Perimeter Bolt vs Center bolt
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Car: 1985 trans am
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Perimeter Bolt vs Center bolt
Hey all, i have a 85 trans am and im looking to do a cheap 350 build. I’m looking around and ive come across a few center bolt head 350’s. Im curious to see if those engines will accept the older (early 80’s) perimeter bolt style heads. Thanks in advance!
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Re: Perimeter Bolt vs Center bolt
gotcha, yes later swirl port or vortec ect will bolt to a earlier two piece main sbc.
you will need a different intake manifold depending on heads or elongate the center holes. Lt1 / lt4 heads bolt on but have a different cooling system so don’t use those.
you will need a different intake manifold depending on heads or elongate the center holes. Lt1 / lt4 heads bolt on but have a different cooling system so don’t use those.
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Car: 1985 trans am
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Re: Perimeter Bolt vs Center bolt
I’m looking to get a later style sbc and use 80’s High output 305 heads. The old school stump puller type build. The engine is out of an 89 or so camaro with tpi. I’d ditch everything but the block and use a set of 305 ho heads. I’d keep the perimeter bolt setup i’m just more concerned about them bolting up to the block
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Car: '89 GTA
Engine: ZZ6TPI
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Borg Warner 3.70:1
Re: Perimeter Bolt vs Center bolt
I’m looking to get a later style sbc and use 80’s High output 305 heads. The old school stump puller type build. The engine is out of an 89 or so camaro with tpi. I’d ditch everything but the block and use a set of 305 ho heads. I’d keep the perimeter bolt setup i’m just more concerned about them bolting up to the block
If you're trying to reuse the 85' 4bbl intake manifold, it will bolt right up to the perimeter bolt 305 heads. However, you can elongate the center intake bolt holes and adapt the manifold to the center bolt head intake bolt pattern.
I would leave the 350 block and heads together and just adapt the intake manifold.
The newer motor will have a 1 piece rear main seal compared to the 2 piece on your 85'. 86' and later SBC's were all 1-piece rear main. You will need to use a flywheel or flex plate for the 1 piece rear main.
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Car: 1985 trans am
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Re: Perimeter Bolt vs Center bolt
From what i’ve heard that setup will run 11:1 compression and run just fine on 93 pump gas. It’s just a rowdy streetable engine going into my trans am, backed by a t5
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TTOP350 (02-27-2024)
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Car: '89 GTA
Engine: ZZ6TPI
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Axle/Gears: Borg Warner 3.70:1
Re: Perimeter Bolt vs Center bolt
10:1 is generally considered the upper limit on pump gas. Some have gone higher successfully, but that’s with careful component selection and a very good understanding of static vs dynamic compression ratios, cylinder head flow and burn properties, cam selection and tuning.
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Perimeter Bolt vs Center bolt
Thevold 305 heads on a newer 350 will work but won't run as well as the stock tpi 350bheads. Not worth it
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