engine swap
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Joined: Aug 2012
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engine swap
1990 camaro rs 5spd. Vortex 305. I wanna swap that engine out for my crate 350. Its the 290horse economy performance engine with the 222 222 cam. I was wondering what to expect in doing this. What problems will I run into and is it worth it
Thank you and happy new year
Thank you and happy new year
Re: engine swap
SBC to SBC swap, nothing difficult
If you're switching to a carb, then some changes come into play like wiring, but being TBI to start, there isnt much to switch
If you're switching to a carb, then some changes come into play like wiring, but being TBI to start, there isnt much to switch
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
1990 305 is roller lifter, one-piece rear main seal, center two intake mount bolt holes on each side at 72 degrees, center bolt valve covers, 9.3:1 compression ratio.
The 290 horse crate engine is flat tappet lifters, 2-piece rear main seal, all intake mount bolt holes at 90 degrees, perimeter bolt valve covers, 8.5:1 CR with some of the crappiest heads GM ever made. It has a slightly better cam than the 260 horse service van fleet replacement engine they also offer - it's about $300 more for the only difference being a cam that would cost you $80. It's not a "bolt in" in the purest sense.
If you can't tell from my comments already, I think it's a very poor choice. If you plan on keeping TBI, then a better choice would be the L31 "Vortec" crate engine and then go through the steps documented in the TBI forum sticky about a budget 350 TBI swap.
The 290 horse crate engine is flat tappet lifters, 2-piece rear main seal, all intake mount bolt holes at 90 degrees, perimeter bolt valve covers, 8.5:1 CR with some of the crappiest heads GM ever made. It has a slightly better cam than the 260 horse service van fleet replacement engine they also offer - it's about $300 more for the only difference being a cam that would cost you $80. It's not a "bolt in" in the purest sense.
If you can't tell from my comments already, I think it's a very poor choice. If you plan on keeping TBI, then a better choice would be the L31 "Vortec" crate engine and then go through the steps documented in the TBI forum sticky about a budget 350 TBI swap.
Supreme Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 1
From: Streetsboro Oh
Car: 1987 T/A WS6 T-Tops/92 RS
Engine: LB9/3.1
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73/3.23
Re: engine swap
1990 305 is roller lifter, one-piece rear main seal, center two intake mount bolt holes on each side at 72 degrees, center bolt valve covers, 9.3:1 compression ratio.
The 290 horse crate engine is flat tappet lifters, 2-piece rear main seal, all intake mount bolt holes at 90 degrees, perimeter bolt valve covers, 8.5:1 CR with some of the crappiest heads GM ever made. It has a slightly better cam than the 260 horse service van fleet replacement engine they also offer - it's about $300 more for the only difference being a cam that would cost you $80. It's not a "bolt in" in the purest sense.
If you can't tell from my comments already, I think it's a very poor choice. If you plan on keeping TBI, then a better choice would be the L31 "Vortec" crate engine and then go through the steps documented in the TBI forum sticky about a budget 350 TBI swap.
The 290 horse crate engine is flat tappet lifters, 2-piece rear main seal, all intake mount bolt holes at 90 degrees, perimeter bolt valve covers, 8.5:1 CR with some of the crappiest heads GM ever made. It has a slightly better cam than the 260 horse service van fleet replacement engine they also offer - it's about $300 more for the only difference being a cam that would cost you $80. It's not a "bolt in" in the purest sense.
If you can't tell from my comments already, I think it's a very poor choice. If you plan on keeping TBI, then a better choice would be the L31 "Vortec" crate engine and then go through the steps documented in the TBI forum sticky about a budget 350 TBI swap.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 0
Re: engine swap
1990 305 is roller lifter, one-piece rear main seal, center two intake mount bolt holes on each side at 72 degrees, center bolt valve covers, 9.3:1 compression ratio.
The 290 horse crate engine is flat tappet lifters, 2-piece rear main seal, all intake mount bolt holes at 90 degrees, perimeter bolt valve covers, 8.5:1 CR with some of the crappiest heads GM ever made. It has a slightly better cam than the 260 horse service van fleet replacement engine they also offer - it's about $300 more for the only difference being a cam that would cost you $80. It's not a "bolt in" in the purest sense.
If you can't tell from my comments already, I think it's a very poor choice. If you plan on keeping TBI, then a better choice would be the L31 "Vortec" crate engine and then go through the steps documented in the TBI forum sticky about a budget 350 TBI swap.
The 290 horse crate engine is flat tappet lifters, 2-piece rear main seal, all intake mount bolt holes at 90 degrees, perimeter bolt valve covers, 8.5:1 CR with some of the crappiest heads GM ever made. It has a slightly better cam than the 260 horse service van fleet replacement engine they also offer - it's about $300 more for the only difference being a cam that would cost you $80. It's not a "bolt in" in the purest sense.
If you can't tell from my comments already, I think it's a very poor choice. If you plan on keeping TBI, then a better choice would be the L31 "Vortec" crate engine and then go through the steps documented in the TBI forum sticky about a budget 350 TBI swap.
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