joe@zinfandel.UUCP (01/21/85)
Hello. I am considering having my 74 Camaro ( auto 350 cid ) rebuilt instead of buying a new car. My concerns are having it last another 100k miles, handling better and having more umph if I can get it without losing mpg. My currently proposed improvements include: super valve guides for no lead gas dykes type top piston ring oil cooler heavy duty radiator I would appreciate any other suggestions, and from San Fransisco area readers I would like to hear of good engine rebuilders. thanks, " Cogito ergo Spud. " ( I Think, therefore A Yam. ) Joseph Weinstein Zehntel Inc. (ihnp4!zehntel!zinfandel!joe) P.O. Box 8016 (415)932-6900 Walnut Creek California 94596
shelby@rtech.ARPA (Shelby Thornton) (01/25/85)
> > super valve guides for no lead gas > dykes type top piston ring > oil cooler > heavy duty radiator > I've never really tried to get more horsepower without sacrificing engine life or gas mileage, but I'll try to give you a few suggestions that I would expect to work (I've been street and bracket racing for many years, so I am knowledgable on the subject of horsepower). First, I would recommend using a single moly top ring over the Dykes (I assume your reference is to the full circle top ring). The Dykes will increase compression and therefore require you to run an octane boost or cut engine life through knocking and pinging. The single moly will give a good seal but will not wear on the cylinder like a chrome ring. As for valve guides, I've never heard of "super valve guides", so I don't know how well they work, but I've had the best luck using bronze guides with teflon seals. The oil cooler is a great idea, especially for W.C. in the summer (I live on N. Civic in W.C.). The heavy duty radiator is nice but it's really an unnecessary expense. As for other suggestions, I would recommend an Edelbrock Torker style manifold, approx. 150 new, for induction. It's gives much better low end and mid-range throttle response than the stocker. Also, the Magnum series cams from Comp Cams, are very good for most street applications. There are several for your application. I don't know which would give you the best horsepower/mileage trade-off. For engine life, I would suggest using cast pistons over forged. Forged tend to have greater heat expansion and therefore wear out the cylinders quicker (however they are stronger). There are two things that are considered "free" horsepower. Headers are one, balancing the engine assembly is the other. As for a reputable engine builder, Tim Morgan of Morgan's Machine and Marine has done some work for me and I have been quite satisfied. His shop is very clean and he's been around for many years (he is very knowledgable about parts for a given application). He's been a speed boat racer (Blown KB Hemis) for many years and has even gone as far as making is own aluminum hemi head castings. He's off Main St. on Parkside Dr. in Walnut Creek. As a last "suggestion", it seems that leaving off smog equipment, except for PCV, noticably increases performance. Now I don't want to advocate leaving off smog devices, but... Good Luck with your project. Shelby Thornton ucbvax!mtxinu!rtech!shelby