engine help

[Born Lucky]

OK I have a donor engine sitting in the garage.
It is a 1987 305TPI and I would like to install it in my 1964.
I am going the carb route. I have already ordered a Edelbrock 2104 intake.
I would like to bump up the performance slightly.
What can I do?

[jayoldschool]

Use a 94-96 LT1 B/D body cam (Caprice/Fleetwood/SS/Roadmaster). You'll get a used one for almost free from one of that crowd, we swap them out all the time. A perfect torque low rev cam that is really small (but a bump from the TPI cam). Go with 1.6 roller rockers and good springs. Headers, of course.

[Captainfab]

A couple of other low cost options for a factory roller cam upgrade would be the stock L31 Vortec cam (Not a huge upgrade but can probably get one for free) and the Ram Jet 350/HT383 cam.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-14097395

[Born Lucky]

I decided to buy Summit Racing Vortec heads and Edelbrock 2116 manifold.
I will build on these items later.
Thanks all for your advice.

[Born Lucky]

What would help now is carb and camshaft help.
What options do I have?

[Captainfab]

Those heads will lower your compression, which is not going to help performance. For a carb, 500cfm will be enough for a 305, but you can run a 600. As for a camshaft, I already posted a couple of options as well as what jayoldschool suggested. Anything else is going to coat $250-$350.

[Born Lucky]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Those heads will lower your compression, which is not going to help performance. For a carb, 500cfm will be enough for a 305, but you can run a 600. As for a camshaft, I already posted a couple of options as well as what jayoldschool suggested. Anything else is going to coat $250-$350.

This weekend I checked the block and its a 350 block.
I first had the VIN number from the donor truck. This block changes everything.

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by Born Lucky

This weekend I checked the block and its a 350 block.
I first had the VIN number from the donor truck. This block changes everything.

Are you Sure!
What’s the casting number?

[Born Lucky]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Are you Sure!
What’s the casting number?

engine bock 10243880 96 -up 350 SBC
heads 10110810 91 heads

[Captainfab]

In light of that, the Vortec heads will be fine and I would recommend the 14097395 cam. If it is in the budget I would go with 1.6 rockers. The pushrod holes in the heads may need to be enlarged for the 1.6 rockers.

[jayoldschool]

You can probably buy a good running complete Vortec engine for the price of new Vortec heads.

[Born Lucky]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

In light of that, the Vortec heads will be fine and I would recommend the 14097395 cam. If it is in the budget I would go with 1.6 rockers. The pushrod holes in the heads may need to be enlarged for the 1.6 rockers.

So I purchased the cam and decided to also go with the 1.6 rockers.
Now comes the interesting part. I disassemble the block to find out it has a flat tappet cam and lifters. Apparently, for a short run some 880 blocks were set-up like this.
The good news is that the block can accept a roller set up.
my question is should I go forward with a roller set up or stay with my new discovery of flat tappet set - up?

[Captainfab]

Since your block is machined to accept the factory roller cam components, I would definitely go with the roller cam.

[7 Devils]

Originally Posted by Born Lucky

I decided to buy Summit Racing Vortec heads and Edelbrock 2116 manifold.
I will build on these items later.
Thanks all for your advice.

Glad you upgraded to the Vortec heads. Huge improvement in flow numbers (even stockers) and you will see a dramatic difference in torque.

Dan

[Born Lucky]

Yes that is what direction I wanted to take.
The flat tappet set up gave me one of those WTF moments. LOL
So forward I go!