Just got a Vortec 350 to swap into my 1989 Camaro RS which came with the TBI setup. I am planning to keep the TBI setup but I have a few questions regarding electronics.

What electronics will need to be pulled and replaced to have the 350 running correctly and where can I get them?

Can I keep the distributor from my 305 and swap it into the 350? Or should I replace it with an HEI distributor and have it plug right in or do I need to make some modifications for an HEI distributor to work?

Anything I need to be warned about with the throttle body or will anything work? Recommendations?

Never done a 350 swap so I basically know nothing besides the mechanical aspect of swapping the engines so any tips would be amazing.


Thanks!

 

Yes you can keep the 305 distributor. It IS an HEI. No reason to change it.

Go get the TB off of a 350 TBI vehicle. Car (Caprice), truck, whatever; doesn't matter. Get the ESC module and the PROM off of the same vehicle you gank the TB off of. Get a new 350 TBI knock sensor, something like, 94 Chevy truck.

That's pretty much all you need, except of course, EXHAUST, every single piece from the heads to the bumper; and of course, an intake manifold. I recommend a 4-bbl intake such as a Performer RPM, with a 4-bbl -> TBI adapter. Look for one of those that keeps the TB in the stock location. Some one of them, can't recall which, (or maybe more than one) moves the TB either to the front or the rear. Pick one that keeps it in the same place. Then all your TV cable, throttle cable, fuel line, etc. fitment won't be fornicated.

 

What he said. By keeping the original distributor, you will still have computer controlled spark advance and knock retard which is significant benefit.

 

Thank you so much for the help guys! I do have another question and this may seem dumb but, by keeping the PROM, ESC module and TB from a Caprice, does that mean that my engine which should make around 350 HP is only going to make the 200 or so horsepower of the Caprice?

Also, I replaced the transmission with a new 700r4 and got the exhaust replaced with true duals already!


Thanks

 

I suspect that PROM will need to be reprogramed considering the bump in HP. Howell Engine development has a TBI kit based on the GM TBI. They can probably do a custom program, but I don't know if they provide support unless you buy the entire kit from them.
https://howellefi.com/?keyword_sessi...dom=wordstream.

 

No it does not mean that. It merely means that it will have fuel delivery and ignition timing curves closer to the demands of an engine of the other size, and a knock sensor (microphone) and ESC module (filter) tuned to the frequencies generated by the 350 bore diameter instead of the 305 one.

When I said "exhaust" I also was referring to headers instead of manifolds. I said "every single piece from the heads to the bumper". "True duals", just the words by themselves, don't mean much; if you have 2" pipes with crush or crinkle bends, they're gonna strangle the motor. That's no guarantee of anything, any more than having single exhaust guarantees something else. After all, LS1 cars and the like seem to do just fine with single exhaust.

If you're concerned about tuning, might want to look into EBL. Something like that is VASTLY superior to any off-the-shelf or mail-order tune, in any number of ways.

 

Thank you again! And yes, it already has headers and 3-inch exhaust.

I will probably get the EBL Flash-II system with the 4-bbl upgrade. Don't know much about this stuff but I have to start somewhere.

 

The EBL Flash II just came in. If I get the 4-bbl Performer RPS intake manifold, Should I keep the stock throttle body and get an adapter for the 4bbl to TBI or are there options to upgrade to a 4 bbl setup? Any recommendations for a new throttle body or TBI adapter?

 

Since you will only be making stock 350 TBI power I would just keep the OEM throttle body. All 4.3, 5.0, and 5.7 TBI motors shared the same throttle body, albeit with different injectors. To reiterate what sofa said, your just taking the 200hp or so version from a donor and putting it into your car. The exhaust and intake manifold upgrades will help, along with DIY EBL tuning but you will still be at the stock power level.

 

I rebuilt an L98 and swapped out my 305. Got a nice 46mm unit from SPR performance and ran 350 injectors with 15 or 16lb spring iirc. Does really good. Im pretty sure the Vortec 350 will need more fuel and having that TB bored will certainly help also.

 

Thank you for all of the help guys. I have one more question. What should I do about the fuel pump if I'm trying to get 350 hp out of this engine. Can I run the stock one or should I upgrade it? What should I get if I do upgrade it?



Thanks

 

Leave it alone until you find that it's inadequate.

 

I have my crate 350 installed and I'm ready to start bolting accessories on. I'd like to prime the motor before I install the ignition and the TBI. My question is how long can the engine sit after priming before I start it? At what point (if any) does it need to be primed again?