I swapped out the old L03 for a new 350 TPI and was wondering what can I do to the engine to make it a half way decent runner. Here are my questions:

What can I do to the heads as far as porting??

What about running a carb and different intake manifold??

What about a cam or bottom end??

Thanks for the suggestions--

 

Heads:
Remove from block, remove all components, lay both heads on table so that holes align, run a 1ft chunk of chain through both heads and attach with bolt/washers, tie on 30ft of rope, and drop over the side of your boat for an anchor.

Then get a decent set of heads. One option is #416 casting heads, port/polish according to threads here at TGO, have them cut for 1 size larger intake valves, install new springs and valve seals, new Manley race valves (you can reuse the stock exhaust valves), and 1.6:1 roller tip rockers. Another option is the Vortec heads everyone raves about.

I have this done to my 1990 LO3 RS, with a carb intake, LT1 cam, and headers - and I can feel the power in there, but the chip is holding it back. I'm sure there's potential there if I installed a carb and ditched the TBI and ECM - but she got set to the side while I started over with my 1992 350 carb swap project.

I'm sure others may have better ideas.

 

Not exactly an LO3, but except for the TBI computer stuff, everything else applies to your engine:

325 HP 305 build

 

i have an LO3 and i found this site for great stuff to do to the engine
Hot Rodding the 5.0 L03

 

That crap just REFUSES to die... written by somebody that NEVER DID about 90% of what he wrote about; the site has been just a cobweb now for what, 5 years or more, since he finally gave up on trying to break out of the 16s and sold the car; and people just KEEP ON posting it anyway.

I'd ignore that link as mostly just a single click straight to Fantasy Land.

As said, throw the heads away, and get others; 081 casting off of a 87-up LG4, L69, or LB9 would be the ones of choice.

If you have to TOUCH the short block, throw it away too. Do the math, it's real simple.

"Free" 305 shortblock + rebuild = the same price as buying a 350 core + rebuild

Except the difference is, that THE SAME MONEY spent on the 350 route buys you about 20% more power. In other words, apply the same logic you would, if you went to the grocery store. Very few people that I know, at least ones whose domestic staff doesn't wear white lab coats, will go to the store, and look at something sitting on the shelf, and think "I just want to 'be different', so I believe I'll pay the full price but I'll leave some of the product sitting on the shelf". But yet, that's exactly what rebuilding a 305 short block is; and people seem to do that all the time. Oh well, I guess I'll never understand humans, they're just too illogical; I can only hope that the next planet I'm assigned to has an intelligent life form on it.

Cubic inches are the cheapest power money can buy.

 

 

There is so much misinformation on that site that it's tempting to edit out the link for the sake of anyone who might come across this thread.

 

really five7? I thought sofa was the main guy who was so "maligned" against TBI.... et tu brutus? What are the "lies" in the article?

hmm, they do say that 400cid is about the limit of a TBI unit... So, uh, sofa, think you'll try one of those factory TBI units on your 400 next? c'mon, it'd be easy to tune right? Then we can race for pinks
hahahaha