Please Help! 305 Carb to 350 TPI swap
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Car: 1983 Camaro Berlinetta
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Please Help! 305 Carb to 350 TPI swap
I bought a 1985 Corvette TPI, but I have read very bad things about the 624 heads, so I am looking to get the best heads possible to complete the conversion. If I go vortec I have to get a new manifold and I would be going from 76cc to 64cc would that be an acceptable application?
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
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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 increase in compression wouldn't be an issue. You might have to use mid-grade or premium instead of regular is all.
'86-1/2-'91 Vettes used aluminum heads with the same bolt pattern as your '85. 113 castings are the most common. They are okay, better than the 624s without a doubt. But, the Vortecs would probably run better (the TPI itself will become the limiting factor). Wouldn't be surprised if the Vortecs and intake could be had for less money than 113s.
'86-1/2-'91 Vettes used aluminum heads with the same bolt pattern as your '85. 113 castings are the most common. They are okay, better than the 624s without a doubt. But, the Vortecs would probably run better (the TPI itself will become the limiting factor). Wouldn't be surprised if the Vortecs and intake could be had for less money than 113s.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 8
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Car: 1983 Camaro Berlinetta
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Please Help! 305 Carb to 350 TPI swap
Thank you for your feedback on the head swap. I found some aluminum after market heads for $650 I am thinking of going in that direction now. I have done some research and Scoggin Dickey sold the rights to his intake manifold to edelbrock so that increased the price by $150 so that really hurt my wallet if I wanted to do Vortecs.
Do you think that the aluminum after market heads would be a better investment anyway?
Do you think that the aluminum after market heads would be a better investment anyway?
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 43
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
Depends upon what the aftermarket heads are. Most likely they would be better than 113s, may or may not be better than Vortecs, not very likely they aren't better than 624s.
Edelbrock always made the SDPC Vortec TPI base. They sold it with their branding for less than SDPC did. I haven't checked prices lately, but I always thought either was overpriced, because you need aftermarket runners to make it work, which raises the cost even more.
The option that always made more sense to me is the Holley Stealth Ram. It combines base/runners/plenum, although you do need to use different fuel rails (and perhaps TB). You'll have a much better piece in the end for less money than Edelbrock base/aftermarket runners. And the Stealth Ram is available in both Gen I SBC and Vortec versions. Only possible drawback is it doesn't have EGR if you need to meet emissions inspection requirements.
Edelbrock always made the SDPC Vortec TPI base. They sold it with their branding for less than SDPC did. I haven't checked prices lately, but I always thought either was overpriced, because you need aftermarket runners to make it work, which raises the cost even more.
The option that always made more sense to me is the Holley Stealth Ram. It combines base/runners/plenum, although you do need to use different fuel rails (and perhaps TB). You'll have a much better piece in the end for less money than Edelbrock base/aftermarket runners. And the Stealth Ram is available in both Gen I SBC and Vortec versions. Only possible drawback is it doesn't have EGR if you need to meet emissions inspection requirements.
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