Chevrolet Repair: Engine & Trans, bolt mains, chevy 350

Question
QUESTION: Tom,

You and I talked about a Chevy 350 and trans.
That was concerning a vehicle I was considering trading for--
Actually it was a trike.

Now we go to phase 2--building one from scratch.

Here is the deal:
Say that you are the consulting mechanic on this project--
What engine, trans and rear end would you suggest as being the best set-up for this new trike.
Take into consideration--horsepower, fuel economy and reliability.
What would your answer be?

Thanks.

Mike

Thanks

ANSWER: HI MIKE, SORRY FOR THE LONG DELAY,,,WELL IF IT WERE MINE AND THIS IS WHAT I WOULD BE DOING AS A HOBBY AND JUST A BALL TO RIDE AROUND IN. I WOULD PICK A NICE 350 FOUR BOLT MAIN 11:1 COMP 2:02 HEADS PUT THAT TO A 350 TURBO AUTOMATIC WITH A SHIFT KIT IN THE VALVE BODY, AND DEPENDING ON THE WEIGHT OF THIS WHICH CAN'T BE MUCH I WOULD, USE A 12 BOLT BEING CHEVY OF COURSE [NO 9 INCH SPOKEN HERE] WITH A 3:73 RATIO IF REAL LIGHT WEIGHT MAY WANT TO GO TO A 3:08 RATIO. AS FOR RELIABILITY GOES IT DOES NOT GET MUCH BETTER THEN THIS..FUEL ECONOMY WELL THATS UP TO YOU. 9.5 COMPRESSION RATIO WOULD BE BEST FOR FUEL MIL BUT NOT AS MUCH SNORT AS 11:1 PISTONS. IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN...I WOULD STILL USE THESE HEADS AS ABOVE..LET ME KNOW HOW THIS GOES OR IF YOU NEED MORE INFO,,OR IF I DID NOT ANSWER YOU QUESTION COMPLETE...GOOD LUCK TO YOU,,,TOM

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Boy--you sure are something!

Quick & detailed.

Here are the questions that your answer prompted...

1 fact to remember--I am not building the engine, trans or rear end.

I will get all 3 from a salvage yard.

1--Most 350 engines are NOT 4 bolt mains, right?

so how do I tell a standard engine from 1 that has 4 bolt mains?

2--How do I tell a 12 bolt rear end from others?

3--How do you tell 1 trans from the other?

4--What is the difference between the 3:08 and the 3:73 rear ends?

5--What does the shift kit in the trans do?

6--Is it just for performance?

7--I want to run a carburetor--not fuel injection (& no computer)
How far back in time will I have to look to find this creature?

8--Will all 350 Turbo trans fit all 350 engines, regardless of years?

I REALLY appreciate your help in all of this.

The local mechanic is helpful and knowledgeable, but he is stuck on V6 engines.
He thinks that a V6 engine is the best thing on the road.

ANSWER: HI MIKE,,, HANG TIGHT AND I WILL ANSWER THIS QUESTION IN DEPTH AFTER I WORK OUT AND EAT..2 HRS OR LESS I PROMISE...THIS WILL TAKE ME SOME TIME TO ANSWER....SORRY AGAIN FOR THE DELAY....TOM

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tom,

There is no rush on this.

Take your time.

I REALLY appreciate all your info & help.

Thanks.

Mike

Answer
HI MIKE AGAIN,,,I WILL GET OUT OF MY RACING MODE FOR THIS QUESTION....

