355 small block in 1988 Monte Carlo SS

This is an emissions legal motor that passed Maryland's fairly strict emissions standards with flying colors.


What Description Part number Approximate price
BLOCK Chevy 350 small block 4-bolt 0.030" over #3970010 casting Free
CRANK factory 350 N/A Free
CONNECTING RODS factory 350 N/A Free
OIL PUMP Summit HV with sump welded SES-3-60-08-001 $40
OIL PUMP SHAFT Melling, steel, HD MEL-IS55E $9
PISTONS Keith Black 9.1:1 w/64cc N/A can't find
CAM CRANE CompuCam 2050 272/284 .454/.480 w/ lifters CRN-114142 $135
VALVE SPRINGS CRANE matched springs for the 2050 cam (1.255 OD, .870 ID) CRN-99848-16 $65
PUSHRODS Comp Cams High Energy (hardened) 7.794 inch CCA-7812-16 $35
TIMING CHAIN Cloyes True Roller (double) CLO-9-3100 $62
HARMONIC DAMPER Summit OEM 6 3/4" SUM-161350 $60
OIL PAN GM (needed to clear TES headers) #465221 $80
HEADS World Products Sportsman II, 64cc, 200cc intake runners, 2.02/1.60 valves N/A $795
GUIDE PLATES Comp Cams (came with the heads) N/A Free
ROCKERS Comp Cams 1.52:1 roller tip CCA-1412-16 $130
VALVE COVERS no-name, chrome, low profile, perimeter bolt N/A $30
INTAKE Edelbrock Performer aluminum EGR EDL-3701 $140
CARB factory L69 CCC Q-Jet rebuilt by The Carburetor Shop (stage II) N/A Free
FUEL PUMP GM factory (from L69) N/A Free
HOSES GoodYear Hi-Miler (blue) GTR-5002 $60
TIMING COVER AC Delco, chrome, with timing tab N/A N/A
SPARK PLUGS AC Delco R44TS (0.035" gap) N/A N/A
THERMOSTAT Stant 180 degree heavy duty N/A N/A
OIL Pennzoil 10W30 N/A N/A
OIL FILTER AC Delco PF1218 N/A N/A
BOLTS mostly stainless N/A about $25
GASKETS all Fel Pro N/A N/A
AIR FILTER K&N N/A N/A

The next time I rebuild this motor, I will consider a roller cam and see if I can get away with a little more compression. I'd like something right about 9.7:1, but at least 9.5:1. I'm fairly happy with the heads and cam, though I know the Sportsmans need help on the exhaust side. I know that since I built this motor better heads have gone on the market, but I already have these, and I have no specific complaints other than the weight of iron vs. aluminum. I will probably have them ported just a bit, and maybe port match it and the intake. I'd also absolutely change out my Summit harmonic balancer as I found out later that it's not rated for high RPM. Maybe I'll just freshen it up and add the roller cam. Or maybe I'll go nuts and make a 383 out of it. Or how about a 355 with a centrifugal blower? Who knows... I've got time. It might also become an fuel injected (TPI) based engine.