Just picked up a 92 350TBI motor out of a Caprice. Supposedly about 90K on it. Guy gave me new lifters, gaskets, water pump, etc. I pulled out the cam and its a solid cam. I currently have a LB9 in my car that runs very good, see signature. On a tight budget, so if I build the 350, how much of a difference will I be able to tell between rollers and solid? I would also use my 305 heads instead of the 193's it came with. I want the car drivable but still fast enough to get down the track ocassionally, what cam duration should I go with. Also got a set of Magnaflow headers to go on. Ultimately, would I be better off tweeking my LB9 or building the 350?

 

I seriously doubt they're "solid". Flat tappet I'd believe. But hydraulic, nonetheless. If flat tappet, then the engine was not originally a Caprice engine, as they all got hydraulic roller.

Is the block machined for the retainers? If not, forget roller and just put in a flat tappet cam. There isn't enough difference to justify going roller.

What kind of lifters did the guy give you? Are they new, or used?

3rd gen Magnaflow headers? Never heard of that.

Duration in the 220 @ .050" lift range gives decent performance mixed with street manners.

The 350 is almost always a better bet than building a 305.

 

Flat Tappet is correct, I just out of habit refer to them both as either roller or solid. Its really stupid how GM does the block codes. I pulled this one14093638, and its listed as either a roller or flat tappet. They should be more exact. It is not machined for roller retainers. And the headers are Flowtechs, not Magnaflow, my bad. Still not sure what to do with it. I only drive the car about once a month. But I got all the 350 stuff, motor and stand for $150, couldn't pass that up. The guy needed cash. Also the wives wanting more horse stuff, so she may let me spend a little more now. I also still have to pass emmisions

If I go 350, heres what I plan:

Stock bore
Small cam
my 305TPI heads
Headers
24lbs injectors
All MSD Ingition with a 6A box
Adjustable AFPR at 50lbs
A.I.R delete
K&N Cold Air

Any idea what kinda hp I should get outta this?

 

The casting number only tells you that - what casting it is. They used the same casting for a lot of different things. That one just happens to be what I've got, built into a ZZ3 crate engine. They also put them in trucks, which is what I suspect yours was, as they often didn't machine for the roller lifter provisions (saves money, don't you know?) for the trucks.

How much power you get out depends to a large part upon the cam. If you're keeping stock TPI, then you don't want too much cam, but you do want one that is computer-friendly. I believe something like a Comp XE258 or XE262 would fill that bill. 24lb injectors are overkill, and would probably hurt you in the low RPM/cruise range. Stick with 22lb - actually, you would probably get by fine with the 19lb 305 injectors with that bump up in fuel pressure.

Were you planning on doing anything with the heads, such as 1.94" intake valves and basic clean-up porting? That would help, especially on a 350.

That combo should put out slightly more than a stock L98.

 

I was gonna look around on the boards and get some tips on the heads. The cams you have listed, what duraton are they? Will I have to touch my computer with these changes?

 

I guess in flat tappet it's an XE256, Comp p/n 12-256-4. 256/268, 212/218 @ .050", .449"/.456", 112 LSA, computer compatible, 1200-5200 RPM range. Your computer would be happy with that one. Aftermarket runners would make it even happier.

The XE262 is p/n 12-262-4, 262/268, 218/224 @ .050", .464"/.470", 114 LSA, computer compatible, 1500-5500 RPM range. You would at least have to do aftermarket runners to get the most out of that one, but the computer would still be happy.

There are also a couple of "CS" computer compatible cams in the 260 range, but lift is only .444" - I wouldn't go with one of those.

 

Thanks 57,
Although, I just made another discovery. The motor is a roller. I finally got the old lifters off the guy and they are roller lifters, whew! Any new suggestions on a good roller cam? Or should I go with the flat tappet? I've got a new ft cam he gave me and new lifters.

 

Similar XR grind, then. If you've got roller, I'd stick with it. The cam costs more, but a flat tappet cam/lifter kit would also require new pushrods (if the motor has roller lifters now). Overall, roller is preferred. But, if flat tappet, probably not worth converting to.