I heard that I can got to a salvage yard and find a 350 for a few hundred dollars. Is this true, is it worth it, should I be looking at 350s from TPI camaros or are there other cars that I can get one from? What should I be looking for?

I need all the info I can get.

-Peace

 

i have the same question and how do you tell if its a 2 or 4 bolt main..i know that they cost about 200 bucks if they knew they ran but dont know what to look in or for

 

You guys need to look for one of the newer vortec 350 engines if you're wrecking yard searching.

A 350 TPI is a great find for your swaps (either car) but they are starting to get rare. A 350 from a newer (88 or newer) pickup with TBI fuel injection is a good one to start with as well. I think the best are the 95 and newer vortec 350s that came in pickup trucks and vans. I'm not sure what the last year is that they came in trucks but my work van is 2001 and it has one in it. It is a 350, has vortec heads, factory roller cam and can be had cheap.

Just my opinion guys...

 

If it matters, you pull the pan off and look, but it doesn't matter.

 

i heard that 4 bolt mains are stronger is that true..and how do you tell if its a 350 if its missing the info under the hood

 

4 bolt mains aren't stronger in any way that will matter for a street motor.

Measure the bore or check the casting numbers to find out if its a 350.

 

is there a certein casting number to look for I know theres one on the deck on the pass side and one on the back of the block

 

You need the one on the back of the block, which may or may not tell you what it is. Sometimes certain castings came in 2 or 4 bolts. Again, as stated, if you needed a 4 bolt main, you wouldn't be asking how to find out if it's a 4 bolt.

 

alright,thanks i dont really care if its a 2 or 4 bolt i just want to get rid of this damn 305....whats the easiest way to find out if its a 350 on the spot cuz these 350 go like hot cakes

 

Bring a huge list of casting numbers. *shrug* Or write down the casting number, go home and look it up and come back. Also, is your engine a 85? If so, you'll need a 85 or earlier 350. You need a 2 piece rear main seal engine OR you can buy a 1 piece rear main seal flexplate (if you buy an engine with a 1 piece seal).

 

ya the code on the deck said it was a 85 305 code is (V0816cdf/1fr100432)..I have another question if i get an 86 and newer engine can i just take the 1 piece rear main seal flexplate that came with it...and can i use my 305 wire harness or do i have to take the 350 one...i dont have an computer or emissions if that helps thanks for your time

 

305 and 350 will use the same flexplate.

 

best swap is for the tpi 350 out of the newer third gens... they are torque monsters! great moter. if u wana stay with a carb u can get a 4bolt main truck block for pretty cheep.... good luck!

 

can i use my 305 wire harness because i have no computer or emissions or do i have to use the 350 wire harness

 

Depends on the fuel injection style. In all likelyhood, if you use a fuel injected 350, the fuel map will be different from your 305 and to get the engine to run it's best you would need to either use a different chip or different computer.

If you use a carb'ed model, you can use the stock wiring for the most part. If you are retrofitting a carb into your fuel injected model, you will have to do some modification.

 

its a non cc qet i removed the computer and all its components so i can use the 305 harness

 

Hello. I see you are in PA if you are located near Allentown I am minutes away. It is a 350 TBI. It has 55,000 miles on it. It IDLES PERFECT and starts EVERYTIME, all the TIME no EXCEPTIONS. VERY STRONG MOTOR. You can hear run if you are interested it is well worth you checking out. You must pull the engine and can have the complete engine. Let me know if you are interested email formula_tpi@hotmail.com or call 610-972-6433.