Hey guys, I've got an 87 Iroc 305TPI, and I love it. However, I recently started school in DC and left the car garaged in New Jersey. Everything was fine and dandy, until I saw some guy driving a 3rd gen, and realized I needed my baby.

Before bringing the car down here, I decided I want to build an engine for a swap. This would be my first engine building experience. I want to go ***** deep and get a carbed 350, and when I do the swap put in a 5 speed tranny (the current one is an auto).

What advice can you guys give me? I've got a garage at my new place that I can use, and I'm planning on building the engine using one of those autozone big block manuals or something along those lines. Is there a certain direction I should take this build from the very beginning to make it carb and manual compatible? I realize that crate engines are available, but I'd rather see the fruits of my own labor.

Thanks for all your help in advance.

-Alex

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

Factory 5-speeds are weak. A T56 would be a much better choice. The T56's that came behind '93-'97 f-body LT1's would hold up a lot longer.

Are you set on carb? A take-out LT1/T56 would provide the benefits of EFI while having sufficient punch (at least potential) to keep smiles plentiful. LT1's tend to have more miles on them, so a rebuild with some good stuff thrown in would satisfy the fruits of one's labor aspect.