Budget Build Nova- Finding a Used Chevy 350

[@yt650]

In the mid 1960s I was a Chevrolet parts man. It is hard to believe but we sold 327 engine blocks with the cam bearings installed, in a wooden crate for $100. They stocked these blocks at the zone warehouse in King of Prussia Pennsylvania. We sold hundreds of them. We were one of the few dealers who stocked four-speed transmissions. These were not four bolt mains. We did not stock complete engines and if memory serves me they weren’t available that way but we had every part for any V-8 engine and every gear for the different transmission as well as ring and pinion and everything associated with them.. We had every part to convert the 55 through 57 Chevrolet V-8 from automatic transmission to standard shift.

[@Shop209]

Dang. That’s so cool. Didn’t the blocks come with pistons already matched? I think I have seen a few NOS blocks that came with pistons.

[@yt650]

@@Shop209 I’m pretty sure they did come with pistons and rings, rings already installed on pistons . But I wasn’t absolutely certain so I didn’t include that in my comments. I’m fairly sure it came with main bearings as well but I can’t remember back that far to be absolutely certain so I didn’t include those two things. I do know it was $100 though and we certainly did sell a bunch of them. I really could go on for quite a long time but we stocked short blocks to, it was a pretty wild time as I look back on it. The dealership I worked for had a drag car called ‘Newcomer II’ . See now you got me started, my first new car was a 66 SS 396 Chevelle. The assistant parts manager had a Chevy II wagon factory four speed, It was delayed being built because they needed a ring and pinion there apparently was a mountain area option and it took a while to get it. The ratio may have been 4:10. Edit it for errors.

[@juanpalos3657]

Hello from México buddy... I think you still scored with that engine, a little bit of cleaning and reasembly but its a good engine regardless. I know youll get it running and driving in no time. Keep up the work my friend, shout out from everyone here in México bud.

[@donaldgray8864]

I'm liking the build!! Nice seeing tge reality of buying a used motor.

[@Docmiller4425]

Another great video of your progress. It's too bad the engine had gotten water in it, but it's still a great deal. I hope you get it all together in time. Keep at it.

[@Nova.1971]

That engine is still pretty clean......good it was sealed up for the most part as it could have been junk!!!

[@davidgreen9663]

Great video, right up my alley. I'm trying to put together a '38 Chevy coupe, old style maybe with a 327. You taught me quite a lot in one video. Thank you!

[@theshark2804]

I got my big block for the same price. Had rust on the walls. I hit it with some wd40 and a ball hone. Cleaned right up. New rings,bearing, cam, freeze plugs, intake and fired right up.

[@Shop209]

I think I got this one cleaned up enough without taking it apart.

[@theshark2804]

@@Shop209 I’m jealous. I wish I built a small block. Would have gotten way more back for my buck and been able to save a few pennies on gas. What cam you getting

[@Shop209]

I just measured the cam that came out if it. No numbers on it but it has .442-.444 lift. Maybe it’s a Edelbrock performer. So I figure if I stay around same lift I won’t need valve springs.

[@theshark2804]

@@Shop209 comp cams xe268 is what I’m running. I believe the xe274 was the biggest I could run without needing to mill my spring pockets

[@Shop209]

I had the 274XE in another 350. It was a good cam. I found a summit cam I’m going to use.

[@raystevens687]

Hi 👋 👋 👋 👋 Im so sorry that the engine wasn't what you thought it to be. Now getting into that engine is going to be a challenge but you can getter done.

[@savagenomore]

talking about the bore on reman auto part box store engines, I bought a "core" 350 once that I found reman badges on, when i checked the bore there were three different size cylinder bores, I had .030, .060 over and standard bore, needless to say that block became scrap cast iron and it made me decide that I would never buy a reman engine that is mass produced from one of these box stores

[@Shop209]

Wow. That is crazy. I’ve never seen one like that before.

[@kramnull8962]

Imagine the balance issues.

