Next Question, 304 upgrade or not

[gwinter1129]

My 71 800B has the original 304 engine in it. It is being rebuilt and my question is - the terminals on the starter are broke off so should I upgrade to the hot one or go with original, should I upgrade the coil, distributor and the carb? If I should upgrade what suggestions do you have?

[Doc Stewart]

Keep your starter. Replace your solenoid. Delco part. NAPA has them. These low compression V8s don't need a hot starter.
Any old coil works on these engines.
Up grade you existing Dizzy with a Pertronix or modify a salvage yard HEI dizzy - do a search.
There is not much to up grade in the carb department. There is a Weber that will work but I have never used one. Rebuild your 2300 Holly 2bbl and drive it another 50,000 miles.

Reasonable up grades:
Better cam - call IHONlyNorth for a cam
Better valve seals
Polish the oil return passages while doing some minor porting on the head.
Bigger valves are not necessary - IH SV8s only rev to 4K unless you do extensive modifications.
Dial in the cam accurately. No need to change or replace timing gears.