L78 350 swap questions

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May 27, 2002 | 01:40 PM
  #1  
The 305 in my 83 Z28 has seen better days. When I got my car the people I got it from gave me a nearly complete 88 L78 350 truck motor. It was missing the starter and the throttle body. I tore down the motor the other day and I found out its a 4 bolt! it appears to be in good enough shape for a hone and re-ring, and I want to get it together so I can drive the car for the summer. Its gonna be a very budget rebuild for now, cuz I'm gonna do some major work to it this winter. Is the oil pan on the 305 different from the one on the 350? Can I re-use the serpentine belt setup without clearance problems? Can I use the stock heads? And if so, will a carb intake work with it? I have a T-5, so will I have any problems bolting it up? Do I need to run an in-tank fuel pump? I hope you guys can help.
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May 27, 2002 | 02:29 PM
  #2  
The oil pans are definitely not interchangeable...your '83 is a 2-piece rear main seal whereas the '88 is a 1-piece.

Don't know about the serp setup's cooling fan, but otherwise it should be no problem. Compare your current fan diameter and length from the water pump to the truck's and see.

With respect to the trans, flywheels are not interchangeable between your older engine and the '88...cranks are different.

If you are carb now, and going to stay carb w/ the new engine, no need to go w/ an in-tank fuel pump.

On the intake, I don't recall what year the Vortec heads came out but if the truck engine has them you'll need a new intake. Options are plenty including carb, TBI, or TPI.
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May 27, 2002 | 05:05 PM
  #3  
Will the oil pan thats on the 350 now fit right on the Camaro? I didn't know if the ones that come on the F-body V8 cars are different from the truck ones. The pan on the 350 is in good shape, and if it fits, I'll just re-use it. The heads on the 350 are not Vortec heads (I wish they were!). The Vortec heads appeared in the mid 90's. This motor's from 1988. Eventually I'm gonna change the heads, but for now I'd like to just use the stock ones. I have a non-egr Edelbrock performer intake I'd like to use, and I wanted to see if it would fit on the motor.
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