Preformance build for 360
New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Do any of you read Hot Rod? 'Cause if you did, you might remember that they built up a 390 last year. Nothing too wild: Stock crank & rods, forged pistons for a 9.6:1 comp, Crane hydraulic roller, Edelbrock heads, Performer Rpm manifold & Performer 800 cfm carb. End result: 450 horsepower @ 5900 and 460ft/lbs @ 3900 with 430 ft/lbs available at 3000rpm. Not bad for an old boat anchor. Remember, the 428CJ was rated at 335, and even the 427 medium riser with a single 4 barrel was rated at 410 horse. Total cost, including machine work: $6000. Now, personally I could live with a flat tappet cam and save myself $600 or so. You want a brand "C" engine that will equal that? A new GM crate big block with that kind of power will run you over 5 grand. Oh, and the 390 was designed to run on 87 octane gas.
Street Rodder did a multi-part build up on the FE in 2001. I've also seen them do a Y block and a nail head Buick. Thank God someone realizes there's more than 350 Chev's out there.
Street Rodder did a multi-part build up on the FE in 2001. I've also seen them do a Y block and a nail head Buick. Thank God someone realizes there's more than 350 Chev's out there.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
I would have ported the poop out of some stock heads, and saved some money there. I'd also use some CJ sized valves.
Hot Rod is a chevy mag. Always has been, always will be. They're used to the "buy things and bolt it together" attitude of the normal Chevy 350 buildup. They didnt even think about porting the heads, or using bigger valves. They didn't do the oiling mods. They didn't beef up the valvetrain with end stands or better shaft stands. They used standard aluminum ones. They used headers with the header flange smaller than the head opening. This will restrict flow. In spite of all this, the thing still made 450hp. They also couldn't find the blue paint can, probably because they dont have one. They painted it red. A ford engine, painted red. Sickening. I'm surprised the thing didn't blow up on the first dyno run.
On top of all that there's a radioactive orange fram hanging off of it. Sickening.
I'm sure most of us on this forum could have done a 100% better job, and for much less money.
If you feel like losing your lunch, click here.
I'll get off my soapbox now.
Hot Rod is a chevy mag. Always has been, always will be. They're used to the "buy things and bolt it together" attitude of the normal Chevy 350 buildup. They didnt even think about porting the heads, or using bigger valves. They didn't do the oiling mods. They didn't beef up the valvetrain with end stands or better shaft stands. They used standard aluminum ones. They used headers with the header flange smaller than the head opening. This will restrict flow. In spite of all this, the thing still made 450hp. They also couldn't find the blue paint can, probably because they dont have one. They painted it red. A ford engine, painted red. Sickening. I'm surprised the thing didn't blow up on the first dyno run.
On top of all that there's a radioactive orange fram hanging off of it. Sickening.
I'm sure most of us on this forum could have done a 100% better job, and for much less money.
If you feel like losing your lunch, click here.
I'll get off my soapbox now.
