Hi all,

just 2 say despite being fairly new, i am a chev fan and just basically a real addict.just having a chev patch on my jean holes make the beer taste better!! Having trouble deciding what to look at -

I am planning on building up a local 'muscle' car with a ford cortina 70's XLE body or (pref) a chev kommando here in south africa.I have visited a couple of sites i could import from (edelbrock,383stroker,tandlengines..).com as i doubt we have the options here!anyway, i am not sure what to go 4 (def a small block) as fuel prices here are almost double that of the states. Secondly i will use it for street so torque is king... i am more drawn to a high performance small block screaming under the hood..  ANY ideas welcome.. i have been looking at the stroker engines as i assume their torque ratios are higher (cos of the extra piston travel)... 383 stroker is currently one of my choices... not sure whether to put a blower on top or just leave the carb on there...

Thanks in advance and safe cruising!  

Start out simple. You can always improve the motor as you learn.
Remember, the 350 Chevy engine has more aftermarket parts,and cheaper, than any other engine.
Stroke means torque.
Knowledge will develop more overall performance than a supercharger at half the cost.  

Graham is right about the 350..you can buy a 350 w/190HP all the way up to near 700HP. If you are worried about fuel prices go with a the 350... if you want a stroker for more torque just mildly upgrade to a 355  (Blueprint Engines) sells a dressed out 355 w/ 385HP and 405TQ for close to only 4000. also with fuel prices double the states don't go with a blower unless you want near only 6 or so mpg w/ a blower you'll get no better than 10mpg... check out jegs.com and look through the crate engines and you'll probably find an engine to fit your needs or you can try summitracing.com  

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a 1984 Monte Carlo. It had a 305 Engine in it. I replaced the 305 Engine with a 350 Small Block that I got from one of my wife’s co-workers. This 350 that I put into the Monte has been sitting outside of a vehicle for about three years. The guy said he “greased” and “turned” it regularly.
Along with putting the new motor in, I have also replaced the carburetor and the fuel pump. They are both Edelbrock.
But I have got problems! I finished the car Sunday night, tried to fire it and it wouldn’t even turn over. Fixed that problem. It will turn over now. I can smell the gas. The carburetor shoots flames. The car will back fire. But I can’t get the d@mn thing started! I have checked the timing and it is good! I have tried changing the firing order to a different way that was suggested to me. That didn’t work either!
Does anyone have any suggestions? Can anyone help me out? I have GOT to get this car up and running!  

I have a 1984 Monte Carlo. It had a 305 Engine in it. I replaced the 305 Engine with a 350 Small Block that I got from one of my wife’s co-workers. This 350 that I put into the Monte has been sitting outside of a vehicle for about three years. The guy said he “greased” and “turned” it regularly.
Along with putting the new motor in, I have also replaced the carburetor and the fuel pump. They are both Edelbrock.
But I have got problems! I finished the car Sunday night, tried to fire it and it wouldn’t even turn over. Fixed that problem. It will turn over now. I can smell the gas. The carburetor shoots flames. The car will back fire. But I can’t get the d@mn thing started! I have checked the timing and it is good! I have tried changing the firing order to a different way that was suggested to me. That didn’t work either!
Does anyone have any suggestions? Can anyone help me out? I have GOT to get this car up and running!  

sounds like your still out of time  

i would pull the cap and number 1 plug and start from scratch.make sure #1 is on comp stroke and at tdc.if rotor is aiming at #1 on cap your timing is good to go.then make sure you have a good spark.if thats good make sure carb is not dumping fuel.if thats ok check carb squirters look down carb and pump gas.also make sure firing order is on.if all these things check ok engine will start unless major engine damage  

hold your foot to the floor and crank