Ok guys i just picked up a camaro pre smog, its in ok condition, needs apperence work, but me personally i want the performance squared away first, Now what im looking for is a nice rice eater. This is what its got now, its got a 4bbl edelbrock im thinking its a 650cfm, and maybe newer heads. and some street headers. I got a cheap edelbrock performer intake thats going on it, but i need some help on what else will help me eat up these ricers that are always trying to race me. I need a i really dont want to really get in there and pull the engine, so tell me what you think i can do with out yanking it out.

You really need to find out what heads you have, is the a manual or auto? If auto what stall converter? What gears? If your thinking 300+ hp youll need good sticky tires as well. Its all a guessing game untill you know what cam compression and heads you have really.

Ditto...........

Post back the letters that are at the end of the long VIN number string that should be on the pass. side deck boss that's just above the top water pump bolt so we can try to decode your engine.. That is if it is still a virgin??

pdq67

i know that the heads are a newer set of heads, the valve covers bolt on threw the middle, umm i will get the vin ran tomorrow at my work. i believe the block is a late model blcok.

With a one piece rear main seal you should be able to look from beneath the engine and read the displacement cast right into the side of the block (5.0 or 5.7 in liters). Center bolt valve covers could indicate Vortec headss were swapped onto an older block, which is a good thing, but it could also mean junk heads on a newer block also. Casting numbers for all Chevy blocks (new or old, big or small) are behind the distributor on the bell housing mounting flange (casting numbers on one, side date code on the other). May take a bit of kerosene and a stiff brush to get them legible.

First order of business is to figure out what you have. Head casting numbers are under the valve cover. Center bolt valve covers are supposed to have reuseable valve cover gaskets so you should be able to pop one of and read those numbers as well.

Good luck and happy hunting.


Larger Dave

First,no one has asked if you are going to pull the engine and go thru it. Or are you going to replace cam and lifters and new chain and gears and bolt on another set of heads and intake,carb and so on. My suggestion is if the engine has alot of miles I would just go thru it. As inexpensive as some rotating assm. you can buy that would work for a street application that may be your best and safe way to go. I would say if you are getting beat by some front wheel Japanese car the engine is tired and needs to be gone thru. If you were to go thru it you would know exactly what you have and sounds like you are wanting to keep the car so why not? Gonna need to be done sooner or later anyway! good luck!