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LB9 to L31 swap

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Old 03-26-2011, 02:24 PM
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Car: 92 T/A 'vert
Engine: Mild .040 over L98 4 bolt mains
Transmission: Mostly stock 700R4, 2600 Vigilante
Axle/Gears: LS1 3.42
LB9 to L31 swap

If I use a 350 vortec short block for my swap, will the ancillary parts, (harmonic balancer, flex plate, etc.), from the 305 TPI bolt up correctly to the new engine? Do I use engine specific or model specific parts? I'm getting all new stuff so I want to know what to order. Thanks!
Old 03-26-2011, 06:05 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Unless the 305 is '85, the answer is "yes".
Old 03-26-2011, 07:06 PM
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Engine: Mild .040 over L98 4 bolt mains
Transmission: Mostly stock 700R4, 2600 Vigilante
Axle/Gears: LS1 3.42
Re: LB9 to L31 swap

Sorry. I was a little vague. The TPI in question is my 'vert which is a '92, so I should get parts for a '92 and not for a truck, correct?
Old 03-26-2011, 07:14 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Sticking with the 305 heads?

Sounds like it'll be '92 305 parts if so.
Old 03-26-2011, 07:27 PM
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Car: 92 T/A 'vert
Engine: Mild .040 over L98 4 bolt mains
Transmission: Mostly stock 700R4, 2600 Vigilante
Axle/Gears: LS1 3.42
Re: LB9 to L31 swap

Got a set of small chamber Trickflow 175's, the ones patterned after 113's and will work with a 305 , so yeah, 305 heads. I was gonna' warm up the 305 but am looking at a pretty good deal for a rebuilt L31 short block so I'm undecided but trying to talk myself into going 350. It just kills me to dump my meticulously maintained, 55K mile 305 bottom end.
Old 03-26-2011, 07:34 PM
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Car: 92 T/A 'vert
Engine: Mild .040 over L98 4 bolt mains
Transmission: Mostly stock 700R4, 2600 Vigilante
Axle/Gears: LS1 3.42
Re: LB9 to L31 swap

Oh. The heads are '87 - up intake face.
Old 03-26-2011, 07:39 PM
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Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Spark plugs will be whatever Trickflow says to use.
Old 03-26-2011, 07:40 PM
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Axle/Gears: LS1 3.42
Re: LB9 to L31 swap

Gotcha'! Thanks for the help.
Old 03-26-2011, 08:11 PM
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Re: LB9 to L31 swap

Pop the vortec reluctor wheel off behind the timing cover to use the TPI balancer. If you dont it will push the balancer out .125" which is enough to wreck your belt
Old 03-26-2011, 08:24 PM
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Car: 92 T/A 'vert
Engine: Mild .040 over L98 4 bolt mains
Transmission: Mostly stock 700R4, 2600 Vigilante
Axle/Gears: LS1 3.42
Re: LB9 to L31 swap

Good to know. I'm pretty sure this particular engine comes w/o the timing cover, so if it's there, it'll be easy to see/remove. Thanks!
Old 03-26-2011, 10:08 PM
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Car: 92 T/A 'vert
Engine: Mild .040 over L98 4 bolt mains
Transmission: Mostly stock 700R4, 2600 Vigilante
Axle/Gears: LS1 3.42
Re: LB9 to L31 swap

Here's my quandary: The following 2 pics show the 2 engines with the parts I've accumulated over the past coupla' years, with adjustments for slightly different head flow due to bore size and a difference in compression due to same. Now, I understand that Comp Cams' "desktop dyno" is not 100% accurate but I believe it gives a pretty good comparison of the 2 motors with the same equipment. Due to the low RPM nature of TPI, (though I won't be using the stock stuff, the program doesn't allow for any other choice), I gain a a fair amount of torque but not all that much HP. And, while torque is more what I'm interested in, (don't need big numbers on the dyno/time slip; just wanna' terrorize a few kids in their Hondas), I'm gonna' have enough to probably have drive line/traction issues with the 305, let alone the 350. Also, the 350's torque curve appears to be a lot "peakier", (is that a word?), than the 305. In other words, my return on investment, (around $1000-1200), is rather low. If the 305 was shot, there would be no doubt about stepping up. But, it checks out good, (good compression/leak down, no oil burning, no noise, etc.). I dunno'.
Attached Thumbnails LB9 to L31 swap-305-medium-.jpg   LB9 to L31 swap-350.jpg  
Old 03-06-2019, 08:00 PM
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Re: LB9 to L31 swap

a 350 vs a 305 is like Angelina Jolie vs a blowup doll.......
Old 03-06-2019, 08:02 PM
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Re: LB9 to L31 swap

Did you even look at the post date ?
Old 03-09-2019, 02:11 PM
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Re: LB9 to L31 swap

i stand by what i said! i always seem to miss the dates but this is relevant to what im currently doing.
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