need help deciding something

77malibu77 wrote:yeah i have thought of that too but was just trying to use what i already had you know.... unless i should just take the 350/350 out of my elky and move it to the malibu with the drive shaft and everything they should be same length
and then i could build up the 350 really nice and fast but idk thats a thought
i for sure am not going to keep the el camino so moving all that stuff to the malibu is a thought its already rebuilt and everything although sounds like one of the valves are knocking

what do you think of this jb

JB2wheeler wrote:

77malibu77 wrote:yeah i have thought of that too but was just trying to use what i already had you know.... unless i should just take the 350/350 out of my elky and move it to the malibu with the drive shaft and everything they should be same length
and then i could build up the 350 really nice and fast but idk thats a thought
i for sure am not going to keep the el camino so moving all that stuff to the malibu is a thought its already rebuilt and everything although sounds like one of the valves are knocking

what do you think of this jb

A 2 door Malibu has a 4 inch shorter wheelbase than an Elky, driveshaft would be too long. It could be shortened. JB

dragons_lair59 wrote:ok heres my thoughts
1. use th 350 trans weighs less then th400 and unless drag racing why haul the weight
2. the horse power torque difference of 350ci and 400ci sbc not that much difference just beware 400 heads have steam ports in them and can be problematic. and after market 400 heads arent cheap if you can find
3. if you have extra 350 block clearence it for 400 cranck and bore it .030 through some 9.1cr pistons and mild cam have 383 stroker tons of torque good hp and with mild build and factory 3.08 rear end gears fair gas milage
no these are my own humble opinion. use 400 block and 350 cranck with .030 bore and have 377 (revs to the moon)

bigredlaguna wrote:I would go for this rotating assembly for a 383

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SCA-1-92005-1/

Heads- if you want new.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12558060/

Some one around here could probably cut you a deal for some used heads, but you may have machine shop costs that would be close to the same as new heads.

One of these manifolds

http://www.summitracing.com/compare.aspx

One of these cams

http://www.summitracing.com/compare.aspx

One of these carburetors. 750 may be too big, but a 383 might need it anyway, even with a small cam.

http://www.summitracing.com/compare.aspx

I think for what your goals are, that a properly rebuilt Quadrajet would be perfect.

Malicruiser wrote:

bigredlaguna wrote:I would go for this rotating assembly for a 383

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SCA-1-92005-1/

Heads- if you want new.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12558060/

Some one around here could probably cut you a deal for some used heads, but you may have machine shop costs that would be close to the same as new heads.

One of these manifolds

http://www.summitracing.com/compare.aspx

One of these cams

http://www.summitracing.com/compare.aspx

One of these carburetors. 750 may be too big, but a 383 might need it anyway, even with a small cam.

http://www.summitracing.com/compare.aspx

I think for what your goals are, that a properly rebuilt Quadrajet would be perfect.

If you can locate a 90-93 700r4 (these were built with much stronger and much improved internals than earlier years) you can swap one into your malibu, that way you have overdrive for even better mileage and it bolts straight to a 350 block. If you need to shorten you drive shaft already, you can have it shortened for the 700r4 instead for no extra money. Plus the 700r4 should fit right in your car, and is almost as easily and cheaply built as a th350. Trust me I've built a couple of them, they're almost bullet-proof and were built in very large numbers. As a cherry on top they use the yokes already in your car.

bigredlaguna wrote:

A 2004r has some advantages also. <<<====== I HAVE ONE IN THE GARAGE LOL
1) Same length as a th350- no need to shorten a driveshaft or change the location of the crossmember, but it does use a 400 style yoke.
2) Gear ratios are the same as a th400 with the benefit of a 0.67/1 overdrive.
3) Most cases had a dual pattern bellhouse so you can use Chevy or BOP engines.