replacement-style parts while trusting the small Chevy's legendary foolproof rotating assembly and oil system would pull through and carry the day.Īs assembled by HOT ROD associate Ed Taylor at McMillan's Speed and Fabrication, our Cheap 350 won't win any beauty contests, but it should tide you over until good times are here again. Recognizing the economic squeeze and belt-tightening that make up today's reality, we at HOT ROD rolled up our collective sleeves to deliver an affordable Chevy 350 that makes nearly 400 hp for about $2,600. Your tired Chevy small-block's in dire need of a refresh or replacement-but in today's economy, coming up with the dough to remain in the hot rod game can be tough.