Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
#1
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Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
You guys may have seen my thread about going to the junkyard and looking for L98 Corvette heads. Well the two C4 Corvettes they had, the motors were pulled. I have a 1986 Camaro IROC Z with a 305 TPI. 700R4 has been fully rebuilt and I have a full Hooker exhaust system (headers, Y-pipe and muffler).
I'm strongly considering going to the junkyard and looking for a 350 to rebuild and swap my TPI system on to it. I don't need a 600 horsepower monster, I just want a rebuilt mild 350 that I can drive for a few years and maybe in the future I can pull it again to build a 383. If possible I would like to do this for around $1,000 but not more than $1,500.
My plan is to find a Gen 1 350 engine, take it apart and really only use the block and the crank. I plan to buy one of those master rebuild kits, either the Fel Pro one from Summit or the one from Rockauto that have new pistons, connecting rods, bearings, rings, etc.If the crankshaft is good I plan to get it polished and machined. The only thing I might spend a lot of money on, is a mild comp cam. (I'm ok with using a stock replacement cam for the time being).
I plan to use the TPI and heads from my 350 as well as the electronics.
A buddy of mine who is a dealership tech, sourced a Junkyard 350 for his C10. His C10 had a 305, he found a Gen 1 350 for $75, had the crank polished, used a master rebuild kit, rebuild the 350 heads and used a mild Comp Cam. I think he said for around $600 or so he had a brand new 350 engine that's still in his truck. It's not a performance engine but it does the job.
The main question I ask is what 350 engine should I source? I believe our cars are 2 bolt mains, I'm leaning towards finding one. Any specific cars I should look for to find one?
I'm going to ask my dealership tech friend and my brother in law who is a machinist to help me with this project. I'm planning on taking my time and doing this project slowly.
My other plan is to buy a stock 350 short block and go from there. I can't find the stock GM Goodwrench shortblock any more. If anyone knows a good stock shortblock replacement that would be good too.
I'm strongly considering going to the junkyard and looking for a 350 to rebuild and swap my TPI system on to it. I don't need a 600 horsepower monster, I just want a rebuilt mild 350 that I can drive for a few years and maybe in the future I can pull it again to build a 383. If possible I would like to do this for around $1,000 but not more than $1,500.
My plan is to find a Gen 1 350 engine, take it apart and really only use the block and the crank. I plan to buy one of those master rebuild kits, either the Fel Pro one from Summit or the one from Rockauto that have new pistons, connecting rods, bearings, rings, etc.If the crankshaft is good I plan to get it polished and machined. The only thing I might spend a lot of money on, is a mild comp cam. (I'm ok with using a stock replacement cam for the time being).
I plan to use the TPI and heads from my 350 as well as the electronics.
A buddy of mine who is a dealership tech, sourced a Junkyard 350 for his C10. His C10 had a 305, he found a Gen 1 350 for $75, had the crank polished, used a master rebuild kit, rebuild the 350 heads and used a mild Comp Cam. I think he said for around $600 or so he had a brand new 350 engine that's still in his truck. It's not a performance engine but it does the job.
The main question I ask is what 350 engine should I source? I believe our cars are 2 bolt mains, I'm leaning towards finding one. Any specific cars I should look for to find one?
I'm going to ask my dealership tech friend and my brother in law who is a machinist to help me with this project. I'm planning on taking my time and doing this project slowly.
My other plan is to buy a stock 350 short block and go from there. I can't find the stock GM Goodwrench shortblock any more. If anyone knows a good stock shortblock replacement that would be good too.
#3
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#4
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
Regarding fuel injectors, would 22lb. injectors like the Corvette work for a mild mostly stock motor? I'm assuming they would be better than my 19lbs.
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
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#8
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
If you're not going real crazy hp, 350 tbi 4 bolt truck motors are on Craigslist all day for less than 500. Basic overhaul kit for a couple hundred. But you'd need a vortec base, which occasionally come up for sale used here. Just something to consider
#9
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
I'll keep an eye out for one. The only 5.7L Vortex I've found in my area the guy wants $1000 even for it. Claims it's "low miles" doesn't even list what year or truck it's out of.
#10
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
I did find a painted 350 block with engine stand for sale for $125. I haven't called the guy yet but running the casting numbers its from 1986.
It's two bolt main, one piece rear main seal.
When I go to look at the block, aside from obvious cracks, what things should I look for?
It's two bolt main, one piece rear main seal.
When I go to look at the block, aside from obvious cracks, what things should I look for?
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Car: 1986 IROC Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Posi
Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
I'd advise not to try to rebuild such a block until it's been magnafluxed and properly re-machined in all it's critical dimensions.
