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Re: Hi! which 350 van engine is the "best" n strongest?
Jan_Egil #259194 January 30th 2009 8:54 pm
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Its the same with me. I have never been overseas, but i would realy realy like to get the chance to do it some time. And i realy wish i would be able to get to experience and be a part of a vannin meeting sometime. I have looked at a lot of pics from different meets, and it looks awsome!:) It seams like almost everyone is "like family".

Yes, i hope you get the chance to come to norway sometime smile i can give you a "guided tour" in Gudbrandsdalen/Jotunheimen if you are passing by:P hehe

Have a great weekend!

Best Regards
Jan Egil

Re: Hi! which 350 van engine is the "best" n strongest?
Jan_Egil #259324 January 31st 2009 5:54 pm
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Ther eis a guy at work that has a 350 van engine...
I do not know anything about it, but I can ask, if you want me to?

Re: Hi! which 350 van engine is the "best" n strongest?
rust_collector #260134 February 03rd 2009 3:37 pm
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Vortec heads came out in '97. maybe early 96. they are derived from the corvette LT1-LT4 engines from 92 and up. have a tall intake port and awesome combustion chamber. The only difference between the truck versions of these heads and the High performance ones is the exhaust seat. the truck seat is a much thicker seat. Put vortec heads on most any 350 and you're adding a min of 75 horsepower. put in flat top pistons, and you have a "documented" 400 hp easily. then start adding cheap upgrades. headers, aluminum performance intake, high flow carb, etc and it just gets better and better. I have a set for sale, but not trying to make this about an advertisement. I ran them briefly on a STOCK truck 350. standard truck cam, dished pistons, etc.. had headers, edelbrock intake, holley carb and was pushing 425 hp in my firebird. (short lived due to a VERY badly chamfered rod journal oil hole.) Otherwise, any ole 350 is capable of serious horsepower on the cheap. one ULTRA cheap upgrade is a bone stock GM aluminum quadrajet manifold and a slightly retuned q-jet. If you are building a two vehicle with a good overdrive for the highway, then slightly reworking a set of chevy 305 heads will bump your compressoin WAY up, speeds up your intake runner velocity, and gives you GOBBS of low end torque.. they will run great to a little over 4000 rpms. Then they loose their efficiency cause of the small intake runners. The sped up intake velocity using 305 heads and a q-jet, increases the vacc signal on the primaries so you can de-tune it some and because it ends up being so accurate, your gas milage will go up ALOT. I know guys who have gotten 30mpg on highway (in a car of course) using that setup. not to mention, it'll pull like the dickins up a steep hill.


Are you looking for a very specific engine? cause honestly, if you take out the cams, then line up nearly every 350 ever made, they are pretty much all identical. some head variations here n there, but it all came down to dished or flat top pistons, cam profiles, and heads. then 2 bbl or 4 bbl carbs, etc..


Yeah..... I know I know.... It's NOT a van... But if you squint, It could be a REALLY long van?

[Linked Image]
Re: Hi! which 350 van engine is the "best" n strongest?
Johan #406096 August 18th 2010 6:29 pm
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My 78 350 with stock 4barrel is getting 10. Advice?


78 Vandura
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Re: Hi! which 350 van engine is the "best" n strongest?
vanburgo #406205 August 19th 2010 8:14 am
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The high torque 350 for a number of years has the RPO code LS9 (see pic), it is better suited to towing because of the cam grind. 4 bolt mains were intended to hold everything together in cars and trucks with manual transmissions when you are off the throttle and the engine is holding the car back, at least according to the GM engineer that came in the auto machine shop I used to work at. There is a significant load on the bottom end when you are in and out of the throttle in a vehicle with a manual transmission because there is no "hydraulic cushion" as there is with an automatic trans. The link between the driveline and the engine is basically direct and solid. I've seen and had 2 bolt main engines live quite happily above 7 grand.
[Linked Image]


'85 GMC Shorty
'98 Suburban K2500
'98 Pontiac G8 GT
'77 Pontiac Astre
'95 Jeep Wrangler
"I thought you weren't allowed to talk to guys with vans??"
Re: Hi! which 350 van engine is the "best" n strongest?
vanburgo #406255 August 19th 2010 11:27 am
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If you're only getting 10mpg, then you need some tune up work. I would bet the carb is dumping too much fuel and needs tweaking, and check your ignition timing. You should be around 6 degrees BTDC at idle and between 30 - 40 degrees by 2,200RPM. Service all the fluids, check all your tire pressures, etc. Even with the TH350 you should be getting at least 4mpg better.


Colin
aka "Fatvanman"
1975 Chevy G20 Shorty "Lunchbox"

"The great ones never die, they just get older, fatter and drive better vans!"

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3913766/1975-chevrolet-van
Re: Hi! which 350 van engine is the "best" n strongest?
Jan_Egil #406361 August 19th 2010 5:49 pm
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This motor is great and cheap. scoggin dickey In their catalog They refer to a similar motor as two hours and a six pack, because if you have enough engine swapping experience that's all it takes.

Re: Hi! which 350 van engine is the "best" n strongest?
vanburgo #407248 August 24th 2010 12:51 am
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Originally Posted by vanburgo
My 78 350 with stock 4barrel is getting 10. Advice?
yup, replace the TH350 with 4-speed automatic


George

1998 Chevy G2500, Vortec 5700, 4L80E, hand-controls and wheelchair lift smile
Re: Hi! which 350 van engine is the "best" n strongest?
Jan_Egil #407249 August 24th 2010 1:07 am
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Quote
... My plans arent to have a Dragstrip van or anything like that, but a Nice "alround" van that i can go on holidays with and cruise, but also have fun with, and to be able to use it as a tow vehicle for my "racecar" when im going to the track. And of course the most important thing! that it is strong enough to do some burnouts ....
Hi Jan, to be honest with you i would recommend a 383 stroker for your van. It's got the torque you seek and will outpull any 350, buy the longblock for $2600 and use your choice of manifold/carb/distributor/etc, easy 400hp and 425torque
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MLL-BP3832CT1/
or buy a ready to run version for about $600 more


George

1998 Chevy G2500, Vortec 5700, 4L80E, hand-controls and wheelchair lift smile
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