I have a 86 camaro z-28; 305 tpi, auto, (Ca. car), 170,000+ w/ plenty of options. Interior and body are decent. I'm working on a budget, but want to rebuild an engine to keep the car running for the time being. I have two 350 motors,( 1 from a 70 impala and 1 from a 78 caprice wagon), if I rebuilt one of these motors for the 86, would the short block mate w/ the tpi? What other problems should I anticipate? The reason I ask about the the 78 block is cause its apart at this time because it was going to get built for another vehicle but the camaro engine is now getting tired so I might as well take care of my daily driver.


any and
all answers
appreiciated,

orod

 

The intake will bolt up fine, its the early pattern. The valve covers are also ok, along with the heads, although 305 heads dont flow very well as cast. The differences you will/might run into are the 86 is a one piece rear main seal, so the flexplate is different, and the older engines may have the dipstick on the driver side rather than passenger side. Pretty sure the rest is ok.

 

If the one in the 70 has the "double-hump" heads, I'd use that one. It would be a flat-top motor with good heads, as opposed to the 78 which will be a dished-piston motor with terrible heads. They may both be 350s but they run as different as night and day. The 70 model motor would probably do 50 more HP at the crank than the 78 one, even with the TPI on it restricting it.

To me, it's a no-brainer. I'd set the 78 motor by the curb (literally — I've thrown more than one of those away) and rebuild the 70 one.