Hey all, I've got an 83 z28 with the 305 carbed. I want to pull it, and put a freshly built 350 into it. My brother has a 91 RS with the 3.1L v6, we want to attempt a v8 swap with a 350.

We're planning to do these projects together, so we'll just keep it to this one thread if we can get some help from all of you

We're trying to go with a cheap, minimal work involved build. Which engine series 350's would we need? I'm keeping mine carbed, his will need to remain fuel injected due to California's smog garbage.

Which years of the thirdgens 350's can we use? Or which motors period? We want to use the old series 350's, not the LT'S or LS series. (I know you guys wanna bash this, but its personal thing, so please dont!)

Any advice would be great, we're gunna start this project very soon, if theres ANYTHING you can tell me about what i can use in this project, post! I'll check daily.

 

the 305 to 350 would not be any problem at all you just unbolt everything, mark everything and install the 350 and adjust the carb. the v6 to v8 though isnt so easy. you will most likly have to get a different trans because it either wont have the right input shaft(manual) or it wont be able to hold the power and the motor mounts will have to be changed and moved and then the computer will have to be changed but im not sure about the wiring.

 

Being in Cali, you should use an '87-up 350 block in the RS. It's the best choice anyway. Pickup truck blocks are most likely, and that's fine, just don't get the casting number 193 heads. If you can find 906 or 062 heads, get those, they're worth the hassle.
Is the RS going to be TBI or TPI? Stick, or automatic?
In fact, the '87-up block is the better choice for the '83 also. Mostly because of the provisions for the far superior roller lifters. They are worth it. And again, if you can give it a set of 906 or 062 heads, they are worth it.

 

The 906 & 062 (Vortec) heads don't have the exhaust cross-over passage, so the EGR valve won't work unless you pipe exhaust up to the intake manifold to feed the valve.

Also, technically, they are not emissions legal because they were never used in passenger cars. If you can sneak them by the inspector, then you will surely sniff clean enough. But, you'll always be taking a chance if you use Vortec heads, because the next inspection just may be the time they call you on it.

 

Chevy High Performance magazine did this to a '92 Camaro RS, they used GMPP's TBI Vortec intake manifold, with external plumbing for the EGR. And they did it in California. It's now a California-approved method. Just don't get too crazy with the cam. And if you go this route on the Z28, GMPP offers an aluminum intake based on the Edelbrock Performer Vortec, but the GMPP version has provisions for external EGR. It runs close to $300. I know, I have one I was going to use on my '84 Trans Am.
So, for carb, the GM p.n. is 12496820 from any GM parts outlet
______TBI ______________12496821 from any GM parts outlet
______TPI ______________12498060 from www.sdparts.com ONLY!

 

Yeah the 83 z28, is a 305 with 5 spd M/t. The 91 RS is a 3.1l v6 with the 5 spd m/t.
The 83 will stay carburated if this horrible state allows it, where the 91 will remain fuel injected, most likely, a TBI setup since TPI is a bit more hassle. Simple/Cheap/EASY is the goal im lookin for haha. Also, i dont wanna have to fight CA's smog laws by using heads that i'll fight every year through the smog inspections. As for blocks, i didnt know i could use a motor from the chevy trucks in the car, i thought the dimensions were different?? This will be my first swap project, so expect alot of questions down the road ^ ^

 

I told you, it's been California-approved, so there won't ever be any fighting. The Vortec heads are worth the pricier intake manifolding.
The truck 350 blocks are the exact same in every way as the corvette and Camaro blocks, no matter which year you're referring to. This has been true since the fifties, and remained true until the end of the SBC in production vehicles. Yes, the '99 Silverado 1500 went to the new LS series, but the HD pickups and fullsize vans kept using the SBC 350 Vortec engines through '01.
The casting numbers are the same, the dimensions are the same, the mounts are the same, et cetera, there's nothing to cause any trouble.
Since you gotta get something, and since the best is legal and doesn't cost extra, get the best.

 

If it's been C.A.R.B. approved, there should be a number associated with it. Just showing them a magazine article most likely won't cut it.

Not saying it isn't true (stopped my subscription to that mag a few years back), but haven't seen anything "official" on it. (Searched their website and didn't find it)

 

no argument there. However, the C.A.R.B. does keep their own records of what their referee stations have approved in the past.