Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

81 Checkmate · Mar 15, 2013

Seeking out advice from the experts. Bought a small block 350 for the Checkmate. It had the 898 -305 in it and I am upgrading to a 350.
When I bought it I did not see it running! (I know you should never do this)?....but i realy liked the old guy..... and I tend to believe him. He said it had around 80,000 miles on it and came out of a C-20 Van.
Anyway?..
Here is what I have?.
Block ? 3970010?? 020 by oil filter
Numbers on machined block left front ? small numbers ? C5U182033, Big numbers ? V0701 TYU
Head number - 333882

By decoding I think I have a..
1975 ? 4 bolt main
165 HP
8.1 .1 Comp
882 heads that are prone to cracking with the center port exhaust passages

So we pulled the Valve covers, Intake, Heads, Oil pan??? Center ports on intake clogged with combustion crud? but the piston walls and bottom end look great to me!

Now to my question? As always im a penny pincher, still need a lot more money to finish restoring the boat?I want to get more HP and Torque out of this motor..Would like to keep it in the $300.00 range. Minus the gasket kit which is around $120.00 for the fel-pro.
I already have-
Summit Cam and Lifter set ? K-1102?Lift 0.420/0.44 ? Duration 204/214
New double roller timing chain

And I can get a set of used 3973487 heads for $75.00 Are they worth the trouble?????

Ok give me all your opinions on what to do.

Thanks!

Silvertip · Mar 15, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Sure is a lot of rust & scale in the lifter valley. How long has this engine been sitting? With 80,000 miles I'd definitely deglaze the bores and install new rings. Have a good look at the bearings. Main bearings should be fine but definitely plastigauge the rod bearings and check the crank journal condition. May as well plan on lifters as well due to the amount of rust scale showing in that area.

81 Checkmate · Mar 15, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

He said he pulled it 6 months ago and it was in his garage on a engine stand...Thats a bad picture...... i think it's the flash from the phone on the oil glaze...lifter valley just has oily exhaust crude in it...but no rust.

Ill get some better pics this weekend.

81 Checkmate · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Took some more Pic's

Im taking it these are your plane-ol low compresion flat top pistons.

I might plastagauge the rods to be sure on tolerence. I dont think im am going to hone the cylinders.

Are the 487 heads better than the 882's ?

Also looking for ideas to clean up inside and outside of motor....oily, greasey mess. I dont want anything to rust on the inside.

Bondo · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

81 Checkmate said:
Took some more Pic's

View attachment 185794 View attachment 185795

Im taking it these are your plane-ol low compresion flat top pistons.

I might plastagauge the rods to be sure on tolerence. I dont think im am going to hone the cylinders.

Are the 487 heads better than the 882's ?

Also looking for ideas to clean up inside and outside of motor....oily, greasey mess. I dont want anything to rust on the inside.

Nope,... They're plain ole factory low compression Dished pistons...

Either set of heads are 'bout the same...

Clean up the motor with diesel fuel, 'n a brush, then re-oil everything...

81 Checkmate · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Dished - got it. Diesel fuel...good call

Got any Suggestions on how to get the compression up and to get more than 165 HP outa this motor?

Bondo · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

81 Checkmate said:
Dished - got it. Diesel fuel...good call

Got any Suggestions on how to get the compression up and to get more than 165 HP outa this motor?

Nope,... Not without tearin' it down, 'n rebuildin' from the ground up...

Then, I'd go with 0" deckin' the block, usin' D-dished pistons, 'n Vortec heads, with a .045" quench...

81 Checkmate · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

So i am better off using the 190 HP 305 that i have... and not use the useless 350 i just bought.

What about some vortec heads.......or 305 heads with the pistons that i have?

Bondo · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Ayuh,... That 350 might be rated 165 hp, in a Truck,...

But in a boat, it'll be the same 230 hp/ 260 hp that All 350s are, dependin' on the induction system used....

81 Checkmate · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Thats the answer im looking for......
Fresh water boat only!

Clean up the motor inside and out..... Diesel wash and oil soak afterward.
Look for some good clean heads( the 487 for $75 ) if they are in good condition. Or just clean up the 882 that i have
Install the cam and lifter set - Summit K-1102
Install the cast iron 4 barrel intake with the marine Rodchester Carb or go with an eldebrock alum performer intake?
Stock log style manifolds, Y - pipe, out the prop.

Will that get me atleast 260 HP ?

Thanks!

