junkyard dog?

[Guest B250HO]

I've been reading this website for a long time, and finally dug into my farm a bit and found a few interesting things....

 

350 casting # 3932386- took off the pan and it has forged rods, there is some rust on the crank so I can't tell if it's forged or not, but I assume it is if the rods are. As far as I know, my uncle pulled it out of a friend's car in the 70s and its been sittin in this barn ever since. But it looks like the oil molded or something- rotten smell. How much rust is okay? I can't see any pitting inside, but I assume the bearings will have protected the journals... 4 bolt main and the bores have some rust.

 

There is also a muncie SM465 in a rolled early 70s C-10 truck. The engine is gone but that tranny remains. The truck has only 4X,XXX miles on it so it is probably still good. At the very least, the bellhousing would work for a M20/M21/M22/Super t-10/saginaw. If it will be horrible in a datsun, then I will see if i can trade it for one of the 4 speeds above (kind of dead set on having a stick shift)

 

Finally, my friend's cousin has a 240z sittin out on his farm that I could probably get for free or super cheap.

 

My goal is 400hp-ish. I plan on using the forged crank/rods if they can be refurbished. Some vortec heads modified for Z-28 valve springs and LT4 retainers- My dad has a mill so it should be simple, I think GM sells the tool to machine the head to accept the bigger valve springs. Some mild pocket porting should get me a decent enough head that will push the 400 horse mark with a decent cam/intake/carb/header combo- chevyhiperformance.com has proven vortec heads time and time again. I plan on using a r200- open/VLSD/CLSD- whatever is cheap, maybe eventually upgrade to a clutch LSD if I can't find with one, if not-weld an open diff. As for the rest of the car, stripped down to bare bones, steelies, and rust will be ignored (unless it poses structural issues), I want a car that I can screw around in and not worry, I want to laugh at door "dings" and be able to kick the car when it frustrates me. I built up a 88 bronco II with a 5.0 HO/AOD in it, put a month into the body, next day, got a door ding, then got keyed (kids tried to steal my stereo system but found square drive screws!!!! muahahaha- they got pissed and keyed my truck/broke windows when they couldn't get anything). So I want somethin I don't mind leaving out in the hail...lol. I have access to tools- MIG welder/plasma cutter/lathe/mill/sandblaster and I have the experience to pull this off (less the engine build up). Anybody got suggestions? additions? ways to save cash? I want a stout machine that people think is a piece of crap datsun and then see nothing but the tail lights. It won't be a daily driver, or see much highway time so an overdrive is not necessary. Thanks for the help guys.

 

remember, keep the dirty side down!