#12
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
No matter what engine or block I buy I do plan on getting it machined.
Question though, in my area I've only found 3 engines. None of the scrap yards seem to have many V8 engines in general, they are 90% 90s Honda accords and Civics.
I did find the one 1986 Chevy 350 Block I mentioned above and one scrap yard has an 89 and a 93 Chevy. The guy said he believes both engines blew a head gasket and the cylinders are full of coolant.
If I buy the 86 Block I still don't have any crankshaft or connecting rods. If I buy the 89 or 93 engine I do, but is there a chance a blown head gasket block is completely unusable?
Question though, in my area I've only found 3 engines. None of the scrap yards seem to have many V8 engines in general, they are 90% 90s Honda accords and Civics.
I did find the one 1986 Chevy 350 Block I mentioned above and one scrap yard has an 89 and a 93 Chevy. The guy said he believes both engines blew a head gasket and the cylinders are full of coolant.
If I buy the 86 Block I still don't have any crankshaft or connecting rods. If I buy the 89 or 93 engine I do, but is there a chance a blown head gasket block is completely unusable?
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
...... is there a chance a blown head gasket block is completely unusable?
As an aside, a good rebuilt 350 short block can be had for about $2K; that might be your best route.
Aside #2; sometimes, machine shops---especially those that do a high volume of work---will have good, used blocks available for sale. You might also get a discount on machine work you subsequently hire that shop to do for you if you buy a block from them. You might try that avenue.
Last edited by ironwill; 06-24-2019 at 09:49 AM.
#14
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
What you find in salvage yards these days is simply a reflection of what's on the streets; a very small percentage of cars built in the last 10 years or so had V8 engines.
There's always that chance, depending on the specific circumstances of the failure---how long the engine was run with coolant where it isn't supposed to be, and how long the engine has been sitting since the failure---but as a general rule, if you can get the piston(s) out of the block, it can usually be bored oversize. If the engine spun bearings and or wiped the cam/lifters as a result of contaminated oil, the block may be so far gone as to not be economically feasible to re-use it (machine work is expensive; good machine work is very expensive).
As an aside, a good rebuilt 350 short block can be had for about $2K; that might be your best route.
Aside #2; sometimes, machine shops---especially those that do a high volume of work---will have good, used blocks available for sale. You might also get a discount on machine work you subsequently hire that shop to do for you if you buy a block from them. You might try that avenue.
There's always that chance, depending on the specific circumstances of the failure---how long the engine was run with coolant where it isn't supposed to be, and how long the engine has been sitting since the failure---but as a general rule, if you can get the piston(s) out of the block, it can usually be bored oversize. If the engine spun bearings and or wiped the cam/lifters as a result of contaminated oil, the block may be so far gone as to not be economically feasible to re-use it (machine work is expensive; good machine work is very expensive).
As an aside, a good rebuilt 350 short block can be had for about $2K; that might be your best route.
Aside #2; sometimes, machine shops---especially those that do a high volume of work---will have good, used blocks available for sale. You might also get a discount on machine work you subsequently hire that shop to do for you if you buy a block from them. You might try that avenue.
Last time I walked one of the salvage yards all the pickup trucks were V6 F-150s and Silverados. Thats because there are few tradesmen in my area, so few work trucks. The machine shop didn't have any blocks for sale. A few drag racing engines but no blocks lying around.
I want to keep this build under $1,000. I'm about to be a senior in college so I am on a budget. I rather just find a block and do a slow budget build.
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Car: 1988 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: LB9 (305 TPI)
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
What part of the country are you in? I just scored a complete 91-92 Camaro TPI 350 from the junkyard. One piece rear main, 4 bolt bottom end. It's been bored .030 over, was about to start machine work on it when I decided to go LTX route instead. Now it's just gonna sit as a backup motor unless I find a home for it. I have the complete TPI intake, harness, 730 ECM, sensors, injectors, etc.
#16
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
What part of the country are you in? I just scored a complete 91-92 Camaro TPI 350 from the junkyard. One piece rear main, 4 bolt bottom end. It's been bored .030 over, was about to start machine work on it when I decided to go LTX route instead. Now it's just gonna sit as a backup motor unless I find a home for it. I have the complete TPI intake, harness, 730 ECM, sensors, injectors, etc.
Searching Craigslist a Chevy 350 block for $40 is available in my old town in Jersey. I also get a lot more results.
Only one junkyard had any 350s and they only had 2.