[@joracer1]

Dude I hate to tell you this but, this morning I bought a complete zz4 carb to pan with the heads off. Every thing looks great, low mileage clean as new inside, plus a set of stainless headers for $750. They guy was a great dude just wanted it out of his way.

[@Shop209]

Wow. That’s a great deal! I’ll have an engine video out on Monday. I went a different route. Kinda. Lol

[@nickrw28]

Love the build series keep it up man !

[@gordongrimes4088]

the over heat washers on the head or block do not fall off the center melts indicating the engine has been over heated there for ending the warranty.

[@hotrods4x4s18]

Another great video

[@JimBronson]

run a little dingleberry hone on it, 400 grit, about 10 times up and down, then file fit rings, should be fine.

[@Shop209]

That was my plan. I got it mostly gone. A little stained now but can’t feel it.

[@theshark2804]

@@Shop209 my big had the same thing. The rings will take care of it

[@mc1500mc]

Sucks about the water, but still a great deal!

[@Lunchmoniez]

I’m wanting to build my first nova just gotta find one now

[@sherryjohnson8918]

I keep a couple Smallblocks rebuilt but they are getting hard to sell. Everyone wants the LS. Same way with ford everyone wants the Coyote engine

[@Shop209]

They’re also getting hard to find. At least around here.

[@jesseduke694]

That rust aint guna hurt a thing. Its so light it will clean right up. And scotch bright like u did will bring them right in.

[@baldo5097]

Awesome video boss

[@justincooper5189]

So we got to see a partial teardown of a 350, due to sand, and found out some neck wringing "fun" things about the engine. At least it's fixable, and it's not bad. Maybe one of these days you'll catch a break and find an engine that really doesn't need anything done to it.

[@Shop209]

Looking back I could have used the rotating assembly that was there. I’ll have a full budget build of a 350 coming soon.

[@sanch1387]

i just got a 1987 r10 long bed truck canyou make a video on how to connect the fule pump wires on chevy 350

[@robertwest3093]

Why do they bore .080 over? There's 5 overbores in a SBC... .020,.030,.040,.060,.080.

[@Shop209]

Because it’s getting harder to find blocks that haven’t already been bored to .060. If it’s not for high performance use, .080 is usually fine.

[@bradonoliver2973]

I have a factory copper radiator

[@Shop209]

Where are you located?

[@bradonoliver2973]

Florence Al. I can see what it costs to ship and if possible I’ll ship it

[@Shop209]

Email me. [e-mail]

[@bradonoliver2973]

Are you gonna use a mechanical fan or electric? I have an electric fan too

[@bradonoliver2973]

But I’m going to email you this afternoon

[@chevy-714]

👍👍👍

[@TJ-Bridger]

lets go big block !

[@nicolasbassi1024]

Could I build a frank. With a 1958 283 block,327crankshafr and 305 pistons???

[@lordsauto]

Did u check crankshaft end play? How do u do it?

[@Shop209]

Yes. I have a dial indicator I set up on front of crank

[@marklambert3322]

What kind of parts do you need to build a good factory stock engine got to be a 350 Chevy with good power has to pull 16 inches of vacuum at thousand rpm

[@Shop209]

You can make 300hp with pretty much stock parts by adding a good cam, intake, carb and headers. On a 350 a cam with around 220-224 duration at .050 and .450-.470 lift with 108-110 lobe separation would do fine with stock converter and have enough vacuum for power brakes. I would suggest a converter with slightly more stall than stock though if you have an automatic.

[@zcam1969]

4 bolt main .that engine came out of a truck if it was built after 1972

[@jameshester1450]

Not a big fan of engine stands everything's on 90° so why not just use the balance

[@flippenmarine]

#neverswapholes lol

[@Shop209]

Lol

[@jameshester1450]

I would say most of this is wasted enough time to get a paycheck

[@unchained20000000]

,

[@wendillowen7891]

51 Ford hood