I have an '85 Z28 with the 305 TPI auto t-top.

A buddy of mine has a full 350 swap with the bottom end completely built, it has 2,000 miles on it so there would include some "Cleaning up" before installing it but he also has a bunch of other performance parts he would throw on it for me and he'd sell me the whole kit and kabudle for 400$. :lala: He told me he would do all the work (installing the other performance parts etc) and he said the motor made 400HP N/A when he had it in his Nova. So with the other performance parts he has (He didn't specifiy but i can find out from him tonight) he says it will make somewhere in between 4-500 HP. He is a certified tech and friend who co-owns a Speed Shop that owns a dyno so i trust him when he tells me it made over 400hp N/A.
He wants to know if i want to keep Fuel injection (Because it will be easier for emissions) or go with carb. Im having a hard time deciding because it will be more expensive to go the FI route rather than using the carb on the motor. Im in Utah not sure what type of emissions laws they have.
Would i want to keep the TPI? Go Carb? Good deal? (Im thinking yes duhhh)

Oh yea its bored 30 over? what ever that means.... (I know some stuff but im not a guru like a lot of you....YET

 

TPI won't support 400 HP - certainly not as-is. And, '85 TPI was absolutely their worst effort.

Having a dyno and producing a dyno sheet are two different things. A lot of guys seem to have engines the "make 400 HP", although very few produce said dyno sheet.

In order for this to work at all, the cam has to be "computer friendly". Most likely that will drop power right there, because he wouldn't have had any motivation to use such a cam when he built it. Then, the TPI has to be modified to support the engine - not cheap.

I haven't heard what emissions laws Utah has. I suppose the SLC valley just might have some, considering the cloud that hangs there. But, technically, any carb conversion is "off-road use only", no matter where you live in the United States.

This might be a viable path to pursue, but no matter how you slice it, it isn't going to be particularly cheap or easy. Not impossible, mind you, just don't put too much stake in the rose-colored viewpoints you're bound to hear.

 

He is going to sell you a 4-500 hp engine for $400?? which one of you is the dumbass?

 

Neither of us is a "Dumbass"
He has a dyno sheet to back it up because he put those 2000 miles on the motor when it was in his Nova, he has time slips too because he did run it out at the track twice (2-3 runs) but since there will be clean up involved from what it sounds to me is he is going to rebuild it AGAIN and replace anything that isn't up to par.
I will have to put more than 400$ into just purchasing the motor, im sure ill be spending about 1-2k more on other items for the motor so I when i go dyno it when im finished it WILL Make over 400 HP. Im waiting for him to call me back and give me more details on the motor.
I dont know what other options for fuel injection i have other than the TPI (mostly because i dont know diddly about Fuel injection systems, other than the basics of how they Work) I know more and have rebuilt several of my trucks/cars carbs so i understand them more. I want this car street legal so it looks like Fuel injection is going to be my way to go. What options do i have here?

 

easy man, Your post left it to sound like you were going to buy a 400 dollar engine that makes 400hp. You'll have to understand that when you go through these boards there are a lot of punk kids and otherwise unknowledgeable poeple here. At least once every couple days someone has a "great deal". I think most times its either someone making stuff up so they have a reason to post, or someone is trying to screw them. As for your post, if there are no emmisions that you are required to pass, I would go with a carb, cause its gonna cost some money for fuel injection mods. BUT a good carb setup isnt cheap either. Go with what YOU want, not what other people like. That way you will be happier with it in the long run. Everyone here has an opinion(and they dont mind sharing, mind you) i recommend forming your own. its the best way.

 

Thats fine, im not new to boards, everyone has opinions and i have my own.
But i respect opinions of others as well. The reason i am asking what costs i would be expecting and what would make better HP?
Thanks for the input five7kid & ljnowell

 

You wont make that much power with the TPI system BUT there are a few nice-looking aftermarket FI systems out there that will supposedly support that kind of power, such as Holley, Accel, Edelbrock, etc. If FI is a must, your gonna pay for it, but it would be nice, I admit, to have it for an everyday driver, as I was looking into it myself. Tuned correctly though, I think a carb can give you good manners and reliability too. You'll most likely make the most power the easiest with a carb setup, and if your looking for power, thats what I would do if I were you. Those FI systems get expensive!

 

I am personally a carb man, however i go to sleep at night dreaming of fuel injection. I think that for 3-400 dollars you can have a nice carb setup. I would buy a junkyard HEI, give it a good tune up(lots of places have kits that come with a hot coil, cap, wires, rotor, etc.) a good intake manifold, and a good carb. Expect to pay 250 for a good carb. That will get you a nice edelbrock (my personal choice, but not the most popular here), and for around 120-150 for intake depending on what you want. Some are more some are less. I think a performer is going for around 120 now. Thats not too bad of a setup, and I think you wont have many problems with air/fuel and ignition that way.

 

i say carb, get like a 650 holley...
but if you want fi you could look in to buying a lt1 induction of ebay or something, that would support 400hp im sure of it, in stock form plus you can get parts from the store, cause its came on camaros, look in to it i just thought you might like to have it brought to your attention, i myself know didly about it other than it was a design ripp from supper ram or mini ram intake system. have fun with your buddies 400hp motor, i know id pay 300 for a 200 hp 350, cause i can swap a cam and fix up my heads to get more...