72 elky 20000 on rebuilt 350 preformance upgrade questions.

guyneutron

car is stock, has dual exhuast flowmasters.
what can I do to add more power to the car.
Its 350(300 horses) but really doesnt feel like it has those 300 ponies!.
Maybe tweaking gear ratio would make a difference?
what else could I do, let say I had $1000 budget, but still wanted to keep engine bay clean looking, and didnt want to sacrifice reliabilty, its my everyday driver(almost everyday, I ride my Ducati around more).
I am a newbie to classic cars.
Thanx
adding a pic of my car too Happy

mnunn · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:11 pm Post subject:

Nice ride and welcome!!

I think, were I in your shoes, and assuming the short block is fine, I'd probably upgrade the heads to some better flowing cast iron ones with larger valves. I hear Dart makes some really decent flowing ones that are fully assembled for $800 or less that'll bump your compression up as well. That'll still leave you $150 for a new cam and lifters to take advantage of the better heads.

2nd thing I'd do is find out what ring and pinion ratio you have. If it's a 2.73 or 3.08 make plans to upgrade it to a 3.55 or 3.73 (posi preferrably). It'll impact your mileage a little, but will help the fun-factor by a whole lot more. If you go this route (next IRS refund), plan on parting with up to $1000 or more depending on what you have now and how you get there.

Since you already have duals, the 3rd thing I'd do is open up the exhaust more from the heads back. (It'd be my first thing if you had single or small pipes and stock manifolds and mufflers). I'd think you could get a decent set of long tube headers, 2.5" pipes and low restriction mufflers for $1000 or less (refund #2).

You should already have HEI ignition. If not, it's worth the approx $150 cost to upgrade.

Hope it helps.
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70 Elky (Non-SS) 454CID, TH700-R4
69 Chev C-10 Pickup (recently Upgraded to 454) w/TH400
29 Model A (Recently Sold).

69 tremec · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:44 pm Post subject:

heads make a huge difference if you didnt wanna go with dart heads "great heads". a step below thats a little cheaper but still gives you strong running head is converting to vortec heads, they cost new $560 for a pair ready to go. you would need to get a new manafold and valve covers, manafold runs $180 for the edelbrock RPM which is a highrise dual plane design set up, that puts you up too $740 total. a decent set of hooker headers go for $160. that leaves you with 80 bucks lol. a new accel HEI runs 118-150 bucks and you will need new wires as well and a cam kit is in the 120 to 150 buck range. but remeber the vortec stock heads have a max cam lift of .475" sooo over all your lookin at 1200 bucks for a new top end and headers. both MNUNN and my takes on your budget make good power, mix and match to your taste and always keep a look out on your local craigslist but from both of thees postings you should have all the ingrediants for a pretty hot mouse. btw clean ride!
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tim fraley

guyneutron · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:06 am Post subject:

Thanx guys!!!!