There are a few possibilities:
1. insufficient aspiration... it's not getting enough air. Possibly bad carburetor, possibly dirty air filter.
2. restricted exhaust. Possibly oil fouled catalytic converter, possibly bent or collapsed exhaust.
3. valve float. Possible weak valve springs preventing the valves from returning quickly enough. 4. ignition timing. Ignition may be firing too late.
Chevy 350's can ussually hit around 6,000 rpms but that's pushing it, youd be better off sticking around 5,500
carb problem my guess would be accelerator pump or stuck power valves in carb.
it doesnt sound orthodox but cut the tach wires to the dash, it worked on my 94 with a 350.
with a rev counter
Anything over 6500 would be rolling the dice.
On the main bearings, you should fall between .001, and .003. If it is high performance, and you are going to rev it, go .002. Looser will rev.
The engine computer is the rev limiter. It controls max rpm by shutting off fuel and ignition.
rev the engine to about 2500 rpm's and turn the distributor until you find that sweet spot.
19 to 21 inches of vacuum at an idle, The higher the better. If the engine has a high performance cam then vacuum will be alot lower. When you rev the engine up vacuum should drop and then come right back up.
5800 RPM
There is no use for rpm in a car A: I an assuming you mean the rev counter in cars. The rev counter tells the driver how fast the engine is turning its revolution per minute. In a situation where you can't here the noise of the engine, it is useful to see on a gauge how may rev the engine is doing. Max revving a car for prolonged periods can blow the engine.
You losen the bolt were the distributor goes into the engine and twist the distributor little by little until its firing good, you have rev it up to tell.