Newbie to classic Cars

[garrett23]

I just became the proud owner of a '69 Chevelle SS. I am just now getting interested in cars and am fairly new at all of this. Any help with any questions I have would be geatly appreciated. It has a 355 with a 350 motor bored 30 (not sure what that means). Has a Holly 390 carb, nit sure how many barrels that is. Fireball Cam 1.6 roller Chrome Push rods. Other than that I am not sure what all is in it. It is a gift from my girlfriend and she doesn't know too much about cars. If there is anyone with knowledge and is willing to have their brains picked by a newbie please drop me a line. Thanks.

[DGB454]

Welcome to the forum Garrett. Theres a lot of knowlege floating around here so hopefully you will find the answers you are looking for.

[72 chevelleconv.]

A 350 cubic inch that had where on the cylender walls is machined out to fit new pistons into it that will be good for clearence. they took out .030 or thirty thousanths in each cylender. this makes the cubic inch go up to maby 5 cubic inches, this is why the guy said its a 355 cu inch now. As for the carb, take off the air cleaner and look at the top of the carb. if you see two rectangles on the top one will have a plate that will pivit to 90 degrees with your finger stuck into it. and the other will be open. this is a four barrel. if yoy have only one rectangle, this is a 2 barrel carb. as for the cam shaft.... this is the most important thing for horse power. it lets the valves open to a set height and time to let fule into the cylinder. on a stock motor, just changeing this alone, is worth a lot of horse power. Good luck!!!!!! learn about your car and have fun fixing it.
Remember, some person once put it togeather with the same nuts and bolts that you will take it apart with. if they can do it you can.........