Questions on engine swap
 

Hi there,
I have an 1988 305 TPI with a ton of miles. My goal is to get in the 12's but stay streetable (don't we all) :rolleyes: Budget is not a great concern.
I wanted to go with a GM Performace 330HP/350CI (L31) long block. I need this to stay emissions legal. My questions are the following:
Will the emissions, TPI, and accesories bolt on?
Will this engine still produce 330HP with the TPI intake?
If not, what mods to the TPI, if any, will help it get there?
What mods to the fueling system will get it there?
My biggest concern is, I wanted to put on a Procharger in the long run. Will the cast aluminum pistons on this engine take forced induction?
Any and all opinions will be welcome. Thanks.

I don't know where you're located, so don't have any idea what emissions inspection/testing you have to go through, but the L31 longblock is hardly the right place to start.

If you really want Vortec heads and TPI, then this is the only sane (in my opinion) way to go about it http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...=1577&pid=9009 .

On a "regular" 350 HO, TPI wouldn't hit 300 HP flywheel gross. So, SDPC did what you see in that engine. Notice they used 1-7/8" headers, which were long-tubes, by the way. A standard set of TPI shorties should perform fairly close to that.

Also be aware that even though they don't say it on that link, this is not an "emissions-legal" set-up. It will probably pass sniffer, might pass a basic visual, but nobody (of whom I'm aware, anyway) has gotten this combo through California emissions.

I don't know how they got this done without any PROM tuning, but I've never seen anything that says they did (that I recall).

The good news is that all of your accessories and "other" emissions equipment will bolt up to the engine.

Thanks for the reply. I live in Puerto Rico and we just got started with emissions testing about 4 years ago and as far as I can tell, they don't do a visual. I actually asked on another thread about another way to go. You replied that an L98 with head work and a good cam may produce comparable horsepower. This is a much better option for me since finding a block where to start will be easier than shipping in a crate engine. Also, the L98 sounds like a more emissions friendly way to go. What I'd like to know is, what donor cars should I be looking at for the project motor? I'd like to get a forged crank and pistons for the rebuild since eventually I'm going blower on this thing. :D Is there a kit that you would recommend? (Lot's of rebuild kits out there) Hey, man, thanks again for the help. I appreciate it.
Later