Is valve train interchangeable 305 TPI TO L98 350?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: S. UTAH
Car: 1989 IROC-Z 305 LB9 AT Convertible
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: AT
Is valve train interchangeable 305 TPI TO L98 350?
Hi If I replace the 305 TPI in my 1989 IROC Z Vert with a L98 Shortblock and Engine Quest
-CH350GA heads, can I use the rocker arms, pushrods, roller lifters & retaining hardware from the 305 in said 350 ?
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From: East Moline, IL
Car: 88 T/A, 91 Formula, 94 Firehawk
Engine: 400 Pontiac, 5.0 TPI, 5.7 LT1
Transmission: 700R4, T5, T56
Axle/Gears: 4.10, 3.42, 3.42
Re: Is valve train interchangeable 305 TPI TO L98 350?
Yes
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Re: Is valve train interchangeable 305 TPI TO L98 350?
Generally yes. Or at least, not necessarily no.
However, some of it may depend on how those heads are set up, to guide the rockers. If they have guide plates, then you CANNOT use the self-aligning rockers that came on a 89 305.
Lifters you can re-use regardless, if they're still good. Push rods, maybe, if they're the right length to give acceptable rocker geometry on the new heads, of which there's no guarantee. Not sure what you mean by "retaining hardware".
However, some of it may depend on how those heads are set up, to guide the rockers. If they have guide plates, then you CANNOT use the self-aligning rockers that came on a 89 305.
Lifters you can re-use regardless, if they're still good. Push rods, maybe, if they're the right length to give acceptable rocker geometry on the new heads, of which there's no guarantee. Not sure what you mean by "retaining hardware".
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 200
From: S. UTAH
Car: 1989 IROC-Z 305 LB9 AT Convertible
Engine: LB9 305
Transmission: AT
Re: Is valve train interchangeable 305 TPI TO L98 350?
Thank you both. By "retaining hardware" , is there not metal brackets ("spiders" ?) and bolts that retain and/or aline the roller lifters in the block? That would be what I am referring to.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,993
Likes: 2,485
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Is valve train interchangeable 305 TPI TO L98 350?
Yes all of that will transfer over, assuming your 350 is 87-up, and was fully equipped from the factory for it. Lots of those blocks, esp in L05s which didn't get roller cams, had the cast-in provisions for all that, but they weren't fully machined. Obviously this isn't related to the heads or anything about them, strictly the block. Also, there were 2 different cam retainers, which are exactly the same except different: the screw spacing is different. I have no idea how to tell which one is which except to install a cam retainer to your particular block and see if it fits; and if not, get the other one that does.
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