Yes, custom grind cams are the best, like someone at comp cams send in a custom grind request tell them the specifications of the engine that you have or plan to build the cars weight axle ratio, transmisison, ect. For mine If I do go that route I will tell them what kind of basic operating range the engine runs in but I am leaning towards just running a off the shelf cam such as the Comp Cams Xtreme energy flat tappet with normal operating range of 600 - 4800 rpm. Seems to make good power in DD2000 with my parts selected accurately imputed. Only thing is if I could get comp to make the same spec camshaft but make it as a roller I could un leash a few more points of power reducing the power loss to slide the camshaft across the flat surface of the lifters.

But your idea sounds somewhat like mine. Mine is going in a daily driver but its going to be done to another 351W block just incase something doesnt go right I still have my oem orignal 351W that I can go back stock if needed. But I was looking at a 0.030" over bore, edelbrock performer heads (very expensive but they are aluminum street stock replacement heads that flows like the performer rpm heads but they have the heat cross over as well as the ports for use with oem style hot air chokes as well as EGR valves. Was also looking at performer intake with a 4V EGR plate, oem egr valve, oem dist, oem dura spark II ignition, that xtreme enegry camshaft, flow kooler high volume water pump.

So pretty much can say mine idea is a stock build with upgraded more modern camshaft, heads, intake and a high voume water pump. Personally if I can get 330hp and 393trq out of this engine going basicaly stock just helping the breathing of the engine I am doing pretty good especially at 8.75:1 compression since the highest hp 351 was only 290hp in 69 and that was at 10:1 compression.

But back on your build though you could get way more performance out of a custom grind. Personally I dont think a custom grind would be worth the money for me. The off the shelf one has a operating range only 300 rpm higher than what my engine ever sees since it kicks out of passing gear at 60 mph at 4500 rpm. But I might consider a custom grind to operate the same as the Xtreme energy but be tuned for making max power below 4500 rpm. For yours if you know what your normal rpm range is you can have them design a custom grind camshaft that would have a operating rpm range within that range so your not making power else where. Now if you dont mind changing the rear end gears to help the camshaft perform better then you dont have to be as technical and precise as me. I just dont care to spend extra money on a axle ratio change when I like how the car drives in the city and on the highway now.

 

Remember with guide plates you need to run hardened push rods. Gives you an excuse to buy a new tool aye. With new springs it is an easy thing to get new rockers and they are getting cheaper and cheaper. I found full roller rockers for under 150$ for anther guy and they were brand name Comp Cams rockers so I mean it is worth it to set up a budget on how much you really want to spend and next to that write down what you want out of your engine and when ever you start looking at parts keep that right beside you.

My projects I keep two price lists. What I want to spend on parts and what I allow for tools. something to keep in mind.

 

Rusty, My "custom grind" cam would be a project that I would be machining from a cam blank. I know of a guy casting his own pistons and to "make" my own cam would be kind of neat. It all depends on time/vs/enegy/vs/need/vs/the Mrs. If its something I can knock out in not too much time/cash I may give it a go. The research is yet to be done.

USArmy, Since the engine is staying flat tappet I can save some cash by re-using my lifters and upgrading the push-rods, springs, and rockers. Looks like I have early and late head castings. One set is the D00E's we talked about and the OG's are D5AE. It looks like the D00E's are going to get the nod which means I need valves springs and rockers anyway. The ports on the OG heads are miniscule compared to the earlier castings. Well that and one of the D00E's has already been ported and hogged out. As for the budget, I do need to mind my spending but at the same time I only want to build this thing once. I keep an eye on Craigslist and other classified ads, have buddies on the lookout, and have a few favors I can call in as well. Another nice thing is that tools are a job related expense.

Snowdog, The VR1 oil is what I've been hearing the most about from some locals. It was also quite prevalent in the pits at the last nostalgia drag racing event I attended. Thanks for chipping in and letting us know how its worked out for ya!

I appreciate all of the info you guys have shared, its givin me a general direction to head with my research and planning of this, my first, engine build. I plan on taking pics of each step of the process from hot tank to suck, bang, and blow...

We should be getting started Tuesday, Stay tuned!

 

Well boys, we got started today with a port job on the heads, took some mesurements, and ordered parts. New 30 over pistons, cam, lifters, valves, timing, set, bearings... everthing really. Cranks getting 10 under. Pricing became a big factor when I had to decide under $400 or close to a grand. Since we're not building a race car, we're going to keep it simple. Heads have hardend seats installed and we're bumping up the cam as well. I'll get some pics next week, I didn't bring a camera and my cell takes... well, cell phone pics.

 

My cell isn't too bad I think when I last looked it said 5.3mp so I think you could read the letters off a billboard lol

 

Bad news and good... Bad news is that my phone decided it didn't want to be touched anymore and the screen quit on me. I lost something close to 400 numbers and all the work in progress pics. Now the good news is that I haven't really done much besides port and polish the one head and throw some parts in the hot tank. I wasn't able to make it down to the shop this week, so I'll bring a decent camera along next week. All the new parts should be waiting for me, hopefully the crank will be back, and we can get started on the block. I do believe that my New Years Resoulution will be to fire this thing on New Years Day.

In the mean time maybe you guys can help me figure out the gearing I should be after with this "new" engine and a C4?

 

What the hey... I don't have to be at work til noon tomorrow, so here's a few random pics of what I started with.

These are the 5AE heads and such.... Pretty much useless to me now.





Here we have the D00E's as I got them.





This is pretty RAD, a wooden plug.








Inside peak of one of the OG heads. I'm comfortable saying that we got this thing apart in the nick of time.




Here's some of the fine engineering that was holding the engine (barely) between the rails. Gotta love the PO's handy-work.




Ok fellas, I'm done running OT from the engine build. I promise an update and pics next week.


PS, Here's a link to the rest of my shenanigan's with this truck if anyone wants to check it out.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/g...cussionid=7100

 

Got some work done and some pics today.

I got the second head finished up today.





I'm not too great with a die grinder but they feel alot better then they look.








I also took a little time to blast the rocker covers and oil pan.




Here's a pic of the home for this engine, its an old shot. The grille will be changed, the mirrors are gone, and it will be two tone, copper flake and black... eventually.

 

Psssst your pictures aren't showing up make sure this is your coding

 

The pictures have been working for me, and they're quite good.

 

I'm seeing em too.... Its copy and paste code, shouldn't be an issue.

 

wierd I aint seeing anythig