Firstly, What is the max horsepower (estimate) that can be made with stock 3917291 1.94 camel hump heads?

Im trying to decide if its worth building my 2 bolt main block with the parts I have w/ a cam swap and these heads. The block is already .030 over. Im getting married and cant spend that much right now..Im playing with numbers right now on paper and It seems to me, by the time im done rebuilding this thing, w/ prep work and parts, it can reach the 2k mark with ease. It seems I can get a really nice stroker crate motor or something off ebay for a little more than it would cost me to rebuild this motor.

a) spend more than a little and have a mild 2 bolt motor that I will never be happy with..

or

B) spend a little more than a little and be happy, and hide the CC statements from the wife! :hurray:

What would you guys do?

Stock, right at 10 to 1 CR 350 engine!!!!!!!!!

Imho, no more than a dingle-berry maching ledge bowl and casting flash port clean-up will help a set of -291's!!

You didn't say if they are big or medium valved tho..

And something like a CC 282S solid lifter cam, a 3310- or stock Q-Jet on a good intake along w/ a cheap set of 1.625" dia., 4-tube long headers and you will be looking at something like 425hp at 5500 rpm and 430t at 4500 rpm or thereabouts w/ big valve heads.

408hp and 423t w/ medium valve heads here!!

Still a stout engine to me.

AND NOTE!! Nothing fancy at all..

Open headers.............

pdq67

How would I know if they are medium or large valve? I measured an intake valve and the are 1.94.

So in your opinion, I can make decent power with these heads? If I can get 400 out of the motor, I would be happy. Im going to be hitting it with a small plate system I had from my old camaro. Only a 150 shot. So 550 hp would be pleanty for me. Will be a fun little stick car..

What about the crank? Stock crank OK?

Im not a motor guy. I love power, but I have no idea how to match parts. Im a bodyman.. My old camaro had a zz3 crate engine which I had a 200 shot on. Went through 2 bottles a week on the street for 3 years till I finally blew a piston. Great motor..

if you`re gonna run nos, you need to spend a little on the internals imo...150 is a little shot, but cast cranks were never designed for the 550 mark...not alot of experience with nos, but from what i`ve read, you should prolly go with a steel crank, and better pistons for longevity at least...

gotcha, but how bout the heads? Are they capable of making good power? Or they a waste?

A '68 350 engine has a forged crank in it so hit it w/ gas all you want, imho!!

Up to say 300hp.................

pdq67

I'm running what pdq67 talked about, 350 ,030 over flat top pistons with 462 small valve (1.94 unported) camel hump heads with a Edelbrock Performer RPM manifold and a 600 Holley carb (yup still got the small carb) . I went with a CC 282S cam kit and in 2 years of bracket racing my Vega the only thing I do to the motor is change oil and adjust the valves, if you step up the cam to a 292S you have to have the heads cut for bigger springs. Best ET so far is 7.87 @ 86 mph in the 1/8 mile (low 12's in the 1/4) the car with me in it about 3100 pounds, all steel and a good basic motor set up.

I believe 1.94 intake valves make your engine a medium valve head. From the info I have received: 1.74 valves = small head, 1.94 valves = medium head, and 2.02 valves = Large heads. Anyone out there, let me know if I am wrong. IMHO if the intake runner is small, it won't support 2.02 valves. I would suggest new heads, but there again is MONEY. Good luck.

I just disassembled the motor. The crank only has the number 2690. Mains are 2.435 and the rod journals are 2.086. This this a forged steel 350 crank?

I just disassembled the motor. The crank only has the number 2690. Mains are 2.435 and the rod journals are 2.086. This this a forged steel 350 crank?

Yes

gotcha, but how bout the heads? Are they capable of making good power? Or they a waste?
Yeah..they are not as good as the aftermarket stuff....But they are not crap...
On a budget? clean them up, check CCs little port matching (mine didnt need any)...they work well.
And further down when money is avalable, and time, look at upgrading then.
But if you are looking for a respectable performing street car, fuelies will do the job.
202 heads are better for top end, smaller valves, build the power range lower to suit the street, and u have a go-er.

Ditto TJ..

Little-bitty = 1.72"/1.38";

Small = 1.72"/1.50";

Medium = 1.94"/1.50" and some 400 P/U heads had 1.60"; and

Big = 2.02"/1.60"..

pdq67