Aight, I don't know how 'stupid' or 'obvious' some of this stuff is going to sound... I did a few searches to make sure I wasn't asking repeating questions but didn't come up with too much. I'm just going to ask everything to clarify all doubt and to get it all 'out there'.

I've got the engine out of my blue '91 Z28(in sig) getting a bad gasket fixed and being freshended up, but over the past year, all I can think about is getting a new '91 - '92 Z28 and starting from scratch and building the car up slowly and exactly how I want it to be. The thought is of selling my car once it's back together and purring, and buying another Camaro, but here's where my questions start.

I want to get a '91 - '92 Z28, thinking of getting a 305 auto because they can be found cheaper than L98's and come with T-Tops! I am wanting to remove factory 305 and purchase a GM ZZ4 crate engine...

1. Looking at the ZZ4 crate engine - the motor mounts will still match up with the stock 305 mounts correct?

2. The stock(but built) 700r4 will match up to a ZZ4, correct?

3. All existing 305 Z28 parts will match up completely fine, correct? As in, no need for another radiator, or whatever else right?

4. Immediately after getting the engine, a few minor upgrades are wanted to be done, will that void the GM warranty(probably yes, but want to ask first)?

5. Is there any other parts that I will have to have to make the ZZ4 work replacing a 305 TPI? Is it worth it to upgrade the ZZ4 to Fuel Injected, or to modify the car over to carb?

6. Going off question #5, if the hassle & money in converting engine to fuel inject or car to carb, is it worth it to just purchase a crate fuel injected engine?

Thanks for the answers. I'm not planning to build a 11sec car or anything... I may have the heads worked on/upgraded, upgrade the valvetrain, put on a better intake/carb and then do headers and probably call it good and install in the Camaro

 

The engine will bolt in and TPI bolt on with almost no issues.

The aluminum heads of the ZZ4 crate engine don't have the exhaust cross-over passages, from which the EGR valve obtains its exhaust gases. The '87-TPI engines have intake mount bolts in the center two positions on each side which are at 72 degrees, rather than the 90 degrees on the ZZ4 engine like the rest of the mount bolts. These two issues can be easily overcome by getting a Vette TPI base.

There are also reports of the aluminum heads missing an accessory bolt hole on the end of the head. Mount up the bracket using the holes that are there, match-drill and tap the missing hole. No further issue.

'91-'92 TPI (and '90, for that matter) is the "speed density" type. It is very well suited to engine power output increases, but requires PROM tuning to accommodate it. Also, the ZZ4 will work best with TPI upgrades such as aftermarket base (hint: get a Vette base), runners, and ported plenum. And a total exhaust upgrade as well. These things will each affect PROM tuning, so figure on that being part of the equation no matter what.

I'd say it would be worth it to put EFI on it, just be ready to modify it.

If you do anything to the internals of the engine, such as a cam change, you just voided the warranty.

 

So your saying, for the time being, the TPI from the stock 305 will bolt right up to the ZZ4? And everything will function flawlessly? The intake will probably be upgraded from stock 305 intake, but I did not know the TPI bolted right up without any type of customizing/additional parts.

The Vette TPI base's... is there a 'certain' one I need to look for or what? I'm searching the internet but I'm getting such a wide variety of returns, I don't know what I'm looking at. Roughly how much do these base's cost? And I assume they pretty much bolt right up from where the original TPI base was?

PROM tuning is not a problem... do you think it's worth doing internal engine work on the ZZ4 immediately after getting it, or waiting a few months/x amount of miles before I go through and do the work... if I do?

 

It will bolt on, but it won't perform flawlessly. PROM tuning is a must, and stock TPI hardware will severely restrict the ZZ4.

The Edelbrock 3860 base (~$385 from Summit) is one that will work (it's also the '85-'86 application). The 3890 is base and runners (~$700).

SLP used to make a Big Mouth base, I don't see it on their website anymore.

After that, you're looking at Super Ram, Stealth Ram (only see a Vortec version on Summit), or Miniram.

It would certainly be easier to do internal engine mods (like cam) while the engine is out. But, you'd void the warranty. So, you need to decide which is more important to you.