Well if it were me... and I was looking to make a difference in this engine, without spending a ton, I would swap the heads. That is a super smog engine with very low compression. Seriously its one of the worst V8 combos Pontiac ever built! BUT... You can pick up some 350 small valve heads (ie #11,#17,#47) or even some 400 heads with small valves (ie #14, #45, #48) pretty cheap. You will get a solid bump in compression and get a nice bump in hp. You also have a 4bbl intake on it which isn't doing much now, but with a better head will be way happier. Then you can think about better cam. I like the Lunati Voodo 256/262.
Thanks for the reply. I picked up the '74 motor for $400 so I could save a bit on the engine work and get everything else finished so I could enjoy it. Sounds like I should just roll with it how it is for now.
I've got the original 350 sitting in the corner but I need to get it rebuilt or at the least have someone go through it. It's a 68 350 2bbl with 17 heads. When I bought the car I got the motor running temporarily but it had been sitting since 1983. I've gotten 3 quotes to get it rebuilt and they have been anywhere from $3500-$5000 which seems crazy to me LOL.
If I got the #17 heads refurbished would it be ok with these pistons in the '74? I can see the stock '68 pistons have valve reliefs and these do not.
