fearthisinc

Ok. This is going to sound stupid but according to what i have been researching my engine p/n is 12520268 and everything i read is coming back as a TBI however looking at the engine it appears as TPI.. What do I have? Is it just the wrong part number listed or is my engine TBI? I am so confused... I was searching the internet when I came across another forum and according to them the heads on the engine were meant for a TBI, not a TPI... Should I even bother trying to build this engine up or is it going to be nothing but problems and more money then what it would cost to get a true TPI setup? I was thinking of replacing the heads prior to finding this all out but now i am wondering if I even could change them out.. What do I do..

92 Z-28 Camaro

Hi I am confused..
it is a TPI that is for sure and it looks like from the factory or somebody went to a great deal of expense to make it look like the factory install. What year is the car? look at the VIN number should tell the engine and look at the RPO plate - decode. What does the valve cover have on it? can't read it. Somebody could have replaced the heads - maybe they are ported.
thanks
Bill

fearthisinc

Vin has an F as the eigth digit which is the 305 LB9.. However on the valve cover it has a sticker that says 350 and i have a GM Engine Replacment booklet that shows that an engine was put in and gives the part number 12520268 which comes back as a truck engine an upon further investigation shows that it is a L05 motor for a TBI vehicle but I am guessing that they made it work with the TPI.. Now I am wondering how I can build this up as I am sure the computer is trying to run a TPI motor and all the parts I have been purchasing such as headers, intake manifold hi flo Base Plate, hi flo runners, cap and rotor, plugs, wires etc i have all based on TPI motor which explains fitment issues but now i am wondering if these parts are actually doing more harm than good by installing... so just looking for a little help..

vette9190

iTrader: (2)

Everything should bolt up and work fine with proper tuning. Since the car is a MAF car it the ecm will tolerate the parts better then a SD system would without tuning but iI would recomend getting into DIY PROM tuning to get the max out of the setup.

Now to the motor the LO5 is a fine motor but the heads are not the best for performance. These heads are caled swirl port heads they have a big ramp in the intake port that causes poor flow. They can be ported to flow pretty decent but I would try to find a better set of heads. People here seem to like the aluminum vette heads and the L31 vortecs(need a special tpi base intake)
or some aftermarket heads. You will see the best gains from changing/porting your heads.

fearthisinc

I was thining of changing the heads but just confused on how to find the right heads for this motor.. I was going to go with the Edelbrock 60859's but was unsure how I should figure out if they are going to work/fit.. i have already had things like runners, hi flo intake manifold baseplate, headers, etc and was told that the fitment of the items was not the best/easiest.. in the end they made the items work but it should have been simpler to install.. again just not wanting to blow 1200 on heads and fing out they are wortheless.. how should i be looking up parts for the motor? should i just look for items that work with a v8 5.7 chevy motor or what?