How to Build a High Power Small Block Chevrolet Engine

If you are in the need of a high-power small-block Chevrolet engine, but can't find what you are looking for, you always have the option of building one. By building it yourself, you can tailor it to your needs and specifications.

Things You'll Need

• 350 CID Chevy engine, with four bolt mains
• Engine stand
• Basic set of hand tools
• Steel crank
• High-performance cam shaft
• Lightweight pistons and rods
• High-performance heads
• Degree wheel
• Dial indicator
• Intake manifold
• Four-barrel carburetor
• Distributor
• Torque wrench
• Small-block Chevy instruction manual

Instructions

1. Purchase and lay out all materials needed for building your high-power small-block Chevrolet engine.

2. Place the engine on the engine stand, and strip the engine down to the bare block.

3. Take the bare block along with the steel crank, the high-performance cam shaft and a set of lightweight pistons and rods to a machine shop. They will then clean, inspect and machine the bare block--bore cylinders, deck the block and align bore cam and main journals. They will also set the steel crank, cam shaft, pistons and rods in place for tolerances.

4. Return the engine to the engine stand and install the heads, making sure that the push rods and rocker arms are compatible with the cam shaft geometry.

5. Install the cam shaft gear and drive chain, making sure that they are timed properly.

6. Install the degree wheel on the crank shaft, and install a pointer for the degree wheel so that you can set the degree wheel to zero at the number one cylinder at TDC. Then tighten up the crank bolt to lock it down.

7. Use the dial indicator on the intake valve lifter of the number one cylinder. Rotate the engine and read the lift of the cam shaft. Note the degrees and check it against the card that came with the cam shaft for the correct reading. Move the dial indicator to the exhaust lifter and check the duration of the exhaust cycle. If everything looks okay at this point, you can continue. However, if you are not getting the reading that is listed on the cam card,stop and recheck what you’ve done.

8. Install the intake manifold and the carburetor. Bring up the number one cylinder TDC, and install the distributor so that the rotor is pointing at the number one on the cap. Install the left and right valve covers. Mount the flywheel, the cam gear cover and water pump, and rotate the engine 180 degrees. Install the oil pump and oil pan. Rotate the engine so that the carburetor is up. Install eight spark plugs, one per cylinder, and plug wires according to firing order.

9. Use a ratchet and socket on the crank shaft to pull the engine through four complete revolutions. This will insure that nothing is binding or hitting each other. If everything is moving freely, the engine is ready for installation.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that a four-cycle engine makes two complete revolutions per cycle, or 720 degrees.

• Always refer to the manual when any questions arise.