limits of a 2 bolt

[92zcamaroperson]

how much power would you say a 2 bolt roller block could handle? I should be picking up a 350 block from 92 z this weekend. Curious as to how potent i could make this thing without trying to convert it to a 4 bolt. Or will i be limited by the stock crank first? Anyways $250 for the bare block bored .40 over. New main bearing, cam bearings, and freeze plugs. Polished stock crank. It is painted black. All i gotta do is have the deck plained or at least cleaned up and then start sticking stuff in there. It will be a nice little project. Then i just won a bid on ebay for one of those converted lt1 intake manifolds. Got for 127.50 and 20 to ship. I think it might need a little more modification but it will do. It also came with the fuel rails.

[Xenostalgia]

Depends how much money you put in. I've seen a 97hp honda engine crank out 1400hp cause they turbo'd and nitroused the hell out of a really built up engine,, it took tons of money (50k probably)

[92zcamaroperson]

Im not asking what the max power a small block can make is. 2 bolt mains on a regular sbc can only support so much power. 4 bolt mains make it stronger. I think i could get 400-425hp without worrying about the mains. Although i know a guy whos got a 383 lt1 who has got to be putting out over 450hp and it has 2 bolt mains. But it is an lt1 block and i dont know if the alloys are different or something. Of course hes got forged internals. So maybe if i get a forged crank ill be ok.

[silicon212]

Reality check: A factory 4-bolt is actually slightly weaker than a well-prepped 2-bolt block under certain situations. If you're in need of a 4-bolt block for high-performance (such as nitrous, forced induction etc), then start with a strong 2-bolt block and have your machine shop fit aftermarket splayed-outer-bolt 4-bolt caps on it. The outer bolts that splay outward use the strength of the side of the block and oil pan rails, while the factory 4-bolt setup removes critical material from the main bearing web itself.

[FormulaLT1]

A 2 bolt main is NOT stronger than a 4 bolt main but a 2 bolt splayed to a 4 bolt main is stronger than a factory 4 bolt main. However unless your making power in the 4 digit area. a 2 bolt should hold up just fine unless your getting some pretty heavy knock.

[92zcamaroperson]

excellent. And since im not aiming at going anywhere near the 4 digit range(though not an entirely bad idea) I should be all good. But 4 digits seems like a very high number for a stock 2 bolt to hold. So with a factory block my limitation is the stock cast crank. What are some recomended modifications that i can do to the block to make it better. By better i mean more durable. Like sleeves or something.

[silicon212]

NASCAR Nextel Cup engines produce almost 800 HP from a factory block with no strengthening modifications - food for thought.

[92zcamaroperson]

factory 4 bolt? or 2 bolt? Also it depends on what year the blocks were manufactured doesnt it. For emissions purposes they lightened the blocks in later years thus making them thinner.