Hey, I haven't checked the boards in awhile, some interesting changes here.

Got a quick question. I'm swapping to a perfomer manifold from my factory TBI unit and the heater hose outlets on the performer are at the front as opposed to the back on the factory piece.
Is there anything special I need to know to make this swap work.
I'm planning on sticking with the serp belt water pump.

Thanks

 

I just swapped to the holley tbi intake. The heater hose is also in the front. There was an outlet in the back on the holley, but much smaller in size. I tried it first, but the heater would never warm up. So anyways, I switched to the one up front and blocked the one in the back. All you need to do is shorten the hose and reroute it. Just be carefull when removing it from the heat riser valve-they break easily as mine did, and the old hoses are pretty stubborn. I actually like it where it's at now because there's one less hose running atop the valve cover.

 

If you really want you can just run a hose from the manifold to the heater core, then from the core to the radiator and get rid of the whole valve control thing. I did it and it opens up the passenger side nicely. The hardest thing is finding something to plug the hard line that runs on the body with.

 

wouldn't rerouting it without the valve cause the heater to be on all the time? I know some wouldn't mind it, but in Sunny Ca that would be a bad idea i think.

-mike

 

Thanks everyone, it sounds like it should be a piece of cake.
In case anyone is interested, along with the manifold swap, a top end job will be taking place. I'm replacing my original heads with a set of 041 heads left over from a past project. 041 heads are small chamber heads with 1.94/1.50 valves from the early 70's.
I kinda think there ought to be an improvement. The manifold I'll be using is a carb-type performer with a TBI adapter.
I'm not sure these heads would be a good choice for a 305, mine's a 350 tho.
I've been running around with a blown head gasket. Looking forward to finally getting this fixed.
Might put a cam in too, that depends upon whether or not my original cam is a roller or flat tappet. On '88 trucks, some had rollers and some didn't (so they say).
Feel free to give me some input.

Adios

 

In '88, the trucks didn't have roller cams. SOME of the engine blocks had the provisions to use a roller cam. Trucks didn't get roller cams until '96 IIRC.

I have a 638, which according to www.mortec.com is......

14093638...350...87-95...2 or 4...Roller or flat tappet cam........one-piece rear seal

It may be just the casting number that got the provisions, I dunno. Some newer blocks don't show the roller cam option, but are still one-piece rear seal.

Like this one.....

14101148...350...87-90...4...One-piece rear seal

I was also lucky enough to have gotten a 4 bolt main block. :hail: So I can run either cam, and can build this motor to be quite a beast later on if I want.

 

The 041's will be an awesome upgrade over stock TBI heads but your compression is gonna suck. I have a set of 041's on my S10 and I am very happy with them except that I put too much money in them.

 

I meant to say that your comp. would suck if you have a 305.

 

Thanks for the additional feedback and the mortec link too.
Wish I didn't have to clean my garage before starting.