I just bought an 87 z28 iroc-z that looks pretty sweet. In all honesty this is one of my favorite bodystyles of camaro but I can't say honestly why. Anyways, the guy I got it from says the (TPI) engine is knocking.

I have an older carbed 350 complete engine that I would really like to put in to the car. I see tons of how-to's explaining the process of switching to carb intake, but what about switching the complete engine to an older block.

Will it be basically the same, what more would be involved in swapping in the entire engine? Or would I be better off sticking to a newer block and rebuilding it?

 

you can swap it in, but the rear flexplate needs to be a 153 tooth version to use the same starter. it's not that bad of a swap, i did it for a buddy of mine, got it done pretty quickly actually. while you're there do a oil pump swap and regasket the motor along with some fresh paint on it--really clean up the engine bay.

 

is it basically the same or is a lot needed to be changed

 

Depends upon how much "older" this 350 is. If the dipstick is on the driver's side, that is more complicated than if it's on the passenger side.

Are you planning on replacing the longblock only? I.E., retaining the TPI? If so, you'll have a slight mismatch of the center two intake manifold mount bolt angles on each side, but that can be handled with a rat tail file.

Or, if the heads on your current engine are okay, it might make more sense to just change out the shortblock. Same story as above regarding the flexplate and dipstick, but your current heads are pretty good pieces, most likely much better than the "older" 350 heads, and would make the TPI installation a lot easier.

 

Well I really want to replace the entire engine because I want to replace the entire thing with the built carbed motor I had in my rx7 for a while. IMO the platform is much better than the TPI that I've heard so little good about. Not that I hate the TPI, just that I invested a lot of money in the engine I already have I'd rather put the whole thing in there.

But anyways.

So I'm wondering did the 87's start using a different style block? I mean what would make the swap so difficult seeing as to how they are both SBC's, I would want to think that the heads and intake would be the only difference?

 

'87 was the first year for roller lifter cams, first year for centerbolt valve covers, first year for the center two intake mount bolts on each side being at 72 degrees instead of 90 degrees, 2nd year for one-piece rear main seal crank, 7th year for passenger side dipstick, last year for V-belts, last year for slotted pushrod holes/non-self-aligning rocker arms, 3rd to the last year for MAF TPI. . . The list of SBC changes over the years goes on & on. How those changes stack up to affect you with your older 350 block depends entirely on how old the block is.

There are plenty of pros and cons to TPI. The biggest "pro" is it is emissions-legal. Right after that is good fuel economy. Biggest "con" is cost of performance upgrades, 2nd to that is limited power capability even with upgrades.

 

I know the majority of the differences that you listed off. But none of that is really important because I'm not mixing older parts with the ones already there. I want to ditch them completely. Dont get me wrong I appreciate the help, but what I'm really trying to get at is stuff like,

-are the mounts going to be the same? where can I buy good mounts?
-will I have a hard time finding regular headers that are going to clear?
-what is a good choice for ignition and what is the best way to go about it?
-will I have trouble using the a/c, power stearing, and alternator that are in place?
-will I have any trouble with sensors?

I've read the walkthrough on converting from injection to carb so that gives me an idea of what I'm going through but I'm wondering what problems I will run into changing the entire engine.

 

Mount provisions on the engine itself haven't changed from 1958 through the LT1's. Just get aftermarket poly mount inserts (Jegs, Summit, etc.) for the chassis, use the engine-mounted parts from your current engine.

No problem. Check the exhaust forum. Hooker 2055HKR's are an excellant shorty/y-pipe choice.

The typical coil-in-cap (large cap) vacuum/mechanical advance HEI. Summit, Jegs, GM, all have new replacement types.

No.

You'll be eliminating the "sensors". You'll need the oil pressure gage sending unit and the temp gage sending unit (the one in the head).

Nothing additional except the work of changing the engine.

 

nifty dude, you've been a ton of help.

I appreciate it!

Teardown will start this weekend then

 

Detail on the distributor: You have a small-cap, separately-mounted coil. If you go with the large-cap, coil-in-cap HEI, the power wire is currently on the coil, and will go to the distributor cap on the new distributor. Or, you can go with a small cap vacuum/mechanical distributor, and stay with your current coil arrangement.

 

again depending on how old is "older" i believe a really old 350 would have diffrent valve seats for leaded gasoline.