Name Change

Yes I changed the name of this blog. Due mostly to the fact that I can't decide which direction to go with the project. I now have a 350 four bolt main block in addition to all the other stuff I have been collecting. The 350 as it turns out makes the project cheaper. Pistons are available from Summit Racing for a ton less than the pistons I would need for any of the other projects. I can also run a stock sized rod to save even more. I'm figuring I can get the rotating assembly together for just under $400. This setup will give me 9:1 to 9.2:1 compression, great for street use, and still safe to do a mild turbo setup. (not that I will but I could)

I used this Compression Calculator and the data:

4.03 bore

3.48 stroke

4.2 gasket bore

0.04 gasket thickness

70cc combustion chamber volume

-6cc piston relief

0.025 deck clearance

Of course thinner gaskets are available, as are thicker ones, I just used the most common thickness. I could use a 0.015 and bump the compression to over 9.5:1 or I could use a 0.06" thick gasket and lower the compression to 8.66:1. That's even better for a turbo. But from my years of reading about V8 Fieros, a turbo really isn't needed. I've been told that the current trans will barely be able to live behind the V8, let alone one with a turbo. The Camquest program says with the combo I'm looking at and a N+L79 cam (updated version of the old Corvette L79 cam) I'll have around 355hp. One HP per CID works for me. Yes I could use a bigger cam and push 375hp, but the N+L79 is supposed to have a decent idle, and let's face facts, I'm getting old and want a car that idles as smooth as possible. By the way, the 9.5:1 compression bumps the HP to 365.