350 HO Swap!!
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From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
350 HO Swap!!
So I'm doing a swap in my 88 GTA. Swapping the L98 for a 350 HO from GM. This engine is rated at 330hp, and I am going to be adding a Holley Stealth Ram.
I currently have a full exhaust system: Hooker 2055-1 headers, Magnaflow Hi-Flo cat, and Magnaflow stainless steel system.
Would this be a nice set-up?
-For those who know what kind of power am I looking at at the wheels?
-And what pound injectors should I run?
Also I have upgraded with Hotchkis's rear suspension kit and a B&M transkit with ratchet shifter.
Thanks a bunch!!
And is there anything that you guys would not suggest?
Thanks again.
I currently have a full exhaust system: Hooker 2055-1 headers, Magnaflow Hi-Flo cat, and Magnaflow stainless steel system.
Would this be a nice set-up?
-For those who know what kind of power am I looking at at the wheels?
-And what pound injectors should I run?
Also I have upgraded with Hotchkis's rear suspension kit and a B&M transkit with ratchet shifter.
Thanks a bunch!!
And is there anything that you guys would not suggest?
Thanks again.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Although the HSR will help, TPI limits the output of that engine.
A little more money, and will include a base you can't use (could sell it to offset the HSR), but a good performer - http://www.sdparts.com/product/SD360...ripEngine.aspx
Better cam, roller lifters, better heads (the 330 HO is lift-limited).
A little more money, and will include a base you can't use (could sell it to offset the HSR), but a good performer - http://www.sdparts.com/product/SD360...ripEngine.aspx
Better cam, roller lifters, better heads (the 330 HO is lift-limited).
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
I'm just looking to produce 340-380 hp at the wheels, I don't really want more than 380. It's going to be a daily driver and I want a performer that is going to be built on a budget. Ya know?
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
The 330 HO is going to be about 75 HP short of 330 at the wheels, let alone 340-380 at the wheels.
Last edited by five7kid; Mar 10, 2009 at 06:37 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 718
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From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
So you suggest that scoggin dickey crate. . .
Well there is a shop in my city here and he suggests having a 383 but tuned down a little bit. He could get the long block for around 5400$ cnd. That's a good bang for the buck huh?
Well there is a shop in my city here and he suggests having a 383 but tuned down a little bit. He could get the long block for around 5400$ cnd. That's a good bang for the buck huh?
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Whatever power you want/need at the rear wheels needs to be about 25% more at the flywheel. The 330 HP is a gross flywheel rating.
Whether or not you "need" more - well, probably not for a nice running street car.
Whether or not you "need" more - well, probably not for a nice running street car.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
So that 350HO will not bring me to 350 horses?
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 90
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From: MA
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: Chevy 350 .040 over
Transmission: 700R4
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/f...26DK73488&trk=
I was looking at the same engine as you over the winter and found there are definitely some better choices out there. This one might be a little more hp than what you are looking for but I think it's a better deal over all. I got lucky and found a nice deal on craigslist, but that's risky too.
I was looking at the same engine as you over the winter and found there are definitely some better choices out there. This one might be a little more hp than what you are looking for but I think it's a better deal over all. I got lucky and found a nice deal on craigslist, but that's risky too.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
So it was a direct fit for a tpi car? They're vortec heads which is good because I'm doing a vortec stealth ram.
Just curious what your power is at the wheels?
Just curious what your power is at the wheels?
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
Maybe the following will help perspective a bit: I purchased the 350 HO Deluxe based on a review/build up, dyno test in CarCraft (Feb. 04). With iron exhaust manifolds, 2 1/4" exhaust pipes and a pair of turbo mufflers, the HO Deluxe managed 354 lb-ft of torque and 320 hp (which apparently wasn't the way that GM tested). Throwing on Hedman 1 5/8" long tubes, with no other changes, added 23 lb-ft of torque and 17 hp. The three-part write-up is quite interesting.
JamesC
JamesC
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 90
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From: MA
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: Chevy 350 .040 over
Transmission: 700R4
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
I didn't buy the year one engine. I found one someone else had built part by part. Someone else recommended that year one for my car. I called year one and they were helpful in talking about application. You could try that.
Last edited by bminnix; Mar 12, 2009 at 03:17 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: MA
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: Chevy 350 .040 over
Transmission: 700R4
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
Okay, so what do you think of Year One's "Power Crate 400hp 350 crate engine" #CT350PC1? With a Holley stealth ram # 7542P, and fuel rails w/afpr # 534-193, and accel 28 lb injectors, and Holley 58mm throttle body # 112-503, and Hooker # 2460-1 headers w/ custom 3inch ypipe, and Magnaflow exhaust system # 16829.
Would that be a strong set up that would bring me to 350+ rwhp?
Thanks guys!
Would that be a strong set up that would bring me to 350+ rwhp?
Thanks guys!
Supreme Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,087
Likes: 1
From: St. Petersburg, FL
Car: 88 Camaro
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
get the 355
you can toss semi similar parts (price wise) at it and crank out 500hp+

It way out performed the 327 and the 383.
Seems like your gonna spend a lot of money but unsure of what you want.
you can toss semi similar parts (price wise) at it and crank out 500hp+ 
It way out performed the 327 and the 383.
Seems like your gonna spend a lot of money but unsure of what you want.
Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Car: 89 Formy
Engine: carbed 355ci
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: 3.73 10 Bolt
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/f...26DK73488&trk=
I was looking at the same engine as you over the winter and found there are definitely some better choices out there. This one might be a little more hp than what you are looking for but I think it's a better deal over all. I got lucky and found a nice deal on craigslist, but that's risky too.
I was looking at the same engine as you over the winter and found there are definitely some better choices out there. This one might be a little more hp than what you are looking for but I think it's a better deal over all. I got lucky and found a nice deal on craigslist, but that's risky too.
is that cam in that thing MAF tunable?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 718
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From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
Ya, I just want to be in that 350+ rwhp range. But that yearone engine is a 355. . My local shop in the city says they could build a 383 for me but I want a street vehicle to drive to school quite a bit and still get over 20mpg in the city. .
Supreme Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,087
Likes: 1
From: St. Petersburg, FL
Car: 88 Camaro
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
383 is a lil overkill and some reason wont put up as good as numbers as the 355.
I was reading some tech articles comparing the 2
the 383 got low 400's while the 355 got 500+ and was cheaper to build
Id think a 500 hp 355 is streetable
Have you looked in catalogs like jegs and shiznit they have some decent deals on blocks, turn keys, almost complete engines.
I was reading some tech articles comparing the 2
the 383 got low 400's while the 355 got 500+ and was cheaper to build
Id think a 500 hp 355 is streetable

Have you looked in catalogs like jegs and shiznit they have some decent deals on blocks, turn keys, almost complete engines.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
Ya, that year one engine is 400 hp at the crank. So with good headers and the stealth ram that would put up 380 rwhp I'd say. I don't want to go carbuerated.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
Oh, but my local performance shop should be able to build me an engine around 380rwhp right?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 718
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From: Edmonton, Alberta.
Car: 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA.
Engine: 385 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70 Wavetrac
Re: 350 HO Swap!!
The stock L98 is a puss in the GTA. It's too weak. I want a fun vehicle that would put me in low 13s or high 12s. I plan on upgrading the suspension and the gears to probably 3.73s. I just want a really fun car that will take lots of 4th gens and 5th gens off the line. I am going to be rebuilding the transmission and adding a shift kit and ratchet shifter.
I don't want my car to just sound good, I want her to perform and take any car that gives me trouble at lights and such.
I don't want my car to just sound good, I want her to perform and take any car that gives me trouble at lights and such.
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