whats up guys...its been about a year since ive been on..(on a new sn) anyways...im stationed at little rock AFB, and I'm getting my bonus soon. This means engine swap i hope. i have a bone stock 92 camaro 305 rs. i want to put in the 350ho by gm. If someone could list all the parts I would need and appx. the cost, that would be awesome! I plan on doing some of it on my own, but finding help shouldn't be a problem.. thank you guys,
perry(ps. i do want to keep the tbi system so i think ill need bigger injectors and mabye a dual pump)

 

Can you give a little better description of the car? Like, what tranny are you gonna use, what induction do you want to use... details like that would help alot.

 

The physical changing of engines is pretty simple, but for the rest, we definately need more info. If you can get all the electronics out of the donor car it would help a lot.

 

that's exactly it..i don't know. however, i do wan't to go the most inexpensive route possible. i was thinking that beefin up the stock tranny would be a best bet..but then again, I'm brand new at this...

 

I take it since you are in the military, you have a auto hobby shop to your disposal? Will you be doing the removal and installation yourself? I too am building a motor with 300+ HP. But before I even set money aside for the motor, I upgraded the suspension and exhaust and rear end. No use having a high HP engine and not be able to plant the tires or handle the massive torq the engine will put out. This is something you should think about. I will do a write up of my engine build as well as post pictures. The wife and I will be doing the work ourselves. If you do want to upgrade to a 350, I would suggest getting a GM crate motor or buy a short block 350 and slap on a set of Vortec heads and cam.

 

I did that exact swap (cept I had an LG4). Are you looking for gas mileage/streetability or something that straight up hauls ***?

 

If you want to keep the TBI system, I suggest you go here https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=227281 and start reading. Then spend a bunch of time over on that forum.

The 350HO engine has Vortec heads, which require a Vortec-specific intake manifold. Otherwise, you're looking at a 350 swap, and if you read the linked thread above, you'll realize that PROM burning is required in order to get the most out of the engine (even the 305).

LO3 exhaust is horrible. Figure on replacing it all with '86-'90 TPI single cat-application aftermarket parts - headers, high-flow cat, and cat-back. You're looking right at the neighborhood of $1000 for that. Unless you do that, don't figure on any improvement from the engine swap.

Personally, I don't think the 350HO engine is all that great. That 330 HP claim is flywheel gross with a carb and long tube headers. In a TBI car, properly tuned and with the aforementioned exhaust, figure about 250-275 flywheel net compared to your 170 LO3. A significant increase, granted, but not the 330 advertised. Might as well take a 350 (like L98), rebuild it if necessary, port the heads, upgrade the cam, and make more power for less money spent.

 

I think the 350HO is the best value as far as crate motors that you can get currently. Car Craft got 348 horsepower and 388 ft lbs of torque with a 650 carb and headers. With manifolds and a 600 carb it made the advertised horsepower and torque. I think that is pretty impressive.

 

Am leaning towards a carb set up myself as the final preparation draws near. I would rather keep the TBI (EFI) set up but I hear to many comflicting stories about how much a 454/holley 670 TBI can feed. Maybe I should go TPI but then again more $$ for the setup. AS far as what I want out of the motor, I want to be able to keep up or out run the mustangs. Have a posi w/ 3.73 gears going into the rear.

 

i just want my car to have some kick to it, and be able to still start up everyday

 

You can use all the serpentine brackets, intake, tbi, wiring harness, computer, motor mounts, air cleaner, and radiator. You can use a lot of things that are already on your car. However you will need 350 sensors and have to get injectors that are bigger than the 305 otherwise it will run lean. You need to get your computer reprogrammed which usually runs about 350 to 450. I don’t know if you can use the 305 exhaust manifolds. I don’t thinks so. I just bought headers. Anyways it’s an easy swap compared to a v6 conversion.

 

Then again... you could always go carbed and eliminate the computer all together.

Given, I am hardly an expert at TBI or Carbed motors, but I too want to do this conversion but it seems like it would be 100x easier to use a carbed motor.

 

I have been debating the issure wether to go carb,TBI, or TPI but since I now have a TPI set up minus the wire harness, I will give the TPI a shot and. Currently looking to get a vortec tpi manifold.

 

So, five7kid, you're saying that an L98 TPI from maybe a formula or IROC with the right headwork and cam will make the 330hp? If so, what cam, head work and intake work do you recommend? Thanks.

 

Heads, ported per Standard Abrasives Do-It-Yourself Guidelines.

Other mods: depends upon which induction.

If TPI, then no more cam than something like a Crane 2032, and then only with runner mods, base & plenum porting, and higher stall (for auto tranny).

If TBI, talk to Shifty.

And the 330 HP would be flywheel gross (which is how the 350 HO is rated).

 

That's awesome!! See guys, with rebuild, parts and labor costs, that shouldn't be more than $2500 including the donor engine. There's a lot of L98's out there to work on. Plus you keep that factory look.