I spun a rod bearing in my 87 t/a 305 tpi engine. The motor was supposedly rebuilt at 180,000 miles and it has 230,000 now. I don't know exactly what was done when it was rebulit however. It is going to cost $800 for a crank kit, have the bottom end balanced, block cleaned, new cam bearings and freeze plugs, and have the heads magnafluxed and reworked. I have to opportunity to buy a 350 block with 30,000 miles on it, a set of LT1 heads, and if need be a intake set up with throttle body and injectors. I was just going buy the block and heads, but the LT1 heads have straight bolts, where the tpi original heads have angled bolts. Also the LT1 heads don't have any waterjackets to match up with my tpi intake. On the back of the heads, there is a spot for a coolant line to bolt up. My project budget is getting slim, so I would like to know if this is a doable project that won't cost to much extra money. Any help will be appreciated.

 

It will cost you about $300-$400 to retrofit your lt1 heads to that block. Its not worth it. By doing so you defeat the purpose of the lt1 heads, they are reverse cooled, meaning the coolant goes into the heads before the block. Your better off selling the lt1 heads and getting some small block chevy ones. Too much trouble to retro fit the heads for a 20 cfm gain and standard cooling.

 

Well put. Not to mention that the stock TPI would choke off all potential those heads have even if you went through with the conversion.

 

The 350 shortblock with your 305 heads makes a lot more sense.

 

Ok i will tell you a little secret i converted my LT1 heads for $280 total, including the heads.

Get LT1 heads and an LT1 intake and you'll have a standard cooling LT1. Nothing wrong with that , i could build one for $350. That would be cool, **** i might do that later on.