MadMike's 350 Saga
When I bought my 1980Z it came with the stock engine (195hp 350). While this pile was a lot quicker than the 6 banger Camaro I was used to, it became evident that the car could use some more help. Around this time the 350 IROC's and the Buick Grand Nationals were roaming.
One day I decided that I'd soup up the stock 350. I asked my dad for his advice and he said "leave it alone". Yeah, well I couldn't. So I bought a bunch of cheap speed parts... headers, a holley carb, an intake and a camshaft. I brought my car over to my friends house across town (assuming he'd help me if/when I needed it). I tore my engine apart in his front yard. I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I was able to get the car reassembled after a month of screwing around and to my amazement the car "ran".
After a couple months of dicking with this cludge job, I spun some bearings (blew the engine).
After observing my father working on straigtening out my disaster, I realized he knew how to work on cars (if he felt like it). Now I got a fancy blown up Z in the driveway. It's time to do this right. Me & my dad pulled the 350 engine out and rebuilt it. After pulling the engine, we realized this thing had been previously rebuilt. The car only had 40,000 miles on the odometer.
This engine ran good. Looking back at what we did this engine was probably the equivalent of a slightly warmed up 245hp L48. This would have been due to the camshaft and pistons we put in.
I don't recall what happened, but this engine came unglued sometime in 1986. Most likely because I was beating the piss out of it.
I got to thinking... maybe I should just have someone who knows what they're doing build me something.
Somehow I got turned on to "Dons Speed Shop" in Newington CT. I went down to his shop to check things out. It was a small hole in the wall garage with speed equipment and trophies all over the place. I told him I wanted some bad-ass engine. I wanted a big block... he said "you don't want a big block... cause nobody will race you". I want something potent. Bad-ass... 400hp... He was looking at me... and he said - "yeah...400hp... yeah.... I know what you want".
We came to the conclusion this whole mess would cost $2500. What I'd be getting would be the equivalent of potent LT1 (without the solid cam). He put some bad-ass Isky camshaft into the engine along with a single plane intake.
When I pulled out of his shop the 1st time with my new engine I nearly shit my pants. I figured I needed to break the engine in so I drove it like a candy ass for a couple hours. Soon after it began to run like crap, skipping and farting. I stepped on it and cleaned the engine out and it began running a lot better and I came to the conclusion that this bitch wanted to run, so the "break in" period was over. This engine liked to scream.
Then one night at approximately 7500 RPM while screaming away from some happless 350 formula guy I detonated for a second or two and then KA-BANG. Blub blub blub and then (silence). Crap, this sounds expensive. I had the "NASCAR" caliber cloud billowing from behind my car. When I finished coasting (about 7 miles) and stopped on the closest offramp, I had oil dripping from my tail pipes. I had anti-freeze splashed all down the side of my car.
In hindsight, this was extremely dangerous. I was lucky to not have scattered my ass all over the interstate.
I had my car towed home. Being young and energetic I knew a kid across the street had a big block engine. We decided we'd trade - my broken 350 for his big block. He knew the car was bad-ass so he wanted the parts. I pulled the engine out of my Z and wheeled it over to his house. I wheeled the big block back to my house. A couple hours later, he came over and told me "I can't take this". The 350 was destroyed. I took my 350 back and gave him his big block back.
I had taken a financial beating. If I recall correctly, I sold my heads (with piston material welded into the combustion chambers) and the intake back to Don. Somehow, my dad came into possession of whatever was left over (block, rods, crank). It was stashed in the corner of his garage where it sat for many years.
I went and got a 454 engine for my 1980 Z28 in 1989.
Several years go by. I thought about the 350. I asked my dad if he still had my old engine. He said "yup". I asked what he was going to do with it. He said "Oh... I don't know....". I asked if I could have it back. "nope. it's mine". I'll buy it from you.... "nope. it's mine". This happened 2 or 4 times over the course of the years.
Fast forward to 2006. My parents are moving. I helped my dad clean out his garage and there was the 350 over in the corner with stuff stacked on it. I commented on the engine and my dad was like "yeah, take it if you want it... where am I going to put it?". I took a look to see specifically what type of engine this was. All I could see was the casting # (3970010).
By now I'm familiar with engines, decoding things, etc... I always assumed the engine I had was from a truck. I knew it was a potent engine and I knew it was a 4 bolt main and that it had a steel crank.
I noticed the block was a 10/20 (high nickle) job. sweet. Then I spun the engine around and checked the code. CTG. Holy chit batman... this ain't no truck engine. and the partial vin... 70S... holy chit... 1970, St. louis... this bitch is either from an Impala or a Corvette. upon further review... CTG is a 1970 ZQ3 300hp base corvette engine.
I ran the block over to my house and as I wheeled it into my garage I reunited the block with the Z. "Hey, remember me?". Now the Z has a ZZ4 engine but it's current condition is questionable. I believe I'm going to build this 350 as a backup in case the ZZ4 is cocked up.
I'm in the process of having the engine components inspected and protected for storage.
Engine pictures
Carnage pictures for your enjoyment.
The ZZ4
This engine was "special delivered". It had failed on someone else and was given up for dead.
It was up to me to determine why it failed, and hopefully fix it. I determined it had blown a head gasket, at least.
I tore the engine down and inspected as much as I could.
I solved the head-gasket problem by selling the ZZ4 heads and bolting on a set of fast-burn heads. Notice the rust... that's
from sitting outside waiting for it's date with the sledgehammer.
Internal Engine views: bottom end | Roller cam lifter valley | one of the elves
