Chevy PowerCrate 350 Small Block From YearOne - Old-School Vortec

Returning to the premise of our "old-school" build, we weren't interested in creating a late-model engine that would fool even the pickiest of small-block aficionados. But it was a good indication we achieved the nostalgic look we sought when Nick Licata, editor of Camaro Performers, took a look and thought our Chevrolet Orange Vortec motor was a high-horsepower 327 out of a mid-'60s Corvette. To create the illusion, it took only a minimum of changes that individually wouldn't have been nearly as effective. The first step was to repaint the PowerCrate's standard hi-temp black engine enamel finish with a super glossy coating of Plasticoat Chevrolet Orange engine enamel. The formulas Plasticoat uses for its spraypaints are an exact match to the factory original colors and can withstand up to 500 degrees of heat. Once we had the color change handled, the next step was to swap out the PowerCrate's chrome-plated, late-model center-bolt valve covers and add a set of ram's horn-style headers. To get the exact look we were after for the valve covers, the hot ticket was a pair of finned sand-cast aluminum Corvette script models from PML of Inglewood, California. In keeping with not forsaking an ounce of performance to achieve a nostalgic look, the ram's horns we selected were from Speedway Motors of Lincoln, Nebraska. Although available in cast-iron, our first choice was the unpolished stainless steel versions that are also offered fully polished. All three versions come standard with internally cast individually directed porting, as opposed to dumping from one big open chamber.