I'm looking at a 350 w/ 700r4 from a 1991 chevy truck, whats the difference between these and the ones used in the camaro's/other cars?

Would I be able to relatively cheaply change them to be good for a camaro (like swap heads/intake or cam, etc)?

 

The block itself is identical.

 

Most of the truck motors don't have the roller cam. The block has the bosses in the lifter valley for the spider bolts for a roller cam but thats about it difference wise.

 

Correct. The truck TBI motors had provisions for roller set-ups but implemented flat tappet set-ups. Some truck motors do not have the bosses tapped for the lifter spider should you choose to do a roller conversion.

 

So the only diff is a flat tappet cam and most can be converted to a roller cam. How much less power you think it has and is it a direct drop in replacement for a 305 tpi?

 

I just read this info and it was easy to just cut and paste from an active thread in the TBI forum. A quick search on the internet will also yeild you some answers. These truck motors can be used in your car but under the assumption that you transfer over everything from your current motor. I would re-use your cam and heads as to avoid and ECM issues.

"The truck LO5s were rated as high as 210 fwhp in 1995, and that was using a cam that was, IIRC, the same as (or slightly warmer than) the peanut roller cam --- but not as warm as the L98 cam."

-kdrolt


"The K-vin 350 as installed in a 1992 G20 was 210 HP @ 4,000 and 300 ft/lbs @ 2,800.

The H-vin 305 was 185 HP @ 4,200 and 275 ft/lbs @ 2,400 in the same year G-Series.

Truck ratings are very similar."
-Fast355

 

Some of the truck engines also had what was termed a "high swirl" type of head. It was designed for low end torque, not high end horsepower. The current crop of GM Goodwrench replacement engines being sold today for 1987-1995 TBI setups are of this type of head and are rated about 200 HP and that's it. You may want to investigate the type of heads on this puppy to see if it has the low-rated high swirl heads. If so, you may be looking to swap the heads out on it. Good luck!
Brad