350 Advice
June 12th, 2015, 10:04 PM
#1
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 19
350 Advice
Hi all, I have 73 Cutlass Supreme. 80K miles. Stock 350, 4bbl, dual exhaust, TH350, 2:73 gears. Car ran good when parked a few years ago. I have the engine out and plan to do the valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, front and rear main seals, and install a new timing set. ( was looking at CLOYES Part # C3006K) and then clean and paint. From your experience, is there anything else I should change? Intake gasket? Valve springs? Any know parts that are prone to failure due to age? Would there be any gain in changing the cam and lifters. Heads are not in the budget. And I have a 455 that will get rebuilt and installed after I retire in 5 or 6 years. This will be a highway cruiser so I don’t plan on changing the gears. So priorities are budget, reliability, and no oil leaks. Thanks for any help in advance.
Blane
Blane
June 12th, 2015, 11:34 PM
#2
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 14,182
Probably as the factory cam is very, very mild: .400" lift, 186º duration @ .050" lift. You can get an "RV" style cam with advertised duration ~260º and 204º @ .050" lift and get more power without losing low RPM torque.
When looking at cams, keep in mind that your engine has 8.5:1 compression and it is easy to overcam it and kill the bottom end. Stay conservative.
When looking at cams, keep in mind that your engine has 8.5:1 compression and it is easy to overcam it and kill the bottom end. Stay conservative.
June 13th, 2015, 05:21 AM
#3
Out of Line, Everytime😉
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Melville, Saskatchewan
Posts: 9,010
Contact Cutlassefi on here. He has custom grinds for low compression motors like yours. I threw the Performer cam in a stock 76 350 and it did OK but one of Mark's cams will actually keep cylinder pressure unlike the Performer cam. Get the AMC 6 cyl or Ford 292 rubber rear main seal to replace the rope seal. The old rope seal is a PITA to remove but will no doubt leak.
Last edited by olds 307 and 403; June 13th, 2015 at 05:27 AM.
June 13th, 2015, 05:35 AM
#4
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,807
I would check the valve guide seals also, they can be replaced without removing the heads from the engine. I would have performed a leak down test which would have given you an inclination as to the overall condition of rings, valves, and head gaskets.
June 13th, 2015, 06:19 AM
#5
Connoisseur d'Junque
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Hudson Valley
Posts: 21,183
Since you have a 455 that you're planning to build in a few short years, I would recommend doing nothing to your smog-350 other than what you've mentioned, and general tune-up work.
Why spend your hard-earned 455 money on a 350 that will never be particularly powerful or fun?
- Eric
Why spend your hard-earned 455 money on a 350 that will never be particularly powerful or fun?
- Eric
June 14th, 2015, 08:29 PM
#9
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 19
Thanks guys, kinda reaffirmed what I was thinking. Engine did not leak or use oil when last ran, I used it as a daily driver for a year. Any one use the CLOYES Part # C3006K timing set? looking for a good and affordable set.
June 15th, 2015, 02:24 AM
#10
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 266
I used this adjustable double roller set: http://www.summitracing.com/int/part...1113/overview/
It's about $45 more though. I'd guess the adjustability option would be a waste for you, but might want to spend a couple extra bucks for a double roller set.
It's about $45 more though. I'd guess the adjustability option would be a waste for you, but might want to spend a couple extra bucks for a double roller set.
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