Questions on engine combinations

[ReedZ]

Hey all,

It\'s been awhile since i\'ve been on here. Pretty much haven\'t really been on since i sold my s10 last March. I\'ve missed it.

Guess i never lost the bug though, cuz i\'m likely getting a new one this spring and i have a couple of questions that i\'d like to get some opinions on.

The S10 i a plan on getting currently has the following set up

350 .030 over with flat top pistons, HO/fuel injected 305 heads, edelbrock intake, 750 holley double pumper, rebuilt 700R4 tranny with b&m shift kit as well as corvette servo\'s, etc., posi rear end with 3.73 gears, dual exhaust using camaro manifolds 2.5\" pipes

It also has a large cam in it, that neither I or the current owner knows what size it is. Just that it is large and that it is hard to keep going. It\'s a dog off the line, but super fast from 50km and up (Yes, km, not miles). You basically have to drive with 2 feet. Stock stall converter in the tranny.

My question is, is when i get this truck, i am wondering what i should be trying to do first. Change to a smaller cam? Change the current stall converter to handle the current cam?

Are the 305 heads that i have ok for the time being? When i do decide to do work on it, i\'d like to do one thing at a time.

What should be the first things i do? Just not sure what i should tackle first.

I plan to basically drive this on the street on weekends to play in. No track use intended.



As always, i value and appreciate all of your opinions/suggestions.



Thanks in advance.



ReedZ

[soopertruper]

If it was me, I would start with the converter, there was a post recently about what size torque converter for the street and the general consensus was 2500 stall. If your still not happy go with the cam. You should really find out what cam you have before you start though.

[ZR1BLAZER]

i would say do a cam swap. something kinda powerful but something that matches the converter. if you enjoy the power it makes now and its a dog on the bottom end with 305 H.O. heads then do a cam swap and you should be happy. if you want more power across the board i say a set of vortec heads, cam and intake. but still some thing that matches the converter. that way you wont have to pull the complete engine just to swap converters. + a higher stall for a 700 isnt cheap. JMO

[ReedZ]

Thanks for the input. That was exactly what i was looking for.



Next question which has been asked probably a billion times.

If i get a new cam, is there one that i could use for the time being with the HO 305 heads and then use if i upgrade to a set of vortecs and intake? Keeping in mind i would be sticking with the stock converter.



In the meantime, i\'m still trying to find out what cam the motor currently has. If i can find out, i\'ll post the info.



Thanks,

ReedZ

[NoMoore]

Sounds like a converter would be a great move. Figure out where you really start making power and choose accordingly.



I would be tempted to leave the cam thats in there alone for now. Heads would be my biggest concern. Even some cast iron darts would be great.

[ChevyKiD_69]

me i would start with the converter then heads like nomore said. nick

[ReedZ]

Thanks Fella\'s

I believe I will do just that. Once I figure out the cam size, i\'m going to buy the appropriate converter.

Are there any recommendations on converter brand?



Cheers

ReedZ

[ReedZ]

Well,

We don\'t know the cam size. We tried to see if there was paper work, box, etc. Nothing.

All we know is that we believe it to be a large one, as it won\'t really idle.

Is there another way to try to figure out how or what size converter i should be getting, short of pulling the engine apart to pull the cam and look at it?



Thanks

[soopertruper]

Here\'s what I would do: If the cam is really that big, you probably don\'t want it for the street. Find something that will work in your engine combo, get a 2000 or a 2500 stall depending on the cam you go with and enjoy. Bigger isn\'t always better!!!!

[grimpuppy]

A converter will tame the cam some at idle. When you are sitting at a stop light does it keep trying to surge forward? A bigger stall will stop this and let it idle a little better. If you know nothing about the cam, I would start from a dead stop in low gear. Stomp the gas and watch the tach. When you feel it really start to pull, you are in the ball park of the stall you need. What gear is in the rear end? If it is a crappy gear, you may want to look at steeping up to a steeper gear before you do a converter. The rear gear will make a difference on the stall you go with. The order I would go in is rear gear, converter, then heads. After you get all that if you do not like the cam, you can just buy a new one that matches the weight, gear, heads and converter.

[ReedZ]

Thanks for the replies fella\'s

The rear end gear is 3.73 lsd

Do you believe i should be trying to go with 4:10\'s?

When at a light, it does try to jump, you have to have one foot on the brake and one foot on the gas to keep it idling properly. I\'ll have to wait until the snow melts before we can pull it out of the barn to check on your suggestion of looking at the RPM\'s, but if i recall, i think it used to kick in between 2700-3000rpm.



I just want to make sure I don\'t either undersize or oversize the converter.



thx

[soopertruper]

I would think 3.73\'s are fine with the lower first gear of the 700r4