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
The local pull your own parts yards here used to be full of third gens. You could virtually throw a rock and it would bounce off 20 before it hit the ground Now you're lucky if they get one every 6 months, with TPI cars being a rarity. The one I got the TPI 350 from was a 91 V6 car someone had swapped everything but the rear end from a 91-92 Z28 on. It did have the 4 wheel disc, but no positraction. Everything else was there though, including the factory dual y-pipe. I have headers so left that behind but grabbed everything else. Also had a Daytona IROC hood that I got for $40, a good nose and 91-92 front air dam, good fog lights ($5 each, score!), and a host of other goodies. The car itself had SERIOUS cancer issues though. The firewall was rusted out all along the cowl, the bottom of the doors was absolutely crunchy. No idea why anyone would go through the trouble of swapping all that into a rustbucket body.
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
I found two more 350 engines both have a milkshake from blown head gasket. One if from a 1989 K5 Blazer and the other is from a 1993 Suburban. Are both of these engines roller cam? If so would it be easy to convert to flat tappet? Reason being is I want to keep this a budget build. Cheap Summit Racing flat tappet cams could be had for $112. The cheapest roller cams are just under $500. Would it be easy to still use my 305 heads on the block if I converted everything to flat tappet.
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Car: 1986 IROC Z
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
They probably planned to Bondo it up, shoot on a cheapo paint job, and sell it on ebay as a 'collector' car.
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
I found two more 350 engines both have a milkshake from blown head gasket. One if from a 1989 K5 Blazer and the other is from a 1993 Suburban. Are both of these engines roller cam? If so would it be easy to convert to flat tappet? Reason being is I want to keep this a budget build. Cheap Summit Racing flat tappet cams could be had for $112. The cheapest roller cams are just under $500. Would it be easy to still use my 305 heads on the block if I converted everything to flat tappet.
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
1987 up should be 1 piece rear seal roller cam block, but junkyard could really be anything. You can get roller cams for under $300, hell a junkyard LT1/L99 cam is under $30. And do NOT put 305 heads on a 350, no gains to be had there. Iron TPI heads are scarce, but plenty of swirl port heads to be found. You won't get high rpm horsepower out of them, but you can get lots of low end torque with them, great for daily driver grunt off the line for cheap. I built a 327 with a TPI and swirl port heads and it made gobs of torque and made it quickly, lots of fun on the street. TPI isn't designed for high end horsepower anyway, so it was a good match parts wise. Used an LT4 hot cam I got secondhand for $50. Nothing wrong with a junkyard budget build, just pick your parts carefully and match their performance profiles.
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
Yeah in my area, muscle cars and V8 pickup trucks are rare. 90% of my neighborhood is thirty somethings with young kids and they drive Toyota Camery's and Hyundai Tuscons. I have about the only muscle car I see.
Last time I walked one of the salvage yards all the pickup trucks were V6 F-150s and Silverados. Thats because there are few tradesmen in my area, so few work trucks. The machine shop didn't have any blocks for sale. A few drag racing engines but no blocks lying around.
I want to keep this build under $1,000. I'm about to be a senior in college so I am on a budget. I rather just find a block and do a slow budget build.
Last time I walked one of the salvage yards all the pickup trucks were V6 F-150s and Silverados. Thats because there are few tradesmen in my area, so few work trucks. The machine shop didn't have any blocks for sale. A few drag racing engines but no blocks lying around.
I want to keep this build under $1,000. I'm about to be a senior in college so I am on a budget. I rather just find a block and do a slow budget build.
#23
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Car: 1986 IROC Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Posi
Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
I found two more 350 engines both have a milkshake from blown head gasket. One if from a 1989 K5 Blazer and the other is from a 1993 Suburban. Are both of these engines roller cam? If so would it be easy to convert to flat tappet? Reason being is I want to keep this a budget build. Cheap Summit Racing flat tappet cams could be had for $112. The cheapest roller cams are just under $500. Would it be easy to still use my 305 heads on the block if I converted everything to flat tappet.
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Car: 1988 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: LB9 (305 TPI)
Transmission: 700R4
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Re: Sourcing a Junkyard 350 for TPI Build
My 4-bolt 350 came from a 1991 Suburban, was a 1 piece rear main roller block. Conventional wisdom says 1995 was first year for factory roller cam SBCs in trucks, but you never know what you might find. Look up the Mortec block casting number list and take it with you to the yard. Look for something promising check the casting number against the list, and if all else fails pop the intake and check for the spider in the lifter valley. If it's a swap there's also a good chance for an aftermarket cam in it or other goodies. Remember also when buying a short/long block or complete engine you can "shop around" your parts in the yard. Pull out the factory cam and slide an LT1 cam in there. Replace the alternator with a higher output unit. High flow injectors instead of the low flow stockers. Better heads or intake? Slap 'em on! It's generally cheaper to buy as an assembly than to piecemeal stuff later. Junkyard crawling is an art form.
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