I want to put a 79 350 engine block in my 89 5.7 TPI camaro. What I don't know is will it work with 93 Chevy Cylinder heads. A guy told me that it wouldn't cuz the water ports don't match. If that won't work, could I just switch out my L98 for the 79. If so what will I all need to make the swap. A recap of what I want to do.......Take a 79 350 thats bored to 355, put a set of 93 Stock cylinder heads that are ported and polished, then slap my TPI intake to finish out the engine. I would like to do that, but I don't know if I can. Any help will be appreciated.

 

The only way you can utilize TPI on the 79 350 block (now displacing 355), is by installing the TPI's original heads. You're 89 has centerbolt heads, whereas the 79 you want to install has 86-lower traditional heads. You'll also need to re-use you're intake from the 89.

Basically.... swap everything over from you're 89 (heads, intake, TPI set-up etc...), onto the 355 engine block. Otherwise you'll need to run a CARB.

Don't forget to tap a knock sensor in you're 355 engine, the ECM needs this to determine timing....although some people simply plug it into one of the heads to tell you the truth.... as it gets a much more accurate reading there anyway (right by the combustion chamber)!

Forget the 93 heads....

 

Alright cool. anothe thing. Do you think that set-up will produce more power than my L98, with the 89 heads and TPI. Or is it even worth doin?

 

if the 79 block has been redone with performance in mind it would be worth-while, if it was just a basic rebuild (with the overbore) then it depends on the condition of your current motor. the .05 cubic inches you get from the overbore is not worth a whole lot of power by it-self. it also depends on what kind of pistons,rods,crank and cam the motor (79 block) has in it. also remember that the 79 will be a two piece rear seal and a flat hyd. cam, and your 89 will be a 1 piece rear seal and a hyd roller cam motor. if it were me, I'd forget the 79 block and build the 89, that way you can build in as much power as you want (to a limit).

 

well the 79 is brand new pretty much, maybe 2k miles on it...he has a forged crank, and forged pistons...it wasn't orginally a 355, he got it bored, balanced and blueprinted....

 

If the 355 is both forged and recently rebuilt, then I would go with the 355. This gives you a head-start if you ever decide to put a blower on it....

But RedBird is right. The extra bore on the now 355 will do nothing, if it doesn't have the right parts to utilize the extra air/fuel taken in by it.

I would swap the roller set up from you're L89 over to the 355 (before you swap the heads, you should really port match both them, and the intake), just MAKE SURE that the lifters have the proper clearance if you install the roller valvetrain (if they don't, just forget it and use the set-up that you already have in the 355, or you can always drill the block to provide the clearance.... but I highly recommend a professional to do this).

 

Ok another thing.....would the ported and polished 93 heads do anything for me on the 79, or even just my 89?

 

Carefully look at the 93 heads, and check the intake manifold bolt locations. Does it match up with you're current L98, or 1979 355 manifolds, or are the 93 heads different????

Take a close look....