HOW TO: CHEAP SBC MODS THE $1000 QUESTION? WHAT MODS ARE WORTH THE MOST POWER AND WHAT DO THEY COST?

LOW BUCK SBC POWER MODS. CHEAP, JUNKYARD PERFORMANCE 350 UPGRADES. HOW TO MAKE MORE SBC POWER. HOW MUCH DO ALUMINUM HEADS COST? HOW MUCH POWER DO ALUMINUM HEADS MAKE? SHOULD I UPGRADE MY CAMSHAFT? WHAT IS THE BEST CAM FOR A SBC 350? HOW MUCH POWER CAN I MAKE WITH MY SBC 350. HOW TO MAKE GOOD TORQUE FROM YOUR SBC 350. CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO WHERE I RAN A STOCK 2-BARREL 350 SBC, THEN UPGRADED IT WITH ALL THE USUAL PERFORMANCE MODS, INCLUDING A 4-BARREL, MILD CAM, PORTED HEADS, ALUMINUM INTAKE, BIGGER CARB AND ALUMINUM HEADS. HOW MUCH POWER DO THEY ALL ADD AND HOW MUCH DID IT COST?

[shadvan]

Back in the 80's when i was a teenager, i had a 1976 Camaro 350 4-speed, The 1976 Camaro is known for having the worst 350 SBC ever produced. the 180HP LM1 (ironically mine also had 4 bolt main caps). I swapped the intake to an Edelbrock Performer but kept the Q-jet and bought a tuning kit for it, did a little cleanup porting on the heads and chambers in shop class, and added the old Comp Cams Magnum 270H and a set of hooker headers, a dual exhaust kit and got rid of the factory 2-1-2 exhaust with the catalytic converter. it was a night and day difference. all said and done it was under $600, but that is around $1200-1500 in today's dollars. my neighbors hated the cherry bombs glass packs i ran on it.

[Apachefog]

Heads are the most expensive part. Most people put a medium size cam in with the stock heads, a 4bbl intake and headers. It would be nice to see a test showing that combo, and then upgrade the heads with a budget option and see what the heads are worth with the same medium size cam.

[georgemontgomery]

Parts combo is where the real magic happens. For instance: The long tube headers didn't do much for the stock motor, now that the motor is modified replace them back to the ram horns and you see what they are really worth.

[ufarkingicehole]

This is ultimately what everyone with a real world budget wants to know.

Hopefully we can eventually get this info on the majority of the engines you have covered


You are the man Richard!!

[logato]

Need to strive for max power while maintaining vacuum and stock converter. Like a compcams 262 with 180 afr heads. That would probably save a lot of headaches for people who don’t realize how many problems you can run into as side affects from modifying the engine. 400 hp is achievable without ruining drivability.

[thomasdebord]

Well that means the little sbc I just built prolly makes around 300hp 400tq not bad for an ole farm truck. Your like a free dyno. Keep up the good work man

[a]

Richard did a previous video on a 350 SBC with virtually the same (if not the same engine) engine except he added a better cam and AFR heads for final tests, and I believe power went up to 523 HP.

[FastFoxx]

This is like a sign from the Heavens!
Just as soon as I'm tearing out the 350 in my 63 Impala
Great Video!

[johnpublic]

Your great on focusing on the big picture what gives the most.

[lifeonadime]

Man I miss ol sbc's. Had a 82 swb with a 355 with unknown cam and some mild Goodwrench heads(got the engine for free and had no idea it had a cam lol) and it was a lot of fun. Traded it for a fox body, then traded that for a 'camino with a 396 stuffed into it. Man, the good old days

[captainrawn]

Old video I know but thanks for the info Richard. I'll be doing a similar. 040 350 build for my 73 Camaro in the near future. Will use this a a guide line for 400 plus hp

[FastFoxx]

These motors are coming back mark my words
A 4 bolt block is gonna be worth it's weight in gold in a few years

[devinmcalister]

I love it Richard. Been waiting on a video like this. I'll be doing a post on sloppy with a write up on my SBC build just as soon as I get it on the dyno and get some real data. It's budget power all the way! Keep up the great videos I watch every one.

[johnbehneman]

GREAT VIDEO RICHARD. I JUST LOVE LEARNING ABOUT THE SMALL-BLOCK CHEVY 350. GREAT FRO ANY DAILY DRIVER.

[msh]

A junkyard 5.7 Vortec is still the best starting point if you can find a decent one. Really, any factory roller cammed 5.7 is a great foundation for a street driven hot rod that might occasionally get a few passes at the track.
Close to 450 hp is very possible without breaking the bank.

[krispinlihme]

Thanks for doing a video for us budget minded guys. really wish you would have used the Feullie type heads with the 268 cam. I'd like to see what to do with my totally stock looking engine in my old school vehicle.

[marktoomeyz]

great sb chevy stuff. i’m contemplating these exact upgrade choices on my late 70s smogger 350 so this is good clean fun! so far i’ve purchased an air gap intake and holley carb from good old fb marketplace….currently stuffing the piggy bank for a cylinder head upgrade. would be beyond thrilled with anything approaching 400 hp…

[superdaveharley]

Richard this one is an excellent doable example for the work class guy!! This is the way I wish you would have done the 305 video!! Do the same exact format with the 305

[mikealexander]

Interesting to see, stock SBC head like a pre TBI head, vs the swirl port vs a vortec. Upgraded cam like 450 lift/ 110 and a iron Qjet intake and Qjet cab. Great content you put up here.

[darrenoerlemans]

Just built the same combo but with a slightly different cam. Thanks for the video.