Thanks for your letter Scott. This gives us the opportunity to mention that even if you don't see your particular engine covered in Car Craft, it doesn't mean that the information is useless. An engine doesn't care what name is stamped on its valve covers. It sounds like you are looking for a little more power. Find a hydraulic flat tappet camshaft with around 10 degrees or so more intake and exhaust duration than your stock cam, rebuild the heads, and perhaps clean up the area right underneath the valve job on your existing heads. You can probably use a set of headers and a low-restriction dual-exhaust system. Edelbrock makes a set of aluminum heads. We'd use a HEI distributor with good parts from ACCEL and any of the good 750- cfm carburetors from Edelbrock, Holley, Demon-heck even the Q-jet is a great choice.
See, that wasn't so tough. If we remove the word "Olds," this could relate to any mild street 350ci engine-which hammers home our point. But to address the issue, Car Craft did do an Olds 455 buildup in Jan. '02 on a 455 that made 496 hp. Externally, the 350 and 455 look similar, so you might want to consider a 455 in place of your stock 350. The beauty of the 455 is that it makes monstrous torque with stock heads, which is why these engines were so popular in boats.
Gratuitous Burnout Photo
My name is John Black and I'm a 25-year-old and a paid-up subscriber to Car Craft for the next two years. I have had this '84 S-10 for about four years. I bought it with a 2.8 and a trashed four-speed for a few hundred dollars. After three years with a 283/TH350 combo I stepped up to a 355 small-block. I built the engine using a two-bolt main block with GM Vortec heads and an Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake. I figure I'm in the 325hp and 400-lb-ft of torque range, and behind it is a TH350 with a B&M kit. It runs 9.0/77 mph in the eighth mile at Wabash Valley Dragway.
The best part is that I have less than $2,500 total wrapped up in it as it appears in the picture. I know all too well Car Craft's penchant for burnout pictures, so I hope you throw my pickup in a future issue.
John Black
Terre Haute, IN
Un-American?
Either you are unaware of the new parts entering the market, or a choosing to ignore the rebirth of the American Motors performance era. Just to let you know, if you don't already, Edelbrock has introduced new Performer Heads for street and racing.
Edelbrock also has a new multi-point fuel injection unit for AMC. I am sure Edelbrock sends out new product announcements, so I am sure you knew about these new parts. I would hate to think you were Un-American (Motors). Keep up the good work. Hey, if you need a test mule for some new AMC parts, I have a nice '68 AMX with a fresh 390 you can use.
Mark Wong
Via e-mail
You know the AMC following is rabid when the customers start sending you product release information! Yes, we were aware of the new heads, and we think all American musclecars are cool, Mark-especially the ones from Kenosha.
Cowboy Cadillac
I saw in the mag where you mentioned various tech forums that y'all check out from time to time. Here's another one for your list: http://www.cowboyseven.us. Basically, it's the spot for Cadillac big-block (472/500) performance.
Nathan Cline
Via e-mail
Readers' In and Out List
Living in Las Vegas
In: People noticing your stout small-block-equipped '64 Impala as you cruise the Strip
Out: Realizing more people notice a Ford Expedition stretch limo.
In: Having the perfect exhaust, so it idles with a sweet rumble, and barks like a big dog when you hit the throttle.
Out: Getting a very expensive noise citation from a bicycle-mounted Metro Las Vegas cop for doing it.
In: Doing a good, smoky burnout when you hammer the throttle out of a hotel parking garage.
Out: Getting another very expensive traffic citation from the same bicycle-mounted cop.