Looking for recommendations on 250 build-up
Original motor in the hooptey is starting to get long in the tooth, and so I'm going to start saving my pennies for a replacement. I'm looking for "spec" recommendations as well as shop recommendations and price I might expect to pay. I want to do the motor build, then swap it in as a "mostly long block"... so will need a second motor to start with.
Vehicle is a '69 C10 that's 3860#, with a TH350 (though I am considering a 2004R swap at time of motor swap), rearend is PROBABLY 3.08 or 3.73 (rear was snagged from a V8-powered '71 C10... available gears for that year were as above, plus 4.11... I know it's not 4.11 because that's what I swapped out, and it goes down the highway faster than it did with original rear). I have power brakes.
Truck is a driver, mostly around town with some "going to a show" highway drives. I want it to have some decent torque, but want it to run very reliably.
Carb REQUIREMENT is a Rochester 2GC with an approx 3" spacer under it this is a physical requirement for the vehicle... if you've seen the truck, you understand.). Intake is a Clifford. Exhaust are modified Clifford. Water pump is a modified unit. Ignition is GM HEI w/vac advance. I have all these pieces on the running motor now, and can swap these over when I do the new motor installation.
What kind of "spec" items should I be doing here? Lump or other head work? Cam? Valves? Pistons (and bore, etc.)? Assuming crank work is required, is there any value in adding some displacement by stroking it?
Also, are there any "goodies" that might be worth doing? Oiling mods (I think I saw some of these from MrHotrod6)? Gear drive (if only for the novelty/noise??)? What else?
Any recommendations on who to go to for this work? I'm in Norcal, but certainly could ship the finished motor to me from wherever, if necessary.