# 1 MOST 350 ENG'S ARE NOT 4 BOLT MAINS ONLY TRUCKS AND HIGH PERF CAR. SO A REG 2 BOLT MAIN FOR WHAT YOU NEED THIS FOR WILL BE PERFECT...TO TELL YOU WHICH BLOCK IS WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO GET THE #'s OFF THE BLOCK  THEY WILL BE EITHER ON THE PASS SIDE OF BLOCK PAD IN FRONT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD OR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE BLOCK ON THE TOP SIDE BEHIND THE HEAD IN THE REAR OF BLOCK...
# 2 TO TELL A 12 BOLT FROM A 10 BOLT,CK THE NUMBER OF BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR DIFF COVER TO THE DIFFERENTIAL 12 BOLTS  = 12 BOLTS 10 BOLT YOU GET THE PIX.. IF YOU REMOVE THIS COVER THE CARRIER WILL ALSO HAVE 10 OR 12 BOLTS THAT HOLD IT TO THE RING GEAR...BUT FOR WANT YOU WANT THIS FOR NON RACING A 10 BOLT WILL BE FINE. LOTS OF CARS WILL HAVE THIS NOVA'S CAMARO'S OR  CHEVELLE'S
#3 THE TURBO 350 HAS A SQUARE OIL PAN BUT THE PASS SIDE IN THE REAR IS CUT AT A 45 DEGREE..MOST OLDER CAMARO,NOVA'S WILL ALL HAVE A 350 TURBO..SOME TRUCKS AS  WELL. THE NEXT UP FROM THERE IS A TUBRO 400 MORE FOR MED TRUCKS THE OIL PAN ON THIS IS MUCH LARGER>>> LONGER FRONT TO BACK THEN IT IS WIDE..THE BONE YARD WILL STEER YOU IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION FOR THIS...THESE ARE ALL MECHANICAL TRANS NOT ELECTRICAL..SO NO WORRIES HERE..BOTH VERY GOOD CHOICES, MAKE SURE THE OIL IS GOOD AND RED AND NOT BROWN AND BURNED... IF NOT DON'T GET IT..
#4  3:08 GEAR RATIO IS GOOD FOR HIGHWAY USE LOW RPM'S AT A HIGHER SPEED. CALLED MOON GEARS..3:73
IS GOOD FOR FASTER STARTS AS IS 4:10 MY FAVORITE THERE I GO AGAIN RACE MODE.HIGHER RPM'S GETS THERE FAST BUT THE RPM'S WILL BE HIGHER AT LOWER SPEEDS..FASTER TAKE OFF'S RACE MODE AGAIN..SORRY. TO SUM THIS UP 3:42 OR 3:73 ARE VERY GOOD ALL AROUND RATIO'S
#5A SHIFT KIT WILL MAKE THE TRANS SHIFT FROM EACH GEAR 1 TO 2 AND 2 TO 3RD REAR FAST NO SLIPPING IN BETWEEN SHIFTS..AGAIN RACE MODE..BUT A SHIFT KIT IS GOOD FOR THE TRANS BECAUSE THERE IS NO SLIPPING GOING ON, SO THE CLUTCHES WILL LAST LONGER IN THE TRANS..IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY A USED TRANS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE OIL AND TORQUE CONVERTOR FLUSHED OUT REAL GOOD AND HAVE A SHOP INSTALL A SHIFT KIT FOR ABOUT $80 [FOR THE KIT] IF YOU DO NOT MIND FAST SHIFT POINTS...
#6 ANSWERED ABOVE...
#7 I WOULD LOOK AT ANY SMALL BLOCK CHEVY FROM 1980 ON BACK...
#8 AS FAR AS 350 TURBO TRANS FITTING SMALL BLOCK CHEVY,, I WOULD SAY 80 % WILL JUST GET THE SAME YEAR BLOCK AS TRANS AND YOU SHOULD BE OK..AGAIN,, YOUR BONE YARD WILL BE ABLE TO DIRECT YOU IN THIS..THEY HAVE ALL OF THIS INFO AT THERE FINGER TIPS..
#9 NOT MARKED AS SUCH BUT I WILL RESPOND TO THIS ANYWAY, I WOULD NEVER INSTALL  A V-6 IN MY TRUCK,CAR,GO-CART,WAGON,SHOPPING CART,DOG HOUSE OR PROJECT CAR..JUST NOT ME..V6 IS OK. JUST NO OR LOW POWER. HAS TO WORK HARDER TO GET GOING WHICH HURTS FUEL MI. V8'S DO NOT NEED TO WORK. IT COMES NATURAL..THEY JUST RUN SMOOTHER..YOU GET THE IDEA...
HOPE THIS HELPS YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU.TOM....I THINK I GOT ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS...LOL