Greetings to all as this is my first post. I recently purchased an '87 K5 w/ a 350 TBI and a Muncie 465 gearbox. I want to keep the manual for offroading but plan to use it for primarily street use while increasing the low end torque to at least 400+ ft-lbs over the 2800 to 5500 rpm range. Does anyone have ideas for accomplishing this by keeping the vehicle streetable and maintaining the 350 cid? I'm planning on installing aluminum heads, aftermarket intake/carb, headers etc and just need some advice on what has been tried successfully. I've got 35" tires and a lift kit but don't plan on mud bogging it. Good offroad and peppy acceleration between o and 60 while not turning it into a gas hog that I'm reluctant to drive. Can I have all of this in my dream truck?

 

Welcome to the forum!

I know you said you wanted to keep the 350cid but if i were you i would turn it into a 383 stroker. I did quite a bit of research on this topic a few years back and you can make much more power out of the stroker for not too much more work. But if not aluminum dished pistons are always nice as they cut down on the rotating mass. A new camshaft can unlock some more power when combined with new lifters, rockers, and springs.

If you do end up lifting it, you will want to re-gear the axles to keep stock or close to stock ratios so that you can still get decent gas mileage. With an upgraded motor your gas mileage will depend on how you drive it. If you drive it nice you could probably get mid to high teens, if you're mean to it probably 10-12.

Thats my

Derek

 

With what you have listed that you already plan on adding, a mild cam will put you right around 400lb ft of torque. Lucky your manual slushbox won't eat up as much power as an auto would, so you shouldn't see as much loss from the crank to the tires.

Are you planning a complete rebuild? If so a piston that will put you around 9 to 9.5:1 compression ratio would be a nice addition. The added compression along with a bumpstick with more lift and duration and a good flowing set of alumni,inum heads will it you above your goal. I would personally save Money in the aluminum heads and get a set of the Scoggin Dickey worked vortec heads.

oh yea, welcome!