Bobby455

Is it possible to get 500 horsepower from a small block without blowing up the engine or trans? I have the original 350 and 3 speed auto and the engine's got some minor leaking issues, so I wanna have it cleaned up, resealed and built up so it makes some nice solid power. 500 is my magic number and I want to know if it's possible. I have read in other forums and threads that an "honest 400" is possible and even 450, and I have seen Hot Rod Magazine take Chevy 350s from scrap yards and push 600 or 700 horsepower. Any thoughts?

BlackGold

Of course it's possible. It just takes money and talent. If you were to hand Bill Trovato your wallet, he could build it for you easy. I'm sure there's others out there who could as well. Not too many of your original parts will be used.

cutlassefi

I've started a small block build recently for someone thats similar to your goals.
It'll have a welded stroker crank, most likely 3.750" stroke.
Bore will be 4.125 with pretty stock Procomp heads. Should make 450+ pretty easily. It won't have a lot of cam or heads so there will be room left if someone wanted more.
You can get 500 with the stock or nearly stock stroke. But your effective operating range will be a bit high for a true street vehicle imo.

Thanks

mrhotrod

yep, should be no problem at least coming close, just depends on how streetable you want to make it. the 350 is a good engine to build but I would prefer a 455 myself ..

olds 307 and 403

Honestly think about stepping up to a 455 if 500 is necessary. 500 is mild, especially with a stroker 455. Plus such a kit is available unlike the SBO. That said, I will always run the SBO in anything I own. A diesel or if you have big money and goals a Nascar block are best for big power.

OldSoldier

Mark, can you provide any details on the build you are working on? How much does this stroker crank cost? How much power can it handle overall?

cutlassefi

Looks like crank will be about $850.00.
Then I'll be using Small Journal SBC 6.00" I beam rods along with a corresponding piston, most likely from Mahle.
From there it'll have a Hyd roller cam, RPM intake and 750ish carb. Should make the goal.

Bobby455

Sorry for not posting a reply, I've been busy.

Thank you all for your inputs, it's clear I've got some research to do. I'd like to keep it fairly streetable. I don't drive it a lot but when I do it's for things like mini roadtrips and car shows and things like that. If any of you guys have any other specific parts you'd like to recommend, please don't hesitate to do so.

On a similar topic, I assume I'm gonna have to beef up/buy a new trans because right now i have the original 3 speed auto

70cutty

The only specific part I would recommend for your goal is a 455.

madmax442

Or you could go with a nice stroked D/DX block!

oldsmobiledave

You only need a thick wallet. Find a diesel block, a good flowing top end, a billet crank & a light rotating assembly. Send those parts to a competent OLDSMOBILE engine builder & you will have your 600 hp Olds small block stroker.


Oh & plan on spending $12-$15000 along the way. Sure hope you have a built transmission & rear end to handle all that power & the brakes to stop it. That should cost only another $5K. Oh and you will need a car to put all this in.


See where this is going......?????

cutlassefi

I could do a full on EFI'd DX for 15K. Not sure where you're getting your numbers from. And you don't need a billet crank for 600hp, not by a longshot. A reground 425 will do just fine. Just sayin.

I understand being a realist but I've noticed more and more pessimists here, just like on ROP. Not good.

pogo69

I wouldnt spend the bucks getting 500hp from an olds 350... a little to risky for me

oldsmobiledave

You are right in that one does not need a billet crank. The stroked 425 crank in my 470 SBO does just fine. If I did it again I would go billet whether you agree or not because it's my engine not yours'.


You do understand that the purpose of my post was not to provide an itemized final cost for the engine but rather to emphasize that building the engine is an expensive endeavor & that one still needs to put a competent driveline behind it.


Would you have been happier if I said $10-$12000 for the engine? The point is the same.

cutlassefi

Just sayin', see my point?

oldsmobiledave

Did you notice that $10-12K & $12-$15K both have the number $12K in them?


