Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific - 1st dyno run on cheapo engine.

So my last engine threw a rod and I needed the car back on the road asap. So, I picked this one off of craigslist for $400. I have no clue what cam is in it and I cant read the casting # on the heads but I do know that the valves are 1.94 & 1.5"


So where do I begin to start making more power with the current set up? How can I make it run better with very little $?


Heres what it put down to the wheels. Not bad for tha price but it still needs help.
http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp238/camaroboricua/dyno.jpg

Better intake, camshaft(roller is best), headers, all the usual to wake up a engine to make it breath easier.

It's really hard to recommend anything without knowing the heads and compression. But that is impressive for a $400 small block. Right around 300 fwhp.

Better intake, camshaft(roller is best), headers, all the usual to wake up a engine to make it breath easier.

Sorry, I forgot to mention what intake and carb I have.
Im using an edelbrock perf. rpm intake with a matching 650 cfm carb. I have mac mid length headers going into a mac y pipe with a dynomax bullet right after the y pipe. The distributor is an MSD streetfire HEI.

I have a comp cams XE284H that I bought a while ago but I think it would be too much for these heads. They are ooolllldddd!!!
I was thinking about going with a magnum 280H that way I can swap it in now.

Go with a performer RPM, full length headers, X pipe (if you can dont mind it), holley carbs usually do better for me.

Hes already got the performer rpm Zane, but he does need a holley style carb.

If you notice, it looks like it starts to loose a lot of power at 4600 rpm's. Wouldnt it usually start decreasing in torque but keep climbing in HP? What do you think could be causing this?


As far as the full length headers go I dont think they would fit b/c the slave cyl for the t-5 looks like it would be in the way. Thats why I ended up going with the mids instead.

Oops, i only saw perf. intake. The problem is the small cam that is in it, not made for any kind of RPM and power.

It amy not be all the cam, it could just be the fact that old school sbc heads fucking suck! I remember trying to make power with a set of double humps and they would breath nicely to about 4800rpm but after that they were done even with a pretty healthy cam.

I think it might have something to do with fuel or timing b/c I nailed it in 2nd and it spun the wheels till right at 4600 then it stopped pulling kind of like if it hit a rev limiter(which I dont have).
Then I gave it a lil more fuel in the carb and this time it spun in 1st right up to 6k without hesitation. I havent gotten a chance to get on it again but Maybe it did help a little. I wouldnt doubt that the heads are extremely limiting my power though.

It should not have trouble hitting 5500 RPM in gear if everything is right, wont make much power at 5500 but it should go.