Is the Chevy 350 an interference engine?

[James86004]

My colleague just rebuilt the engine in his 94 Silverado, and he is not all concerned he did not get the cam timing right. So, he just asked me if it is an interference engine, and can he ruin it by trying to start it. I told him I was 99% sure that the 350s are all non-interference engines, with the possible exceptions being some weird high horsepower full racing engines. Can anyone confirm the last 1% of my hunch for me?

Thanks,

James

 

[ntsqd]

If he aligned the dots on the timing chain correctly then he may not have the most efficient engine, but it should not hit either.

If he changed the cam lift or compression ratio significantly and did not check valve to piston clearance then all bets are off.

Comes down to the cam should have been degreed to cam mfg specs, and the P to V clearance checked on all but a dead stock engine, and even then it's not a bad idea.

 

[Luthman]

if it is stock and no real deck machining and you should have no problem- unless- he installed the piston 180 off and the little divits (if there) for the valve clearace are in the wrong spot. did he install a higher lift cam? and if he is not concerned about the cam timing, there may be other issues at play here..

 

[James86004]

Thanks. He was just in my office again feeling a little sheepish. It turns out the shop rebuilt the engine and set up the cam. It is a stock setup. He was worried if he put the distributor in 180 degrees out, he could damage the valves. I told him the engine just wouldn't start.

 

[krebsatm02]

I've seen an engine "start" with the distributor 180 off. It spit and sputtered like a hit n miss engine and shot flames out the carb.

He'll figure it out real quick!:Wow1:

 

[James86004]

Too funny!