86 GMC K1500 Crate 350-Adding HP without Removing Engine

[poboy73]

I agree going with a different engine would be better route. Just looking for "easy" ways to add hp and maintain something easy on the street. Maybe a Holley sniper EFI? Not sure what impact that might have on performance


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[Honky Kong jr]

One for the car and one for the party?

Sure

 

[Honky Kong jr]

I agree going with a different engine would be better route. Just looking for "easy" ways to add hp and maintain something easy on the street. Maybe a Holley sniper EFI? Not sure what impact that might have on performance


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Talk to @bluex he just installed the Sniper EFI

 

[bluex]

If you want vortec heads look at these:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/142427006944

All the benefits of the vortec design without needing a special intake or center bolt valve covers.

I like my Sniper but its not going to give you a power gain unless your carb is way out of wack. Its more about better driveability as its always correcting itself so you dont have to. Cold or hot, sea level or 8k feet in the mountians it should run the same on it own without any input from you.

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[bluex]

I am confused trying to understand the cam specs. Is the comp cam listed above ok to use with the stock heads on this engine or is there a different one you would recommend if I don't replace the heads


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Your best bet here would be to call comp an talk to them. Give them all the information you gave us and they can help you pick out a cam that will fit your needs. Summit might be able to do that for you too but just call comp directly if that's who's cam you want to use.

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[Jrgunn5150]

I am confused trying to understand the cam specs. Is the comp cam listed above ok to use with the stock heads on this engine or is there a different one you would recommend if I don't replace the heads


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Yes it will work.

It will add 30-40 hp.

I don't know if you fee it's worth it for the effort to swap them.

 

[poboy73]

I talked to summit they said it would work but would require a 2400 stall converter and wouldn't recommend it for street performance. They recommended 12-210-2 with the existing heads or 12-234-2 if I go with the edelbrocks.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-12-210-2

 

[RPM Army]

Has a GM Goodwrench crate, mild cam, and vortec heads in my 79 before I pulled it for an LS swap. The SBC made very nice power for still being hampered down by a low stall converter.

 

[fussfeld]

Suggest reading all 8 articles, particularly 5, but all, in GREAT detail:

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=8639.0

 

[4WDKC]

I talked to summit they said it would work but would require a 2400 stall converter and wouldn't recommend it for street performance. They recommended 12-210-2 with the existing heads or 12-234-2 if I go with the edelbrocks.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-12-210-2

its an 8.5:1 motor its going to more difficult to get that kind of power from it. That cam is similar to the vortec 350 cam that was a detuned 255hp 330tq. You probably wont want to hear it but pulling the motor to do the cam swap is probably easier. I had to cut the center support in the front of the radiator and condenser to get the cam out when I did mine. Ill never do a cam swap on a lifted truck with the engine in the truck again.

 

[fussfeld]

P.S.
i want to point out that those Z-24's could run 16 1/4 miles.........so.......

And they looked **** as hell, so please don't crap on cavaliers

(yes, i have one. Not a z-24 though)

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Suggest reading all 8 articles, particularly 5, but all, in GREAT detail:

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=8639.0

More info from the copy and paste masters over there

 

[TommyD11730]

trying to find more info on those heads... got any links?

If you want vortec heads look at these:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/142427006944

All the benefits of the vortec design without needing a special intake or center bolt valve covers.

I like my Sniper but its not going to give you a power gain unless your carb is way out of wack. Its more about better driveability as its always correcting itself so you dont have to. Cold or hot, sea level or 8k feet in the mountians it should run the same on it own without any input from you.

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[75gmck25]

If you want to get a good idea of what is possible to upgrade for a reasonable price/performance, take a look at this engine master episode. The cam they used is probably too much for a truck with a stock torque converter, but it might be okay.

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I have the same basic engine in my truck, and its weaknesses are old design low compression heads (that cannot be simply reworked to be much better), and a very mild flat tappet cam. The best upgrades are better flowing heads (Vortec or better) with 64cc chambers to bring the compression up, and conversion to a more aggressive (preferably a roller) cam. Using aluminum heads instead of Vortec iron heads works a little better overall, and a roller cam conversion gives you more flexibility in ramp rates, etc. However, iron Vortecs and an RV cam should help a lot.

Scoggins Dickey sells stock iron Vortec heads, and also has Vortec heads that are already prepped to handle more lift.

Bruce

 

[rpcraft]

CAm, and Vortec heads with valve rocker studs and a good set of affordable rockers will do wonders.

Engine masters does some great video showcasing what works and what doesn't, as well as where the falloff point is.

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