Hey. I have an 72 cutlass supreme 350 engine stock.. I'm looking to get a little bit more horsepower probably around he 350-400hp range..not looking to go outrageous but just want a fun runner.. Any suggestions??

 

What's you spending limit?
1HP per CI isn't gonna be cheap!
Check out some of the builds with dyno tests in the small block section.

 

I say about 1000 to 1600

 

Again - check out the small block section.
These guys are spending 2-3 times that to get that kind of power!
Was a guy selling a 69 310 horse motor for about what you can spend.

 

K thanks

 

Here's one package that edelbrock has been selling for 20 years, I'm sure it can be improved upon. I'd go w/ a q-jet carb over anything else.

 

You will spend close to that on heads alone to get 400 HP. Your budget is not realistic.

However, you can make some cost-effective upgrades that will make the car more fun to drive. A gear change will be the best bang-for-the-buck, along with dual exhaust, 4 bbl carb, and a good tune up.

 

Ok thanks for the input, I think i have an good idea on what to do now

 

Jim is right on the price i spent 1800 on the whole top end thats heads, pushrods guide plates, roller tip rockers price of intake and milling it to fit the heads., the heads alone where around 1100 with no major port work just some bowl work . My current shortblock cost me about 2000 and it's nothing special it was bought at a swap meet and ended up being a wash as i needed to find a block that was not pitted. realistcly i probably have over 4000 into my 355 i might be somewhere between 350 and under 400 hp.

 

Can you share with us your current plan? If it's flawed it would be better for you to hear it now rather than after you spend any money.

Also, IMO, horsepower numbers are much too vague a description when describing to others the sort of performance you're looking to achieve. There are many reasons for this, the most common being that many equate X horsepower with a car that performs Y, and those numbers are usually way off from reality.

 

Looking at going with the edlebrock performer intake, 214/214@.050 cam, 3.43 posi.. And undecided on what type headers ... And what I'm looking for is quicker throttle response and more overall power.. Not planning on taking to track; just something fun to drive and turns heads when it's heard coming

 

Not a bad plan IMO ( though I personally don't think a regular Performer is worth anything power-wise ), however I would talk to an actual Olds builder who really knows his cams just to be certain you get it right. You can never really go off of anything the cam manufacturers claim their cams as being when reading their descriptions.

The only real problem I see with your plan is your low compression ratio. It's very difficult to get a cam that'll be worth swapping in when you have such low CR. Bump up the CR and your cam options open up greatly.

 

The cam is my grind, 214/214 on a 108 with 4 degrees advance ground in.

I told him the same thing, his compression is the limiting factor and his overall output will therefore be limited as well.