With 9:1:1 in your 350, you should be able to run 87 Octane. You might run into problems pinging in the summer, at which point you might want to use higher octane.
Popular Hot Rodding has an interesting article on getting good horsepower on pump gas. The article relates to your question in that one of the main things to do is make sure you keep your intake charge as cool as possible. For instance, if you get a new intake, get one WITHOUT the exhaust crossover. A plastic carb spacer is good for horsepower and is also good for keeping the inlet temperature cool. If you have one of those open element air cleaners, then all you're doing is sucking in hot air from under the hood. Try cowl induction or an OEM style air cleaner with a tube coming from somewhere that draws cool air in. Karl Groves Master Certified CIW http://www.karlgroves.com Will Work For Parts: http://chevelle.karlcore.com/detail.php?id=3 > -----Original Message----- > From: John Nasta [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 10:18 AM > To: The Chevelle Mailing List > Subject: [Chevelle-list] octane > > At what point do you guys go from running regular to > mid-grade to premium gas? My Olds had 10.5:1 compression and > I was told to always run Premium, and I always did. > > I am looking at a 9.1:1 350 for my Malibu and am wondering if > that would require mid-grade or even premium to run nicely. > Any guesstimates as to what sort of HP I could get out of > that with a decent aluminum intake and 600cfm carb would be > interesting to hear too. I have no idea what cam is in it, > whether it has been bored, what's been done to the heads, > etc. I'm waiting for more info from the seller. Just putting > feelers out in the meantime. > > Thanks > > > > > > >
