I'm looking for the best combination for my 350 Rocket. Looking for a Cam, Carb, Headers, gears, and intake combo. I'm looking to get everything rebuilt on my engine in about 2 weeks. I'm doing a stock rebuild and just looking to make it run better as well as a little kick when I step on it. I'm also looking to swap my brakes over to disc brakes. Are there certain conversion kits known to be better than others as far as the brakes?

 

Alot of guys here will tell you to just use the Edelbrock kits but there are a few others that will give you other options. I am of the latter group.

Performer, Lunati flat tappet, any one of a bunch of carb choices, good ignition, and a reasonable size header and exhaust system. That'll get you started. You'll need to decide on your gear and compression before you go too far.

 

Hi,

It all depends on a couple of things,

What gear ratio, transmission and on....
Rpm intake, a mild cam, Stall converter, Hei Ignition, calibrated carb, Headers and a dual exhaust is a way to go will make great power for the street....

Greets from Germany

Torsten

 

I went to Edelbrock.com searching for packages that they have. I saw the Performer RPM (1500-6500) kit under power packages on the site and was wondering if this kit would be fine? Does this package seem ideal for what I'm looking to do? Not too much power but a decent kick?? The gears recommended to me have been 3:23 or 3:73 gears. The car has dual exhaust on it already. Let me know your opinions...

Here's a link to the page where I saw the kit. Of course it's under Oldsmobile...http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...packages.shtml

 

There are plenty of cams that are a lot better than that one. Are you planning to bore and replace the pistons?

 

For what it's worth, here is my 350 combo:

Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold
Edelbrock Performer Carburetor (600CFM 4 barrel).
Edelbrock carburetor insulator gasket (0.320")
Edelbrock True Roller timing chain
Comp Cams Camshaft XE262H(Duration @.050 218/224 Lift 475"/.480" LSA110)
Forged flat top pistons/rings (by Diamond) from Dick Miller Racing
W-31 stainless steel valves (2" intake, 1.625" exhaust)
Head porting (pocket) 3 angle valve job, tear drop valve guides
Sanderson Headers (Part # 0351—shorty type)
3.42 Posi track (originally 2.56 open)
TCI Torque converter 2400 stall (Breakaway # 241100)
Transgo shift kit #2
MSD Pro-Billet Distributor and MSD Blaster 2 Ignition Coil
MSD Super Conductor spark plug wires (8.5mm)
Walker Dynomax turbo mufflers/dual exhaust (originally single)
Spectre Performance Air Filter w/ K&N X-Stream Air Filter lid
Bored 60 over, 10.5:1 compression ratio

The difference in how much faster my car goes now VS in stock condition is virtually night and day...totally unbelievable.

 

Great infomation! Can you tell us about the heads. I´m building a similar combination and I´m curious about the compression ratio?. Are the heads milled or does the pistones have a dome?

Regards
Stanley

 

Stanley,
Comp Ratio was about 8.25 or 8:1 before the rebuild. The flat top pistons are what made the biggest CR difference.

 

How is the idle? Smooth? Rough? Also, with 10.5:1 compression, what kind of fuel do you use? Any 1/4 mile times?

 

Idel is fine...14 inches of vacuum. I have to use 93 octane, do not want to chance detonation. No 1/4 mile times yet, but w/out racing tires it is impossible to hook this car up. If I floor it, the tires just spin. Unless I change tires or "gently" start from the line, true "track" performance will most likely never be known.

 

I thought I read some posts (here or another forum) where using pump fuel is 50/50 and that you might have to use 'race fuel' or something with high compression like 10.5:1??

If not, we have Sunoco 94 octane here I can use (for now as I heard they are closing all the Sunoco's in Ontario here). Since I am close to the Niagara Falls border, I use to drive over to the US and get 100 octane. I LOVE the smell of 100 octane being sucked into the engine. Is that a bad thing to like the smell of gas? LOL.

How is the low end torque on your 350 with the 3.42's... good? I am looking to do something similar with my Cutlass Supreme... not .60 over though. I will just have the block 'honed' again.

 

Low end is very strong...lots of torque. The cam specs, gears, and torque converter work very well together. For the street, I'm quite happy.

 

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/40869-post3.html

 

would a 4.11 gear be too much for a rocket 350?

 

I'm doing a stock rebuild and just looking to make it run better as well as a little kick when I step on it.
For around town street use, I think 3:42 gears and shift kit give more seat of the pants improvement for your money than getting into a higher end, higher compression build above stock.

I'm also looking to swap my brakes over to disc brakes. Are there certain conversion kits known to be better than others as far as the brakes?
Very happy with the Inline Tube kit in my car, fits factory wheels.

 

I have found that what you really need to do is decide how you are going to use the car before asking this question. There are many different ways to build a car and it doesn't just involve the engine.
When I did mine I wanted it to be pretty peppy but needed it to get good gas mileage and needed the vacuum accessories to work properly. I built a mild 350 added a 200r4 transmission and a 3:90 read end. So far it's working good and matching my requirements.
Whatever you do doing get caught up in the pissing match of who has the most.

 

Do you guys realize that this thread is over 2 1/2 years old????

 

I thought the stock rebuild part was funny followed by all th HP stuff he wanted to add...