Junkyard tips to save money and make big power!

If your restoring a musclecar and want it to look stock, there are a lot of ways to do it. And, looking stock and making big power can be done. Here's some tips I'll bet you didn't know. # 1. Small-block Chevy- If you have a "generic" L48 350-these were used in every model from 1969-1986 and want a quick power boost-here's a good one. Most post 1970 small-blocks cylinder heads have 76cc combustion chambers which make about 8.2:1 compression with stock pistons. 1981-86 305 heads have 58cc chambers which will bump compression up to about 9.6:1 on the average 350. Most 350s have 1.94 intake valves and 305s have 1.72 intakes, but the slight loss of airflow is more than made up for by the power and torque boost of the added compression. 1.94 valves can be installed in 305 heads, but before I spent a bunch of money on machine work I'd look at....1996-2001 Vortec Heads!  These breathe better than any factory head and better than a lot of aftermarket ones. Their 64cc chambers will give about 9.1:1 compression on stock 350s, and they'll accomodate cams up to .480 lift. If you want to run a bigger cam-you can swap in Comp cams "Beehive" springs, or machine the valve guides. Summit and Scoggin-Dickey offer pairs of brand-new Vortec heads for $650!! That's a screaming deal. You'll have to get a Vortec-style intake, but Edelbrock, Holley, and Weiand offer them for about $200. # 2. Big-block Chevy. A lot of people don't know it, but unless your building an all-out racer-your better off with standard heads. Here's why. Standard heads have 2.06 intake and 1.72 exhaust valves and oval ports. High Performance heads have 2.19 intake and 1.88 exhaust valves and rectangular ports. Hot rod magazine did a dyno test a few years ago on identical 454 Chevy engines-i.e. same cam,carb and intake, etc. The high performance heads did not show a noticeable gain until 6,200 rpm!!  Think about that-no matter how badass your ride is-how often are you going to be above 6,200 rpm? So, if your core came out of a station wagon or Suburban or Impala, don't despair and search the galaxy for rectangular port heads. Spend the money where you'll get the most bang for the buck-cams, exhaust, carb and intake, ignition, gears, converter, etc. # 3. Pontiacs. Unless you absolutely have to have an aluminum intake, the Iron Q-jet manifolds that came stock on Pontiac engines from 1967-74 are quite good. Popular Hot Rodding did a manifold comparison on a fairly hot 400 a few years ago. The Edelbrock Performer was about equal to the stocker, or only showed a 2-3 hp gain at any given rpm. All the others-( Holley, Weiand, Offy ) couldn't beat the stocker anywhere through the range, and a few even showed a loss below 3,500. The Torker II showed a 20 hp gain above 4,500 rpm. The newer Performer RPM is said to be even better than the Torker II, but it won't clear T/A shaker hoods without modification. Now if you have a 1975-79 engine the shoe is on the other foot. These have a restrictive throttle opening which really limits power above 4,000 rpm. "Spread Bore" Q-Jet replacement Holleys won't work on this manifold because the throttle blades can't open fully. If you have or want to build a 75-79 engine, I would get the earlier factory manifold or go with a Performer. Also-75-79 350 and 400 "6X" smog heads are the best breathing factory heads other than Ram Air IVs. Their 90-101cc chambers will be fine on a 455-compression would be around 9.4:1-but on a 400 they'll have to be milled to get decent compression. However they can be milled up to .060 inch.  # 4. Small-block Mopar. Thank the truck and SUV explosion in the '90's. 1992 and later "Magnum" heads breathe better than any other factory head including the legendary 1968-73 340 heads. These heads will bolt up to 91 and earlier blocks, but you'll need a "Magnum" style intake. Edelbrock has you covered with Performer and Performer RPM incarnations. Or you could just get the whole engine-They were used in tens of millions of Dodge Trucks and vans and Jeep Cherokees. A 360 stroked to 408 with Magnum heads would make one hell of a sleeper for your Duster or Cuda. Something to think about if your running in the stock appearing drags, or just want it to look stock. Mastermind