How To Increase Horsepower On A 350 Engine?
The Chevy 350 is a commonly used engine in hot rods cars, sports cars, trucks, and boards.
It’s a very simple motor, and you can increase its horsepower in plenty of ways without spending a lot of money.
From basic modifications to rebuilding the engine, all will add extra power to your 350 engine. So, let’s have a look at how to increase horsepower on a 350 engine.
We have alienated the list into two categories, including a shortlist and effective ways.
All the simple modifying tips are mentioned in the first category, and the second one includes higher which are quite expensive as well.
How To Increase Horsepower On A 350 Engine?
Modification of the air intake is the best way to increase horsepower on a 350 engine. Making the exhaust more efficient and installing a new camshaft also helps increase the HP on a 350 engine.
Other things you can do are install valve trains, engine tuners, and boost controllers to increase the performance of a Chevy 350 engine.
A shortlist to increase horsepower on a 350 engine
Based on its power, a chevy 350 engine can produce 350–400 HP. A stock cast can exceed the performance limits at 50 to 150 HP before surpassing the reliability level set by the stock cast at 400 to 475 HP, even without changing the parts.
The easiest ways to increase the horsepower on a 350 engine are:
- Installing a Supercharger or Turbo Kit
- Having an aftermarket exhaust system
- Installing an Engine Tuner
The cheapest ways to increase horsepower on a 350 engine are:
- Upgrading the air intake
- Adding more exhaust fluid
- Installing performance tuner
- Upgrading to synthetic lubricants
- Installing the boost controller
Three Most Effective Ways To Increase Horsepower On A 350 Engine
The Chevy 350 engine is typically a 350 cubic inch small block. Its HP range is 145 to 400, or even more, considering the time of the modifications. Thus, this simple engine is a favorite among truck and car owners.
Luckily, increasing the horsepower of a Chevy 350 engine isn’t a difficult or expensive process. Your 350 engine will respond well even in common bolt-on modifications. Installing some inexpensive performance parts can also increase its HP.
Upgrading the Air Intake System
While you are planning to increase the horsepower of your 350 engine, you should begin with the air intake system.
This will enhance the airflow and boost the HP by 8-10%. Installing a cold air intake system will also improve the throttle response.
While installing a cold air intake, you should pick K & N performance air filters. Yet, by buying a generic filter, you will have some CAI kits that also work fine. Still, K & N is preferable as it is simple to clean and endures a long time.
While buying parts that will filter out junk to prevent it from entering an engine, you should go with a reliable brand because it is worth the money. a high-quality cold air intake and the filter will cost between $130 and $250 and increase the HP by up to 15 to 30.
Installing A Performance Exhaust
After increasing the air intake, modifying the exhaust is a smart decision. It will make room for all the extra air to leave the car’s engine.
Conversely, if you only change the exhaust without installing a new air intake system, you won’t get the best performance.
Performance headers can add 25–30 HP to a 350-cubic-inch engine if they are tuned after installation.
The performance will also increase decently without a tune. Some car owners claim that their chevy 350 engine gains 25 horsepower without the use of a tune.
As you can see, getting a tune after installing the intake and exhaust is vital for increasing the power of an engine.
After deciding on performance headers for the vehicle, you should get extra-large piping for the rest of the exhaust.
Installing a performance exhaust cost between $120 and $200. It will increase 25 to 45 HP on your Chevy 350 engine.
Turbo or Supercharge the Engine
If you are keen on having increased horsepower, even if you spend a fair amount of money, this option is for you.
For turbo or supercharging your Chevy 350 engine, you have to take the engine to an experienced mechanic. He will build it properly to handle PSI.
A stock 350 engine can manage low PSI and achieve around 30-40% of HP without an explosion. But they still need to undergo and endure a lot more stress.
So if you drive the car regularly, it’s recommended for you to stay happy with basic modifications.
The good news for the vehicle owner who wants to invest in turbocharging is that it’s a common engine to build up. Most auto shops know how to get the most power out of an engine.
Contact around for an estimate. Yet, it won’t cost less than $2k while a high-quality turbo system can cost up to $5K. This way, you can increase up to 8% per pound of boost.
FAQs
How Much Horsepower Can A Chevy 350 Engine Produce?
A chevy 350 engine produces 350 – 375 HP on average. Yet, its stock cast pistons can withstand 500 horsepower before exceeding the dependability of the stock cast. And the reliability of the stock cast is 400 to 475 HP for a large block.
How To Get The Most Horsepower Out Of A Chevy 350 Engine?
The following are a few tricks you can apply to get more horsepower from your 350 engine:
Change the exhaust system
Replace the valve trains and camshaft
Change the cylinder head polished
Build a new motor and blueprint it
Final words
Hopefully, now you are aware of how to increase horsepower on a 350 engine. Luckily, you have got plenty of ideas to increase the performance of your Chevy 350 engine.
Among them, upgrading the intake and exhaust are relatively inexpensive methods. You can buy a performance throttle body to increase the airflow and power of the engine.
Also, you can apply good synthetic oil to keep the engine lubricated. And install NGK iridium spark plugs to increase horsepower.
Yet, the 350 engine is a tough one, and increasing horsepower will put extra stress on its internal parts. Finally, call an experienced mechanic rather than attempt any upgrade process by yourself.
