Need some advice for rebuilding 77 350 please

Early heads have same chambers Unless you shaved heads .

 

Early heads have same chambers Unless you shaved heads .

 

Why not support TA performance for your parts, you have to send for them anyways and you do own a Buick right? It already costs more so whats a few more bucks, from a parts supplier you can at least trust to send you the correct parts.

Plus the money they make off of us helps them to develop new parts like....Aluminum Heads!:grin:

 

Trust me I support TA Performance greatly with all of my Buicks! :dollar::dollar::laugh:

Just trying to keep this build cost down but of course the quality of the parts are always #1 priority. :beer

 

Putting the bottom end together today. Stayed tuned for more pictures and details. I am curious to see how far in the cylinder these flat tops sit, remember this is a 77 block that HAS NOT been decked.

 

Before you go further I suggest drilling out that passage in block from oil pickup to timing cover.if you see its barely 7/16. I drill them out 1/2 inch on mild and 9/16 on race. Then get a 5/8 pickup tube. Melling makes for 77 up 350 engine. That might be a early block as I was sure 77 blocks had 1/2 passages.

 

Thank you for the tip! I was able to get the engine all together up to the intake. Here are some of the measurements I took....

-The new pistons are the same height as the stock ones 2.988"
-The top ring on the stock piston sat 0.309" in the hole
-Measured 0.251" to top ring on the 3.0 pistons
-The Top (flattop) of the piston measured 0.091" in the hole
I measured the stroke of the engine as 3.950" which turns this engine into a 358 CID. I believe this is because the piston pin hole is not in the same location as the stock pistons.



The buildup:

1977 350 block, NOT decked
3.0 V6 flattop pistons
Stock rods,
Polished crank, new STD bearings (rod and main)
NOS stock size 350 exhaust valves in a 1968 head and the other head is 1970
1970 stock intake. Gotta check the part number but it's an early one.
Next to get bolted on, Hooker Headers and new TA stock replacement water pump

I went to install a brand new melling oil pump booster but the pump would not turn at all with a screwdriver in the distributor hole, as soon as I torqued the oil cover down. Tried with with packed gears with petroleum grease and without, with new gears, with the oringinal gears. No difference. I put It back the stock way for now, with no booster plate but the pump spins freely.

What should I do for the timing of this engine? It's the stock 350 HEI distributor, new cap, rotor, plugs, spark plugs.

Pictures to come :kodak:

 

You need a thicker gasket for oilpump. TA has shim kit for it. What is measurement for piston depth at topdead center?

 

Just ordered the water pump from them, now I have to place another order...oh man these cars :spank:
How come you think there is a clearance issue? Thank you for the info though, found it in their catalog.

Measurement for the piston depth, cylinder #1 at TDC is 0.091".

 

Worn aluminum plate vs new cast iron plate. That's my guess.

 

Having trouble uploading photos from my phone for some reason.

I have almost everything installed back on the engine besides the headers. It looks good and want to share these photos!

Here's another question. The engine did not come with a power steering pump. I have several 1973 Buick 455 pumps and brackets. Will they work on the 350? The bracket has 455 stamped on it but it looks like it might bolt up. I am wondering if the pulley will not line up with the crank pulley.

 

it should bolt to head. It depends on what pulleys and waterpump you have on 350 but line up

 

Thanks Andy, Going to bolt it up this weekend. I am using a stock replacement water pump from TA.

 

I am using a 1971 intake, The number casted behind the carb is B-1236389.

I need to get the choke well and choke itself, the intake didn't have one in it, and I believe these are different from year to year.
Any ideas where to find one? Thanks!

 

I was able to get a '71 choke setup from a board member!

Here's where I am at....

I got the engine installed in the car, everything hooked up, transmission (M-21) bolted up and shifter attached. Plan on breaking the engine in this weekend.

Any tips? I know with the 455s once the dwell and timing is set right, Bring the engine up to 2500 RPM and run for 15 mins.

I made up a tool to fit on the oil pump before I put the distributor in and oil pressure came up quickly!

What should I set the initial timing to? It is the stock 1977 HEI distributor.

 

He couldn't even write a book since he clearly doesn't know the proper use of "your" and "you're".:Smarty:

 

Think I got a few photos to upload. Try to get the other ones up tonight.

 

Hey everyone,

Need some help. I got the engine running this weekend and got the cam broke in. It sounds good however the idle is a little rougher than I expected and the vacuum is low.

I have about 10 inches of manifold with it idling at about 950 RPM. It has the TA 212 in it installed straight up with non ported heads, hooker headers, and It figured out the static compression ratio with the flat top pistons is 9.91:1.

Shouldn't the vacuum be around 15? I think 10 is kind of low for this cam and the car does have power brakes. I checked and have no vacuum leaks.

The idle is a little rough too but the carb is not the proper one to be using so that could be the problem there. I am looking at getting a rebuilt 350 from one of the guys on this board that rebuild and sell them for a mild street build.

 

what is your timing set at? how old is gas in tank? chances are you have a vacuum leak just not where you think.did you replace pcv valve?could be a bad vacuum brake booster so plug that line and see if it changes

 

Hey Andy,

My initial timing is set at 12* advanced. The gas is new because I'm running it out of a can at the moment, I dropped the tank (found the build sheet!) because I wanted to make sure the tank and the lines in the car were all clean.

Yes, PVC valve is brand new and the brake booster is holding a vacuum.

Thanks!