im looking to changing out my engine out of my 88 Z28 but dont know if i could put any 350 in i know the one i have is a roller and i know that its less stress on the engine but other then that i just need help finding a good engine that will work with my TPI setup

 

Pretty much any '69-up Gen I 350 will "fit" and can be made to "work" with TPI. Some choices are better than others.

The casting quality of the '87-up blocks was much better than previous, and most of those were roller-lifter-ready. The one-piece rear main seal is much less prone to leakage.

The big thing, though, is the heads. Most 350's available for sale are from trucks, which pretty much universally had rotten heads (from a performance standpoint). The exception to that rule would be the "Vortec" engines from '96-'99 - which actually are good candidates for a TPI build. Only thing is you need a different TPI base to match up to the Vortec ports (one of the things that makes the Vortec heads so good) and bolt pattern.

Oh, the '96-'99 Vortec truck 350 engines used roller lifters.

 

Would a ZZ4 type Gen I 350 work?

 

Yes, but it has aluminum heads with the '86-earlier 90 degree intake manifold mount pattern, and no exhaust crossover passages for the EGR. Since the '86-1/2 - '91 Vettes used the same (or at least, similar) heads, you can use a Vette TPI base and plumb exhaust externally from the exhaust manifold/header to the EGR valve.