If you are done with your nit picking perhaps we could get back to the original post now Mark.

mrhotrod

be nice guy's .. no need for that stuff. the OP had a pretty clear question and the bottom line answer is Yes it can be done without killing the engine. but that poor old 350 trans is not gonna be liking life any more. you can buy an upgraded version should do well for what you want. what seems to be causing the issue is everyone has their own opinion of what you should do and I have my own also, kinda has to do with the last bit of stuff here Cost. to me it is much cheaper to go with a 455 in any form, the bottom end is solid so a set of nice redone heads even un-ported can bring in over 400HP with the right cam and carb/intake,exhaust,gear,tire size yadda yadda you could probably beat 500 and replace the transmission / converter using a BBO and still have some extra $ if you figured about 10K I am talking iron heads screw those aluminum money pit heads until you can show me one has some appreciable advantages over the iron heads other that they are lighter.. hmm might be worth it there lol

cutlassefi

Sure, like Mrhotrod said, everyone has their own opinions/ideas.

One question though, you and your wife go to get a quote on some new flooring for your home. The salesman tells you it'll either be between 10K-12K or between 12K-15K. I'm guessing by your post that wouldn't matter to you? Hmmmm...ok.

Continue gentlemen...........

Redog

Like everybody else is saying, 500 will cost some bucks, but is very doable.

I agree with the "Get a D or DX diesal block" comments. You won't have a 350 when it's done though, you'll have a 411 stroker. Not sure how important the engine size is for you. If you could do away with the 350 you have and have no problems with that, then swap in a DX block, you would own my wet dream

There are guys on here saying to build a 455. Yes a BBO will make more power for less money and a lot easier, but I admire wanting to stick with the Small Block. However, I'm not sure of any cams that can make such power and still be streetable for a SBO.

If I where you, I'd do some research and try to hold out for a D/DX block. Should make 500 pretty easy with that as a base

Redog

And the only reason why a SBC can be built to 600-700 HP is because they have more parts out there for them.

madmax442

Well just take me for instance! My car currently has a 502bbc with nitrous in it that did 10.3-10.5s in the 1/4 for the previous owner! Me being an Olds purest, I can't stand a Chevy between the rails! I'm having Mark build me a 550hp Big Block Olds so I can have some fun while I save for my NASCAR build that will be over twice the power of my Big Block! Am I dumb for doing it? Maybe yes maybe no! I do plan on putting my 455 in a smaller G body someday so to me it's money well spent as it won't go to waste. I say if you want a 500 horse smallblock then build it! It's what you want! Life is too short to say I wish I had done this or that! As long as you can afford it, have at it!

oldsmobiledave

Why is it that your ego always mandates that you have the last word even if it means inserting your foot farther in? You totally missed the point of my post. No one but you cares if it is $12000 plus 15% or $12000 minus 15%. Just let it go Mark.

cutlassefi

I agree 100%! I've done my 350 twice because of woulda shoulda coulda. I've now since gathered everything to do a DX. But this time no more woulda shoulda coulda, again. It will be done the way I want it done.

Again good heads and some extra cubic inches and you'll reach your goal.

chadman

If you want 500hp AND you want it to have good street manners you need two main things:


1) cubic inches
2) decent flowing heads


My recipe of choice if I wanted a 500+hp SB would be as follows:


DX bored to 4.125-4.155
425 crank at 4.000 stroke
Scat/Eagle/Comp Star etc. SBC H-beams
434-440 CID
10:1-10.5:1 compression
Edelbrock heads with minor port work
Hydraulic roller in the .575-.600 lift and 230-240@ .050 range

madmax442

Yeah cubes will definitely help a big cammed sbo be more streetable for sure!

Bobby455

I've done some asking around and it's totally possible. I really appreciate chadman's post, that's definitely a good starting point, I think. I've still got a lot of thinking to do in terms of what I want done, and my budget. Thank you everyone for your time and input.

80 Rocket

You've piqued my interest. Tell me more about your small block 350. Not the DX, but the one you have.

cutlassefi

7a heads with 2.00" intakes, L2321 pistons. The rest of the info is in my signature.

80 Rocket

Any dyno numbers or track times? How about mpg?

cutlassefi

Never took it to the track but based on the amount of fuel it's using 360-375 would be a real good estimate. Never checked the mpg either, don't care, that's not why I did the EFI.

cutlassefi

The crank in question. Looks pretty good I think.