350 build...need feedback and thought PLEASE!

[cbrodine]

Hey folks! I am putting together a sbc 350 that is .060 over with hyper flattops. I plan on using some Dart Iron Eagle SS Vortech heads w/ 2.02's. Im leaning towards a Comp XE274H with a RPM Air Gap and a 670 Holly SA and 1 5/8" long tubes. This will go in my 73 3/4 ton with a 14 bolt and what I think are 4:10 gears....I would really like to use a 700R4 AOD tranny. Thoughts on engine combo and cam choice? Different carb or intake? This is a street truck not a track truck. Im after good drivability with lots of power. Looking for good torque to get this heavy pig of a truck up and moving. I am also after nice throttle response and get up n go....please give imput and suggestions, I'm all ears. Thanks!

 

[Irishman999]

Is that intake a dual plane or single?

Sent from my ADR8995 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cbrodine]

its a dual plane intake

 

[GreaseDog]

So you want to use a Ford trans, and supercharger heads?

 

[GreaseDog]

Those heads aren't any better than box stock Vortecs. and if you are after torque, you are barking up the wrong tree with that cam.

 

[cbrodine]

Those heads aren't any better than box stock Vortecs. and if you are after torque, you are barking up the wrong tree with that cam.

What would you suggest for heads at about the same price point? Also what cam would you suggest for better torque numbers?

 

[HotRodPC]

You get all that worked out on the motor performance, I'm concerned about a 700r4 holding up for very long. (BTW, I assume you abbreviated Auto OverDrive with AOD, cuz AOD is a Ford Trans model # and/or name)

 

[cbrodine]

You get all that worked out on the motor performance, I'm concerned about a 700r4 holding up for very long. (BTW, I assume you abbreviated Auto OverDrive with AOD, cuz AOD is a Ford Trans model # and/or name)

yep, I meant automatic over drive. I thought the heads and cam would be fine for a street motor in my truck.

 

[GreaseDog]

A set of box stock Vortecs will shave $300 off of your budget. I would stick to an XE 262, possibly stepping up to an XE 268 if you're planning on upping the compression a little and running 4.10 gears or better.

 

[cbrodine]

A set of box stock Vortecs will shave $300 off of your budget. I would stick to an XE 262, possibly stepping up to an XE 268 if you're planning on upping the compression a little and running 4.10 gears or better.

Thanks for the suggestions. I went with the XE268, compression is getting bumped up to almost 10:1...the cams you suggested do make a little more torque than the 274. Also, I'm getting a good deal on the Dart heads and they are a little thicker in the right places than factory. Thanks for the cam suggestions GreaseDog!

 

[junkyardog05]

Be careful

You have to be careful and not build you engine so much that either your trans cant handle or it will require a large stall. This is solely my opinion I would run what most companies call a towing cam and a dual plane intake. You are more than likely going to have to either really beef up your 700r or switch over to a 4l60 or 4l80.

 

[HotRodPC]

You have to be careful and not build you engine so much that either your trans cant handle or it will require a large stall. This is solely my opinion I would run what most companies call a towing cam and a dual plane intake. You are more than likely going to have to either really beef up your 700r or switch over to a 4l60 or 4l80.

I think you mean 4L60-E or 4L80-E. Just curious though, what's in a 4L60-E that you can't put in a 700r4?

 

[junkyardog05]

I did mean 4L60E or 4L80E. HotRodPC I don't know the answer to your question but I will ask a friend of mine that builds transmission in his shop to find out. He says that the 4L60E is stronger than 700R4.

 

[HotRodPC]

I did mean 4L60E or 4L80E. HotRodPC I don't know the answer to your question but I will ask a friend of mine that builds transmission in his shop to find out. He says that the 4L60E is stronger than 700R4.

There's really not much difference in the 2 in the tunnel. The difference is one is controlled by Governor and TV Valve and cable, the other is computer controlled, so the valve bodies are different. That has nothing to do with the strength. Maybe he's referring to the 4L60-E as being better because it has more updates being that it's newer. Changes were made everyyear from day 1 on the 700r4. About the time they were getting to a fair transmission, then they went electronic. And then again, changes have been made year after year.

The good thing is, most of the parts and fixes in the tunnel that actaully make the trans durable, MOST of those 4L60-E enhancements are backwards compatible to the 700r4. The trick is, knowing what other things have to be changed to make the enhancement compatible. For example, you just can't go change to a better drum. It might have different orfices in it, so other parts that go along to make those orfices operate properly, might need to be included in the upgrade, or drill some holes or block off some holes to make that enhancement compatible.

The 4L65-E has the 5 pinion planets. Those are also backwards compatible to the 700r4 and the 4L60-E. But, blowing up planets was never a huge problem on the 700r4 or the 4L60-E but you'll still see people pay big money to get that extra pinion. And worse, if they skimp and buy a CHINA made 5 pinion planet and not get the GM OEM part, then they just weakened their trans. The CHINA 5 pinion is much weaker than the GM 4 Pinion planet.

The best thing GM FINALLY, and I mean FINALLY came up with was the Smart Shell. That was the #1 failure from the get go in 1982. And it took til after 2000 to come with the smart shell, even though Sonnax had come up with The Beast shell in the aftermarket world I believe in the mid to late 80's. To bad GM wasn't on the ball with that. But it was good for Sonnax, The Beast kept them in business.

 

[junkyardog05]

Wow I didn't know half of that thanks for the information.