Anyone done the swap? I figure for the price of the motor, 330 'advertised' HP doesnt sound bad. Is this swap gonna work? Ive got the cash for it now, so im just waiting to drop the money on it until i know for sure it gonna be a good idea. I have seen a few guys do this 305-350 swap that had TBI, just wondering how the TPI reacts to the motor. Need help quick!

 

anybody?????

 

Yes, it's possible. No, you it isn't quite a drop-in; that motor has Vortec heads, so your existing TPI base will not fit on it correctly, you'll have to buy the Scoggin-Dickey base.

And no, it won't come anywhere close to 330 HP with TPI on it. I doubt it will cost you as much as TPI does vs a ZZ4, where you take the same short block and heads, and stick a carb on it (ZZ4) and get 345 HP, or stick TPI on it (Vette version L98) and get 240 HP. I'd guess that with all the rest of the stock TPI stuff on that motor and that base, you might crack 270 HP.

 

About right for the horsepower with a TPI.

 

So whats about the most cost-effective solution to hit 300 hp? I posted a similar question in the TPI forum, ive got about 2 grand to spend on a motor... if i can only get 270 with the crate, i wont waste my money. I can get damn near that from a L98. What do you guys suggest i do? I want a 350, and i would really like it to outrun my old 95 LT1 (rated 285 HP). Gimme some suggestions.

 

Simple.

Lose the TPI and get something on there that flows and doesn't "de-tune" RPMs above 4500, like the LT1.

 

To get the 330 HP of the "normal" carb'd 350 HO out of the TPI Vortec, SD had to use long-tube headers, aftermarket runners on their ($400) base, and a Hot Cam (I believe the TPI Vortec crate engine has the base & Hot Cam). Don't forget, that's a gross-rating for HP - the factory L98 rating would be much higher under the same rules.

It'd be fairly simple to get 300 HP out of an L98 for $2k. Exhaust, cam, ported heads & plenum, aftermarket runners, AFPR, PROM tuning. Put out the cash up front for a crate engine, you're already behind the power/budget game.