As easy as it is to get caught in the never ending stream of options for engines, (bigger cams, rollers, alum intakes, head changes, etc, etc.), Im really trying to recreate, if its possible, what my engine/car would have been if the person who bought this 350-vert had decided to get the 400 option instead. My whole goal when I started was to get a 69 Firebird 400 vert.
Given Ive now got the 9790071 block, the other parts Im now going after include 62 or 16 heads, 9794234 intake, & the 7029268 Qjet.
I may deviate as I go along, like the alum radiator I already have, or other engine aesthetics to spice it up, but Im going to try to stay pretty close to stock for engine components, and swapping over from the current YE-350/2v for parts as I need to (pulleys, alternator, etc, etc.). Then I hope to sell off the 350 and the extra heads, etc I accumulated in the process.
According to my cost estimates, by the time Im done, Ill have about $1800 tied into the engine, (not including any machine shop work), with the bulk of the labor being myself. But when done, I should have a freshly rebuilt, fairly close to original, 69 400. Im not planning on racing or ripping it up, but I do want to do the rebuild once, hopefully correctly, and not have to worry about it for years...
Then I can go onto rebuilding the front end (I have the parts, but got sidetracked by the engine), then bodywork...and remaining little stuff.., then that should cover it. I gave myself 3-5 years, and right now Im at year two. Ive already covered interior, electrical, brakes, fuel, rear suspension, and theres little doubt Ill likely revisit some of them again...(you cant own an old car and not keep redoing things...)
Anyway, I appeciate the info/knowledge, and Im sure Ill be asking for more help as I wander through this..
