Hi, I am pickign up my 88 Formula next week, and I have decided the 5.0 it came with needs to go. I am looking to get serious power, and am looking to get a long block that I can swap components onto, and drop it back in. I am not very good with cam sizes and head flow, but I do not have a good set of heads yet, and would have to wait a little while to put them on. (the military wont pay untill the 15th, so i have to wait) I know that exaust is critical to making power, and I have a decent 2.5in exaust right now, but I know the mufflers probably wont flow as good as I would need. I am looking to make about 350-400 hp at the wheels. I know I would need to upgrade the induction system to match eventually, but I found this block on ebay, and it looks liek a good place to start the build up.
Right now my car is a t5 and the owner said it had a L98 in it, I rather doubt it though.
Anyways here is the link, Hopefully someone can set me in the right direction as far as heads and the like go.

Ebay Long Block

P.S. yeah the dancing guy is laaaame!!!

 

That's a really nice motor for a street build. It's a short block though, not a long block. Decent looking deal too, better than a crate motor for about the same price.

I'd slap some Vortec heads and on it and get moving. Edelbrock Performer RPM intake (they have one for the vortecs) or maybe not depending on your fuel delivery. (staying fuel injected? going carb? carb is definitely easier for the novice build)

You have to take your wiring into account too if you go carb.

Open up your air element (any reputable aftermarket brand), get another muffler (2 and a half inch pipe should be fine for street) and that takes care of breathing.

With hopes of 350 to 400 streetable horses, some time, and some patience. I see no reason why this isn't totally doable relatively quick and cheap (as far as builds go)

 

Get the 8th character from you VIN. That will answer the "L98 or not" question, at least as it was delivered from the factory.

 

Yeah, I have been doing a lot of research lately. The guy I am buying the car from said he did a lot of work to it, and it was *fast*
Not to be a downer, but my Z24 could have at least kept the taillights in view. I did someresearch, and yes, vin F not 8. I didnt think they made the l98 with a manual, but I wasnt sure, and being that the guy is an ex marine, I thought I could take his word. Oops.
Well I guess I will need some help now, cuz, I dont think the 305 is worth anything, Just a personal thing.....
I have been reading into how to make a package that works together. I know about scavaging with the exaust, and I can set all that up. I guess now I need to make what I have work.
Questions are, will the vortecs that were recomended do well with both a 305 and a 350? and should I wait to do the chip and intake mods untill I get paid and can afford to put a good 350 bottom end in?
This car was supposed to be my present for myself for going oversea's. Now it seems it will be a headache. I will try to get the casting nos off the engine.
Any help would be appreciated.
BTW I would like to keep the TPI. I like thte way it looks and the ease of tunability.
Thanks for your help,
Mike

Yeah I need to get rid of the dancing moron

 

I know that alot of ppl on this board will recommend vortec whether its a 305 or 350. From what i've heard as long as you get a good pair (new or machined very well) they are worth the money. and as to your second question if you dont have the 350 im assuming that you will be putting the mods onto the 305 so i would say you can do the intake mods because the intake/t.p.i is the same for a 305 as it is with a 350. but as for the chip, if you get the chip set up for your 305 then when you put your 350 in it will run lean (or normal depending on how modded of a chip it is) and so then you'll have to get the chip re-programmed for the modded 350. so i would wait on the chip IMO and just get the intake done because you wont have to spend anymore more money. just unbolt off of the 305 and bolt up to the 350.

 

that ebay motor is not a roller motor. pre'86 two piece rear main seal. if that's important to you.

 

Since we are just talking about engines right now, 400 horsepower at the wheels is right around 500 horsepower at the flywheel. Here are a few things to consider:

1. TPI won't get you there.

2. That motor likely has stock GM connecting rods and stock style rod bolts. I wouldn't trust either if you really are looking for 500 horsepower out of a 350. You will have to turn some rpm with a 350 to get that kind of horsepower.

3. A 64 cc head would put that setup close to 11:1. Most vortec heads cc in the 62 range. That is a lot of compression for an iron headed street car. I don't think a vortec head will get you to your goal either.

4. That camshaft is wrong for your stated goals.

What kind of induction do you want to run? Is this going to be a pure street car or more of a weekend toy? What kind of budget are you working with?