I have a 1986 with LG4 and a 4BBL Quadra-Jet, 700R tranny. The car is bone stock. 177,000 miles (never rebuilt)...No ground effects and nothing fancy (no cruise, no power locks or windows).
I have found someone who has a 1988 350 T.B.I out of a GMC pick-up for $250. This engine has about 130,000 miles and needs to be rebuilt. The guy pulled the engine because it was missing and kept fouling plugs. Here are my questions: Will my intake mount onto the 350? Will my ECM run the 350 (with my Quadra-Jet if it will bolt-up) and I slightly "build" it? OR would I be better off to go with the T.B.I and get another chip? Will my tranny stand up to the 350? Lastly, would I be better off money-wise to purchase another Third-Gen that already has a 350 or a 305 with less miles and is loaded out (I can pick one up for around $2500)? By the way, this would be my FIRST rebuild. Thanks for your opinion!

 

Go ahead and swap engines. Your intake will bolt up by modifying a couple bolt holes on each side. takes 10 minutes with a drill. Or get an aftermarket intake for 87-later heads. Your ECM will be fine. Im using an LG4 computer on a fairly built 355 with no problems. Keep the quadrajet but get DR rods and a G hanger. Don't bother with Toilet Bowl Injection. It sucks. If you rebuild, ditch the heads. They are truck heads and designed for low end torque and fuel economy, not performance. look into a set of L-98 heads or do what i did and get some 882 heads and mill the chambers down to about 64cc's. As far as the bottom end of your motor, your crank and rods should be okay, but check them out to be sure. Upgrade to flat-top pistons over the original dished slugs. You should be able to freshen up that 350 for a couple hundred bucks and you can get 882's, which actually flow better than the L-98 heads, for next to nothing at a junkyard. Upgrade your cam too, just keep the duration under 220 degrees for the ECm to work right.

BTW, I did this last year at the age of 17 as my first big automotive project and if I can do it, you can. Also, Im partial to low option cars like yours-nothing to weigh em down and they make a great sleeper. Just post here if you have more questions, theres a lot of real knowledgable folks around. Have fun!

 

Muscle summed it up well. I agree that your current car is a good one to keep. The CC q-jet is fine, no need to go to the TBI (many hassles just doing it, and won't run as well as the q-jet when you get done).

I disagree on the cam statement, though. Mine has 216/228 @ .050 duration and the ECM is fine with it. It's listed as a computer-compatible cam in Summit (and on Crane's web site), and it is very much computer-compatible. Besides, the carb ECMs aren't all that smart.

You should also know that we had to talk Muscle out of going to Holley over on the carb board...

 

I should've been clearer, I meant to say that intake duration should be 220 or less @.050. At least thats what Ive heard from a couple sources.