355 Project build

[DKmotors]

Hello all, this is DKmotors and we would like to introduce you to the beginning of our 355 engine project. First and foremost this project was undertaken with several, specific goals in mind.
-The engine must be over-designed to be reliable at its specific output and beyond
-Be street friendly and economical
-capable of reliability and performance in racing applications

While these three are connected and all very important, it is the last two that will truly shape the character of this motor.

What we have started with is a L05 Smallblock 350. For those not familiar with this engine, it is a later first generation version of the venerable Chevy Smallblock. L05s were 2 bolt blocks (further on this later) that were used in trucks, caprices, camaros, etc. The performance of these motors is for the most part underwhelming! While most point fault to the high swirl port heads, they have not even looked at the cam yet! The cam is quoted somewhere a mildly above .350 lift and 170 duration. Appalling!

This extremely conservative 350 is a great starting point in our minds. The 2 bolt mains are without a doubt a highly underestimated bottom end, as well as the high swirl cylinder heads. Many of you will probably be surprised as to how "little" we will change on this engine, it may even appear as a glorified rebuild. However as of now there will be no fancy aftermarket aluminum heads or even vortec heads.

Lets get on to what we are creating-
The block will be bored .030 over to yield a 355
The complete rotating assembly is being computer balanced
The newly balanced and lightened rods and crank will then be cryo treated
Aftermarket Studs will be used throughout the block, heads, and conrods
Cylinders and mains are being align bored and honed
A cap girdle is being added to the mains
Heres where it gets interesting
Factory 193 casting heads are being utilized-
We are porting and polishing these along with some port reshaping and un-shrouding of the valves. Naturaly the heads will be rebuild with 5 angle valve jobs, screw in studs, and LT4 valve springs added.
A LT1 cam will be used
-It sounds outrageous, however we find the stock LT1 cam to be a great choice. Over the factory L05 cam lift and duration will skyrocket but compared to most aftermarket cams, a factory corvette cam is not exactly a fire breather. What we like about this cam is the high LSA (lobe separation angle) The choice of this cam really personifies this motor. Performance wise it will create a real stump puller. The best way to describe it is, the motor would make an excellent tow rig motor or autocross motor because it will have such a wide power band. Rather than having to downshift to drop back into the power band (something you really never should have to do with a smallblock hah!) or upshift because you have exceeded it; this motor will pull from bottom to top end. Note that lift at the valve will be higher than a factory LT1 as per the use of 1.6 or 1.7:1 roller lifters.

To top it all off the motor will run a 600-650cfm 4 barrel and be supported by a mappable distributor less ignition system, allowing you to tune the ignition curve with a laptop.

I hope this giant writeup somehow introduced us to you. We would love to hear some questions and comments now and as we updated the build; including pictures.

[jdmccright]

Sounds interesting. Let us know when the crate version is available. If I'd known earlier, I'dve offered mine as a testbed.

[DKmotors]

Actually this motor is being built for sale. When it is completed it will be broken in, tuned, and tested on a dyno. If you would like this exact motor, a variation of it, or simply some top end or bottom end work we are fully capable. While we can build specific specification motors, we specialize in designing a motor for your application. We thrive on you telling us what you need and then figuring what you want. So certainly a bare longblock version can be produced quickly.