Could I get a reman SBO, swap the cam for one with more lift, and expcet about 400 HP out of it?

I'm looking at a 1968 Olds 350 with the "5" heads and most likely the .400/.400 cam already.

If I swaped it for a better cam, be it Mondello or Crane in the area of .496/.520 lift and expect 400hp/ 400 ft lbs?

If not that much, what could I expcet to see? I will be using a Edelbrock 7111 mani and 1 3/4 inch dump headers probably with an "X" pipe exhaust and either glass packs or turbo mufflers. No cats

 

IMO, no. Not if the heads are in stock form. The old saying goes "Horsepower is in the heads" and has validity. A larger intake valve, a quality valve job, some port work, maybe. Horsepower is a function of torque and RPM. To make more than 1 HP per CI, the engine needs to breathe and rev. IMO.

Also, elaborate on the "reman SBO", what does that mean?

 

Remanfactered Small Block Oldsmobile

Would "C" heads be better?

 

I know what "reman SBO" means, I meant specifics on pistons, depth in the hole, head gaskets, etc.

Most Olds builder agree that on most street driven 350s, you lose too much port velocity with BBO heads.

Again, HP is not everything, torque, throttle response, etc are important factors on a driver.

 

I emailed the company and asked that stuff, have yet to hear from them.

I would think it's a .030 over since they talked about a motor for my Alero being bored out too much to buy.

I agree with the "C" heads with the combustion chamber alone being too big.

Trying to get 400 to 450 hp and maybe 400 and 450 ft lbs out of it. I want to keep the SBO in a 80's Delta 88 or a 80's Cutlass sedan and run the 1/4 mile in the mid to high 12's low 13's.

Don't want to do the "G" body coupe, everybody does those, I want to be different

 

You would need 10.5 / 1 comp and # 6 heads ( they already have the bigger valves in them) C heads have too big cc's. It would take ALOT of milling to get them down to 64- 62 cc's. I have a Very Similar combo. and might be making around 425 hp. Running an ISKY cam 292 244@.050 538 with 11.1 comp #6 heads ported balanced and zero deck the block. Block is 68 and heads are 69. Edelbrock 7111 intake with divider milled and port-matched. Car runs mid 12's @ 5800ft elevation. to see a video of it; youtube.com......then type in Pueblo Motorsports Park Oct 26-08 and you'll see my car, a grey 85 Olds 442 I come in at 2.13 mins into the video. Racing a Cop Car. Racing a Pink and White Camaro and a red Nova. You will need more cam with more lift and duration that you referred. A Mondello Cam Part #JM-25-28 would be the cam to get the HP level you are looking for, or you could use a Comp Cam # 42-225-4 Grind # EX284H that would be another one that would work.....As far as a RE-Man olds 350 making 400 hpo with just a cam swap and head swap.......Not going to happen!!!!

 

Most remanufactured engines will have cheap cast low compression pistons. There is no way you will be able to run enough cam to see anywhere near 450 HP, not to mention the cylinder head work required. Big difference between 400 and 450 HP, which is it? Your goals are unrealistic, IMO. You need to build a custom engine, budget around $5,000 to achieve 450 HP.

 

Unrealistic as in seeing 450 from a SBO or in using a reman motor to do it?

I just wanted to be pointed in the right direction. I didn't want to spend all the time and money and end up with a dud.

My goal is 450, my fall back is 400.

I was quoted $7100 to build a 350 Olds with 400 HP, I forget if that included installing it too. I would be happy spending $5K on the motor, but not much more.

Is that JM 25-28 cam streetable? I want to be abnle to drive the car to the track and back

 

Not likely, with a reman engine.
I love that cam, streetable in a 455 with 10:1 compression.
I think it is too big in a 350 for the street.
230/236 @.050?
You need to be under 220@.050 to keep some cylinder pressure with the low compression pistons you will be stuck with.
LESS THAN 1% of #6 heads came with the big valves. If you got a set of those, you're just plain lucky. Most #6's, were small valve heads, put on plain jane, 1970 350's.
455 heads will work, but you MUST have some gear, and pistons that make compression, and a shorter camshaft that will keep your cylinder pressure. I have done this swap before and the car was a BLAST. 350 ended up with 8.5 compression with 2323 flat top pistons, 3.73 gear in a 4000# Trans Am-but was no 400 hp. I can not tell you how much this thing came ALIVE above 3000 rpm. If it had headers, dual exhaust, and filled crossovers, then, maybe, I don't know.It still needed more compression.
I can see why the factory would not do this with 2.73 geared 4000# sled grocery getters, but I can not see why more street guys have not done it. But they have no problem using Edelbrock heads on 350's, and that has near the same damnned port volume as a C head.
HP is just a number.
JMO
Jim
BTW, what gears, converter, and transmission?

 

Remanufactured = Cheapest available parts and as little machining as they can get away with.

Norm

 

Haven't decided on the convertor yet, but I'm thinking of having a build 200r4 and 3.73 posi.

Convertor thinking about 2000 or 2500.

 

You want to run 12s in a Delta 88 with a $5k engine? You need to be looking at a 455 and some spray.
DW

 

http://72.22.90.30/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=39647

 

I said 12's not 8's

 

Thanks for that info, I'm printing it out now

 

I agree with these guys, trying to get hp out of a remanufactured motor= grenade! I would go to the bone yard and find a 350 from a 68-69 start there, you will need all the brackets and stuff anyway. Heads around here are about $800 bucks to get a minor port/pol valve job/guides not including valves so lets say around $1200 for heads. Your bottom end should run you about $3100 for cutting down your crank wieghts/rods balancing and all the other machine work needed. Thats $4400 the amount I spent on my last 350. I went with the Edelbrock RPM cam, adjustable push rods, Performer RPM Intake. Like they advertised it made huge torque across the entire rpm range 2k-6k, big horse power over 400, but the biggest supprise was the cams ability to rev or accelerate under load(wicked fast). I have used there off the shelf grind in three different motors so far, and am a believer in the RPM cam. Nice idle not to lopy, and pretty streetable. If you want to run the big numbers you are talking about, I would use this combo. But with a catch, get a big rear gear,3.73-3.91 and have a tranny shop put togeather a stout AOD tranny with the first three gears extra deep, and 4th at maybe .61-.55 this will get you down the track in the 12's and about 20 MPG HWY. Your tranny is gonna be really expensive though the small top gear puts alot of strain on the tranny so, parts are gonna be outragious if you want longevity out of your combo. Just my 2 cents, Hope this helps.