Bondo · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

81 Checkmate said:
Thats the answer im looking for......
Fresh water boat only!

Clean up the motor inside and out..... Diesel wash and oil soak afterward.
Look for some good clean heads( the 487 for $75 ) if they are in good condition. Or just clean up the 882 that i have
Install the cam and lifter set - Summit K-1102
Install the cast iron 4 barrel intake with the marine Rodchester Carb or go with an eldebrock alum performer intake?
Stock log style manifolds, Y - pipe, out the prop.

Will that get me atleast 260 HP ?

Thanks!

Ayuh,... I'd send the 882s to a Machine Shop for a cleanin', 'n goin' over,... If they ain't got cracks, Run 'em...

I'd skip the cam kit, 'n leave the 1 in there, there...

If ya like the Quadra-jet, keep it,... I prefer the Edlebrock carbs myself... AFB clones...

'n, Yes, 'bout 260 hp...

81 Checkmate · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Thanks Bondo......for the info

Already have the carb. If not id go with the Ellebrock

What do ya think about the intake selection. Any recomdations?

Bondo · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

81 Checkmate said:
Thanks Bondo......for the info

Already have the carb. If not id go with the Ellebrock

What do ya think about the intake selection. Any recomdations?

Ayuh,... The 1 ya Got...

Save yer coins for Gas,....

RogersJetboat454 · Mar 19, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Since you are looking for heads and an intake, you could always consider going the Vortec route. Not the most ideal pistons installed for them, but should still net some more power, especially with the smaller CC combustion chambers.

Personally, I would also de-glaze the cylinders, and throw a fresh set of rings in it. Would stink to do all that work of putting it together only to find out it's thirsty for oil, when a $30 set of rings could have helped.

81 Checkmate · Mar 20, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Thanks guys for the all the info…. Yea save money for Gas/New ring set.

The moral of the story… Before you buy a motor - get all the numbers off the motor and do some decoding on what you are getting. If you are wanting a 300+ HP motor….. It all has to do with pistons and heads/intake combo.
Nasty – Z28 has some good info on this……
Plan on spending $300+ just to freshen up what you have. A $1000+ to make 300HP

Now on to completing the boat!

I will update when all finished and water tested.

81 Checkmate · Mar 21, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Bondo and Roger...
Got thinking about what you said about hone and re-ring the pistons..

Got to looking on e-bay....I can get a complete stock rebuild kit with flat top pistons and fel-pro gasket set for around $150.00
Seal Power name brand and some other off brands around the same price.

What is your all's opion on these kit's.

Bondo · Mar 21, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Ayuh,.... Personally, I won't use New pistons, unless it's a Overbored block...
You haven't even mic'ed the bores to see if they're "In-spec"...

For refreshin' a motor, without borin' it, I might change the rings, 'n bearin's,...
Or,...
Run her til she Blows, then do it Right...

RogersJetboat454 · Mar 21, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

81 Checkmate said:
Bondo and Roger...
Got thinking about what you said about hone and re-ring the pistons..

Got to looking on e-bay....I can get a complete stock rebuild kit with flat top pistons and fel-pro gasket set for around $150.00
Seal Power name brand and some other off brands around the same price.

What is your all's opion on these kit's.

Sealed power is just another name for Federal Mogul, who makes fine products. My line of thinking is along with Bond-o's... If you were boring all 8 holes, new pistons all the way (obviously). No point in spending money on new pistons for worn bores.

New bearings, new rings, new timing set, new oil pump, and throw her back together.

81 Checkmate · Mar 21, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Yea i here ya.....

I was bored yesterday and net surfing.... thought i would ask if anyone had used those products.

Got a price of $23.00 per head to......degrease, magnaflux and check flatness.

A rering/bearing kit + fel-pro gaskets . around $80 bucks......

81 Checkmate · Sep 13, 2013

Re: Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

Update...... Went ahead and sent the block out to a machine shop.

They hot-diped the block......Honed the cylinders...diped again
Installed new cam bearings with all new oil plugs
Polished the crank
Removed a broken oil pan bolt
Check the block surface.

All with-in standard specs....$250.00 total

Bought a standard - bearing/ring/gasket rebuild kit...Summit.......$115.00
Aluminum duel plane Jeg's intake......$115.00

Now its time to put back together....... Tonight!

Question - Should i use spray Hi-Tack gasket sealer ( The red stuff ) to install the head gaskets?

Chevy 350 casting# and rebuild

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