for me to finally get my beast back to life! I've been saving money for a while and I have some ideas on what I want to do. My engine blew over the summer, (L98), and this mechanic I know wants to replace my blown L98 with a GM Goodwrench H.O. 350 crate engine w/ Vortec Heads. He says that the 4 bolt pattern should receive my intake manifold and TPI setup fine. He also says that all my ECU components should work fine with the new engine. On SummitRacing.com, it says that the engine is not for use in cars after 1979, due to emissions systems. Anyone have any valuable input into this engine and if this swap is doable? Personally, I have a bad feeling that it is not compatible. He says he can have that engine in my car and running right in a day. What do you guys think? Here is the website to the engine so you can check it out for yourselves:
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...5&autoview=sku
Thanks,
JCRULZ

 

Well, he's wrong, about just about everything.

The TPI base doesn't fit Vortec heads. You might be able to "make" it fit, but it wouldn't fit correctly and would be a disaster. A few years ago, Scoggin-Dickey thought a TPI base that fit Vortec heads would be the cat's meow to put on the 350HO, so they set about developing one. When they finally had one cast and machined, they put it on a 350HO and put the engine on a dyno and found out performance was pathetic - I forget the exact #'s, but well under 300, for an engine that easily put out 330 HP with a simple carb. So, back to the drawing board. Aftermarket runners, bigger cam, etc. They finally got above 330 horse using an LT4 Hot Cam, which required upgraded Vortec heads to handle it. Check their website for crate engines, www.sdpc2000.com, you'll find it. If you want a Vortec TPI engine, that is the only way to go, IMHO.

Good news is an '88 MAF TPI will handle the crate engine okay. But, you need aftermarket parts to get up to the advertised HP.

The 350HO itself is a non-emissions rated engine, as is the SDPC Vortec TPI crate. That's what Summit means. Unfortunately, they don't quite have it right, as it's '75-earlier, not '79.

 

What do you think would be my best bet in this situation? I know most likely all of the damage is in the bottom end where I turned a crankcase bearing and blew a seal, so the top end including heads should be OK. Some people have recommended buying a ZZ4 short block and working off that. Does that block take L98 heads and TPI manifold? Should I buy a 350 bare block, have it bored .030 over and upgrade it with a 383 stroker kit? I'm new to this, and if I want the car on the road this summer, I have a tight budget to work with (somewhere around 3,000 or less). I would like to have more power than the car had initially. What is your opinion on some good options here, 57?

 

I'll assume emissions isn't an issue for you. I'll also assume you want to keep EFI.

TPI is very performance-limited, requires bunches of money to improve performance, and will still be limited when you're done. In my opinion, if you go with a 383, you should consider abandoning TPI and go for Super Ram, Mini Ram, or Stealth Ram. Hear the cash register dinging yet?

The SDPC Vortec TPI crate is a very capable set-up that will require about another $7-800 to get to the level advertised (not sure why they don't just offer the runners and TB with it). And it needs very good exhaust to get there. But, it'll be a reasonably powerful engine with good street manners and economy.

The ZZ4 shortblock is pretty good. The L31 shortblock is probably just as good for a TPI setup. L98 heads will fit on either. You'll take some risks with a junk yard 350 - cracks, too much overbore required to clean up, junk rods, bent crank, need for align bore - all can be worked around, but you could end up with as much money in it as you'd spend on the L31.

Have you ever considered an LT1 swap?

 

Thanks dude, the TPI will most likely be getting booted. I have no emissions up here currently in Maine, and it seems like the best thing I can do to boost performance in my car with a small amount of cash is to go carbureted. Either that, or rebuild with a decent 350 kit and new heads. Can you find me some links on the L31 block, and the LT1? The LT1 is a Corvette engine, right?
I'm not sure about the carbureted thing, due to the computer. I imagine I would have to mess with the computer in order to get the car to run without its MAF sensor and other things. Is there any other places in this site that you can refer me to so I can learn more about engine rebuilds and swaps? I'll do some research on my own, but if there is any posts that you can think of right off that would be a help here, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for your help!
JCRULZ

 

Check the stickies at the top of the forum for LT1 info.

There's a tech article linked from the thirdgen.org homepage about switching from EFI to carb - you don't have to do anything with the computer but take out the SES light bulb and rig up a way to lock up the torque converter clutch.

The L31 shortblock is available from GM dealers and several websites such as sdpc2000.com.