i have a tech ? for ya'll--concerning rods/pistons. while dirt racin, i began rounding up parts 2 build a 350p. a quick check revealed that no cheap forged pistons are still avail for the 350. i eventually found a set of nos trw's. but, before that, i discussed the situation with my engine builder. he checked a few specs & determined that some trw's to fit other makes with about the same bore size just mite work & would be cheaper than other currently available forged 350 pistons, even with the extra machine work that mite be involved. this concept was totaly out there 2 me--i'd never heard of such. i assumed that the pin height & offset had 2 be rite or they wouldn't work. i've since read where some run pistons backwards in order 2 gain a slite advantage of some sort-- so there went my pin offset theory. & by using big block chevy rods, many lenghhs are avail.--so that makes the necessaary pin height variable. all this means that there may be several rod/piston combinations that will work on pontiac motors without the rod or the piston having been originally designed 2 fit a pontiac. but all the math & measurements required 2 figure out these combos are way out beyond my knowhow. but i feel sure that there are several who post on this site who can easily make these calculations & some who may even enjoy the exercise. if you already know the part #'s & exact specs for these combos--please share. i'd like 2 know the best combos for the 350 up 2 as much as .070" oversize(i'm told most 350's are safe that big--some a little more) keep in mind--the idea is a cheap combo, for those who must do things on a tite budget or not at all(& i can tell from the posts that many on this site fall into this catagory). this may be helpful--a couple of sites have chineese bbc 6.535" h-beams for $250 delivered--ohio crank has same length i-beams even cheaper. & of course there are the 5140 rods for $240. & as for the pistons--they need 2 be cheap enough 2 make the rod/piston combo at least $100 cheaper than whats already for sale 2 fit the 350. since ppr is closed, i don't know what the best price is for stock stroke 350 pistons. if all this sounds rediculous 2 you--don't feel alone--it sounded far out 2 me when i 1st heard it! its just 1 more in a long line of subjects i know nothing about. but there are lots of 350 blocks out there that nobody seems 2 want. its e-z 2 make 350+ hp out of a stock stroke 350. so, if we can come up with a cheap rod/piston combo, they mite be just the ticket for a low budget street or bracket build. they'll easily run low 13's on the street & hi 12's in a decent bracket car--without breaking everything behind it, like the long stroke motors are prone 2 do. i just sold a 69 tempest that ran 12.60's with a stock rod/trw 350. so, how about it guys--can some of ya'll help figure this out--it mite help some of the new guys get started cheap. most just say--forget it--go with more cubes. that won't help any here! & quite frankly, i'm tired of hearin it. me & everybody else on this site know that a 455 makes more torque & hp than a 350--SO WHAT?
