Minnesota Motorhead

Photo: It might not look like much, but this budget-built small block makes respectable power using mostly second-hand parts.

It’s easy to go broke building an engine, especially if you’re starting from scratch. But with a little patience and a lot of searching, affordable performance is not out of reach.

My first engine build is a testament to that. It’s not as cheap as it possibly could be, but it is a budget-built mill that manages to crank out 417 hp at 6,100 rpm and 386 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm using mostly second-hand parts.

The engine, which I’ve dubbed the Thrifty 350, has been six years in the making. It was finally completed this month and it will soon replace the stock 305 in my ‘84 Monte Carlo SS. Check back for details on the build and the swap and visit the multimedia page to see a video of the 350 roaring on the engine Dyno.

November 24th, 2009 | Articles, Chevrolet, Technical Articles