Planning an LS Swap for your car? Then you’ll know the absolute prevalence of using the Chevrolet 350 Small Block Engine, also known as the V8 Engine, as a replacement engine for a project car. Its reliability, durability, and powerful performance have caused this Chevy engine to remain one of the most popular engine blocks in the 20th century.
The Chevrolet 350 is essentially a powerhouse engine locked in a 350 cubic inch block, but even that doesn’t spare it from problems that occur to other engines in the market.
In this article, we will explore what makes the Chevy 350 small block engine such a reliable engine swap choice and what to do once you need to get some replacement parts.
Chevrolet’s Enduring 350 Power
As we’ve mentioned, the Chevy 350 small block V8 engine is a powerful modular engine for the car project owner. You can expect it to range from 4.3L versions to as high as 5.7L (and even 6.6L) in the more modern versions of the engine. While it may vary on the year, make, and model, you can expect horsepower (HP) to range from 145 to above 370.
The amount of torque generated (around 380 pounds per foot) makes this a great option for small trucks and towing vehicles. Despite relatively lower fuel economy, users of the Chevrolet 350 small block V8 swear by its performance when using good quality fuels.
Even after 52 years since its first inception, the 350 remains a powerful engine when placed in comparison to its contemporaries.
The 350 Engine Reliability
A popular claim to bolster the Chevrolet 350 small block V8 engine’s reliability is when a 1991 Chevrolet was able to travel a million miles without needing any major repairs to the engine block proper.
In order to better guarantee quality with all their manufactured engines, General Motors uses special RPI codes (also known as Regular Production Option) to identify its authentic engines. You can see these codes near the cylinder head, though the alternator on the passenger side may obscure it a bit.
The 350 Flexibility
The Chevrolet 350 remains popular not just because of its raw power output but also because of its overall flexibility with different car types and systems. While Chevrolet obviously takes advantage of the 350 engines for its own line of vehicles, there remains a large constituent of drivers and car collectors who swap out engines from older vehicles with the Chevy 350 V8 small block engine. You might even find it on non-road vehicles such as boats and some custom air vehicles.
Moreover, the 350 Chevy’s prevalence in the market has allowed many third-party parts vendors to supply the necessary components you’ll need to tune up or repair your V8 as you need to.
Whether you’re road-tripping across the US or you find yourself in your neighborhood town in. need quick maintenance, you won’t have trouble getting the parts you need.
Cylinder Heads and the Chevrolet 350
As with any engine, though, there’s a need to replace key components of the engine block.
While regular maintenance can alleviate many headaches down the line, there may be some aspects of usage or general wear and tear that can cause unexpected damage to important components.
One of the more notable parts that an engine will most need attending to will be the cylinder heads, which essentially house the heart of the engine properly.
Cylinder heads are normally found on top of the engine and house components such as intake and exhaust valves and the combustion chamber. It’s here that key engine operations occur, so ensuring that this part remains structurally sound is important in keeping your engine operating soundly and safely.
If you start experiencing some odd discharges or engine misfires, you may need to think about replacing the head if minor repairs prove ineffective.
If you find that you’ll need to replace your Chevy 350 cylinder head due to any number of reasons, Allied Motor Parts has just the cylinder head for you. Their heavy Chevy 350 5.7L V8 SBC cylinder head is a high-quality cylinder head replacer for your vehicle, with the part being compatible with most 5.7L Chevy 350 block engines.
Check our collections of Chevy Cylinder Heads:
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