Supercharged 327 or 350/355 91’ S10

[c1500sbc]

I have a 91’ S10 single cab. It currently has a stock TBI bottom end 350 with some Flotek heads and a small GM performance ca
. Rear diff is a posi with 3.73 and a 700r4.

Thinking of building a 327 or 350 and adding a small roots blower. 177 or 144. It would match a 95 Sierra with a 383/177 in it.

I’ve been looking for a while for a bare 350 block or a cheap take out. With all the LS swaps going on you would think they would be a dime a dozen. Not so, at least not in my area. Quite a few 327’s, though, an while I’ve never built or ran one people sure do seem to I’ve them.

I could just throw the small blower on this current engine but I’m not sure how well the stock cast piston will do. They are not gapped or anything. In this light of a truck I think 5-6lbs would be plenty. Not trying to take it to the track. That 700r4 may be a little questionable as well .

[miniv8]

When given options, always go for the bigger blower.
Have fun making custom pulleys, start with low enough gearing and just creep up on it as the plugs allow.

[F-BIRD'88]

Consider doing a 305. Many good running take outs.
Often given free. Easy to get low compression ratio and more head fliw with various 350 heads. You are limited to a 1.94" intake valve.

-Bare 350 block-...
A lot of these bare blocks get sold off because they have an issue that does not make them a good candidate for a build.

I look for and prefer a whole stock good used engine that runs as a start point wether 305, or bigger cid for budget street supercharging. All of them respond to mods and all are capable of GLH perf when blown.
Get a whole assembled engine that still runs.

[F-BIRD'88]

What about moving the 177 to the 350 S-10 and getting a more serious blower for the 383.

EG: A The Blower Shop (TBS) 192 billet blower.

[KnightEngines]

The cast pistons in the current 350 will cope just fine with 5-8psi.
If the motor has some miles on it the ring gap is probably ok, but if it was mine I'd pull it down for a quick freshen & set gap at .026 top & .028 second.

The tune is the make or break for cast pistons, many years ago I put 14psi into a 308 Holden with stock replacement cast pistons & .028/.030 ring gaps, lived just fine.

[F-BIRD'88]

You can take advantage of your Water Methanol injection system to reduce your fear of cast piston failure.
I have never hurt a piston with power.
The only piston failure I ever had was from detonation.

[Tom68]

If you're keeping the 700 you might be better to build a revver rather than a torquer.
But really the Trans has to go.

[F-BIRD'88]

IMHO the Flotek heads are just like your ProMax heads. A good as cast head that is begging for hand porting.
All these various 200cc port as cast Sbc heads are like that . You the end user needs to finish the job with a good hand porting job. You can make very good powerfull Sbc cylinder heads out of all these heads.

[Alaskaracer]

I'd do a 565" deal with a 14/71 or a Procharger F4X-140.....but that's just me......

[F-BIRD'88]

If you're keeping the 700 you might be better to build a revver rather than a torquer.
But really the Trans has to go.

Agree. I would not invest a dime into the th700R4 trans either.. Get a TH350 and a fun street high stall converter.
With 3.73:1 gearz you don't need a overdrive trans behind a hot rodded SBC..
Sell it to someone you don't like at first oppertunity. to help fund better stuff for your S-10.

[forphorty]

If you're not planning to take it to the track and have no specific et goals in mind, it is hard to give recommendations without knowing what your expectations are.

[BOOT]

Consider doing a 305. Many good running take outs.
Often given free.

I wish LOL everything is overpriced junk round here. Salvage yards wanted $700 for a LT(the only sbc v8 they had and wouldn't work, crooked sob's) back when I bought my Vortec reman crate from Jegs before those went up A lot.

[F-BIRD'88]

Why would you ever shop for a 305 sbc at a salvage yard or anywhere else retail which has to maje a profit off you when there are tons of them in peoples garages and out in fields in various vehicles?
People will give these engibes away just to get rid of them. All you need do is pick them up.
I even got one delivered , for FREE. its like new inside.
Don't over think this. Don't overbuild it. $$$$.

[F-BIRD'88]

Is this S-10 using the mid length easy fit S-10 swap headers?

[rfoll]

If you're keeping the 700 you might be better to build a revver rather than a torquer.
But really the Trans has to go.

Agree. I would not invest a dime into the th700R4 trans either.. Get a TH350 and a fun street high stall converter.
With 3.73:1 gears you don't need a overdrive trans behind a hot rodded SBC..
Sell it to someone you don't like at first opportunity. to help fund better stuff for your S-10.

By 1987 they had all of the bugs out of the 700r4/4l60. I'm not sure what the objections are, this is not a mega hp deal at 5 lb. of boost. That being said, I can attest to the durability of a turbo 350, just add the high strength out shell for the roller clutch.