Hobby Stock Engine Build Part 1: Starting The Tear Down of the 350ci Small Block Chevy

We will be jumping into some Engine work. We tear down a small block Chevy 350ci engine to prep for a Hobby Stock build. We knew this thing was in sad shape already, but its time to find out just how bad it is. A little detour from getting the IMCA Modified ready for the Las Vegas race, but my brother and I have to know what we are working with so we can start to plan the build.
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[@DatHondaBoi223]

hey so I just picked up an 89 s10, I’m wanting to do a 350 swap but I have no knowledge on them. Any specific 350 engine code thats better to be built on? I’m aiming for around 350-400hp, what parts would be necessary?

[@wadelumsden1548]

for a 350-400hp build, you can use almost anything. I prefer to use a 2 piece rear main seal, 4 bolt main, 010 block myself. but in the range you are speaking about, its not that imperative. and the parts required to make that hp, well there are a lot of different combos to make it happen. I'm a fan of forged components instead of cast. I also use good ARP bolts for pretty much everything. but your goals mostly lie in a good piston, cam and head selection. make sure you use a good oil pump to keep it well lubricated. hope that points you in the right direction to get started.....

[@sc358.]

Raise cam bore, bore for large journal w/ large core/base circle out of tool steel. Comp cams cam, jesel belt drive, morel lifters, manton pushrods (rockers set by rules) crower if stud or stamped (if stamped modified for oil flow to stud), td steel if shaft, psi springs (conical), if titanium components allowed then xceldyne valves, retainers and retainers. Valve cover oiler setup, cam tunnel, reworked oil returns w/ screens, worked oil gallies, high volume blueprinted pump (tig welded pickup), racing pan w/ depth set correctly and right level, joe gibbs driven break in oil/assembly paste/grease, wix xp filter, before intake goes on verify all lifters spin, timing set to fire (distributor set btdc when installed), carb primed, lash set (eoic), 2800-3200rpm for 30 minutes varying (immediately no playing around), lash checked/adj, oil & filter(s) changed, driven racing oil (break in first race, then racing), wix racing filter (bypass filter system installed if going extra mile, clear view oil filter for ease as well), cut filter each change, inspect/clean screen in clear view👍 K... maybe wine taste on water budget

[@sc358.]

Spring tips prepped by psi, dont touch with hands, use nitrile gloves, clean b4 install, verify tolerances, degree & ensure valve clearance, replace needle bearings in shaft rockers with bushings, lifter bushings w/ oil slit, edm lifter, zlc coating, oversize lifter if rules allow...

[@wadelumsden1548]

Lots of good stuff there. We have to keep all of the stock geometry for this particular build, and have lots of limitations.

[@sc358.]

@@wadelumsden1548 yeah, most stock cars are pretty limmited. Really hate the no porting rules. Understand stuff that keeps a lower budget but can make power with time invested... DLC* not zlc

[@wadelumsden1548]

@@sc358. I agree, lots of "free horsepower" available with some invested time.... and some more open rules lol. But, that build list looks like it would be a good longer lasting engine.

[@sc358.]

@@wadelumsden1548 yeah similar parts to what you'd find in a trophy truck (not SBC, solid flat nor wet sump) But I've been guilty of running a 383 I built as my first engine with what was at that time 12 years old (~ 9 years in a truck and 3 race seasons in hobby stock). All cast components, voodoo hydraulic flat and have turned it 7k+ accidentally, regularly 6500 in the truck which was too much and 6k on the track... low power stuff can live longer than it should. Vortec heads, comp LS beehive valve springs, nothing at all fancy. Maybe 360hp (manifolds, 2bbl, wrong cam - too much duration, too wide lobe separation, more lift is always good). It ran strong, still would if I dewinterized it but I think it's time to retire some components via cycles. Surprised it hasn't let go.