I've got a good engine deal from 87 T/A. My problem is My T/A is an 86 LB9 TPI and the new engine is LG4 4bbl. Can I put my TPI on the LG4(carb) engine?
THX

 

No. Unfortunately, the 87 has a different bolt pattern than the 86. You will have to swap the 86 heads along with the TPI to make it work.

 

Not really true. You can modify the center 4 bolt holes in the intake manifold so it fits the 87 heads properly. I've heard of people doing it with a drill, I did it with a bench mill.

 

That's true, elongating the holes will work. I thought instead of messing up a set, he could just bolt the other heads right on.

 

I have 86 TA myself which came from an one family car. When I got the TA from them the car was reengined before I got it. The engine was a new 305 LG4 crate engine. I got the car in the fall which in turned covered the running warmer water temp. I did all the stuff the dealer said too fix the over heating problem. But it did not fix it. In the end I had purchased an used engine with 40 thousand miles on it to swap out my bad engine. I have ran the with the wrong base block combination for four years with no major problems other than 180 vs 220 degree temps on the dash. Only trouble was from water pump and radiator. My TA is going to have the engine swapped soon, since the transmission is going south. This combination lasted about 150,000 miles of open highway driving miles.

 

Or, you could trade your '86 base with someone who has an '87 base & '86 engine...