LT1-350 Bracket Race Motor for 2005

What to do in 2005? Pull "Thumper" and replace with 350 LT1.
Now in the 11's all natural
60' 1.665 1/8 7.523@92.86 1/4 11.678@119.43 with BRE cam 12-01-2007
60' 1.687 1/8 7.658@89.60 1/4 11.980@115.23 with Crane/GM 846 cam and no exhaust ATCO 2005
60' 1.741 1/8 7.876@87.20 1/4 12.314@112.59 with Crane/GM 846 cam and Borla exhaust ATCO 2005

Historical best ET from various versions of this LT1 350:
60' 1.727 1/8 7.949@86.97 1/4 12.424@110.38 with Crane/GM 846 cam Summer 2004
60' 1.726 1/8 7.920@86.64 1/4 12.386@110.61 with Crane 227 cam Winter 2002

*Ed Wright, Fastchip, PCM tune-up*Agostino Stage 2 Cylinder Heads with 2.00/1.56 Valves*Crane #109831 Cam*T&D 1.6 Shaft rockers (Crane shaft rockers for 11.98 run)*SSRI cold air intake*MAF from WS6 F-Body*Meziere Electric Water Pump*Accell ignition with Coil, Accell 9000 Plug wires, NGK TR55 plugs*Pro Yank 3600 Torque Converter*BMR extended upper and lower control arms*G-Hann headers*Built 4L60E Tranny with Trans-Go Shift kit *4.10 rear with Eaton Posi *Carbon Fiber Drive Shaft *Dynomax or Borla or no exhaust at all*Y-body Harmonic Damper*SLP Adj. Fuel Press. Regulator*26" Slicks and Front Skinnies*ACE Carbon Hood*No Front Sway Bar*Eibach Springs in rear*impalaSS front springs cut 1/4 coil*Stock bottom end accept for 0.010" under Federal Mogul bearings for reconditioned stock crank

I plan to run the 350 during the winter and spring of 2005. Emissions testing will be due soon and I hope that the GM-846 cam can pass on 1st try. If not plan B is to put in the Crane 227 cam. The 350 with 846 cam combo was getting quicker and quicker at the drag strip back in 2004. Last run on the motor was in June and that was also a best ET, (12.42). I pulled the motor to make preparations for the ISSCA Vegas Nats. Good 'ol "Thumper", (my 383), served well at Vegas and earned quickest ET and MPH, #1 Qualifier and the win in Super Natural.

This 350 has been stored all the while "Thumper" 383 has been pulling my car into the 10's on nitrous. I did not touch the 350 while it was stored. Well, accept that I had to scavenge the T&D shaft rocker system for use on Thumper. Now since the T&D system was removed, I was determined to make the Crane shaft rocker system work. The Crane system required a great amount of machine work on the rocker stands to get the bolt holes to line up to the heads. Also, the rockers will smack the intake side of the valve covers. I finally broke down and turned on the bench grinder. Each of the rockers was ground about 1/8" on the back area where the pushrod seat is. I did not take photos, sorry. Time will tell if that removal of material will result in a broken rocker. (I would not have done the grinding if I had a bigger cam or a solid roller cam). Well, the Cranes are in and so are set of normal style valve covers. Car is on the road and running smooth, (and quiet due to my Borla cat-back). If a shaft rocker system has one advantage over a stud system, it's quiet operation. Both the T&D and Crane system that I've been running are dramatically quieter than stud mounted rockers. Well, that's it for the 350. No cam change. No head work. Oh, and by the way, the new ET goal is 12.1 in good air and I'll do that by tweaking the overall car set up, maybe use the TH400 if needed. The photos below are of the engine swap. Full engine rebuild and heads-cam-shaft rocker system details are at THIS link.

This is "Thumper". It has a street solid roller cam and mildly ported GM-LT4 heads. This 383 gets a rest every winter.	A good view of a few odd things. My Stef's oil pan with the custom notch in the front to clear steering center link. The A/C delete pulley from GM. The LT4 Damper.	This view shows the best header gasket on earth; Earl's Pressure Master. Steel frame with graphite inserts.
Empty engine bay with TH400 left behind. I ended up putting the 4L60E back in for easy street driving and because my 350 has less parts busting power.	A photo for me to show the SFI flexplate serial number.	Ever wonder what the 16mm LT4 damper spacers looked like? These are made by Larry Walker. Click the thumb for a better view.
383 in generally good shape.	The bottom looks fine accept for some dings from little aluminum pieces.	Thumper lost a chunk of piston skirt. The metal was pounded into small balls by the rods and crank which dinged up a few things but nothing major.
OK, here is the little 350. I put the Crane shaft rockers on and these valve covers are the only style that give enough clearance. The passenger side valve cover is notched in the front and rear for alternator and heater hoses.	Little Killer is my nick-name for this mild 350. Notice how wide these valve covers are. The Crane rockers do fit without grinding by using this style of cover but....they look funny and they leak a bit.
This shows the back of the rockers where I ground about 1/8" to clear the valve covers.	Another view of the rockers installed with lots of material removed behind the pushrod seat. Compare to old photos of rockers on right.	This photo is from 2004 and the rockers are simply test fit. The top photo shows the unclearanced rocker best.

The view 2 days later after chasing valve cover leaks and deciding that I can just grind on the back of the Crane rockers to allow this new set of Proform valve covers to fit, (just barely).