82 Z-28 Restoration
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82 Z-28 Restoration
Hey All,
Recently bought a 82 Z-28 and I'm going to start restoring it and have a question about an engine swap and changing the cross-fire injection system currently being used. First off, this is going to be strictly for street use,I'm just looking to restore this car and try to get a few more ponies out of her.
Currently it has a 305 and I plan on replacing it with a new crate motor, either a 305 or 350, I would also like to keep it a TBI system. So, my question is what would be a good choice for a motor and TBI set-up i.e Roller cam,flat lifters,intake ect.. I don't have to worry about emission's because the car is exempt due to it's age.
I apologize if this has been asked before, but I have been threw these threads for hours on end and although they have been a great help. I'm finding the more I read the more difficult is to come up with solution for what I'm trying to get accomplished.
Striker25
Recently bought a 82 Z-28 and I'm going to start restoring it and have a question about an engine swap and changing the cross-fire injection system currently being used. First off, this is going to be strictly for street use,I'm just looking to restore this car and try to get a few more ponies out of her.
Currently it has a 305 and I plan on replacing it with a new crate motor, either a 305 or 350, I would also like to keep it a TBI system. So, my question is what would be a good choice for a motor and TBI set-up i.e Roller cam,flat lifters,intake ect.. I don't have to worry about emission's because the car is exempt due to it's age.
I apologize if this has been asked before, but I have been threw these threads for hours on end and although they have been a great help. I'm finding the more I read the more difficult is to come up with solution for what I'm trying to get accomplished.
Striker25
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 398
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From: Bradenton, FL
Car: 1997 Camaro z28
Engine: 350 LT1 built to LT4
Transmission: a
Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi
since you're buying a crate motor, and you probably haven't got much(if any) experience as far as ecm tuning goes, I'd suggest going with the 350 tbi setup, if you can find one. that way you make more power on the stock setup.
from there I would either go open element, or rai/cai(this all really depends on the money/time you're willing to put in). from there you COULD put 1.6 rockers on there, but the price/performance ratio on the stock setup is really quite bad with those, you'll get a good 5-10hp throughout your rpm range, but it'll be 5-10 hp.
porting the heads if you get the chance would help too, but again, without tuning you won't see much of a gain, and when you get into things like that you begin to run the risk of having your car run a bit worse, go between too lean too rich, nothing that'll really cause problems, but it'll be there.
I think your best bet would be to do the tbi mods up front, fab up a good intake setup, make sure you're running a decent exhaust, and do a few upgrades to your ignition to make sure it's up to the task. all those will give you the best price/performance you can get without tuning, when it comes to the engine alone.
other quick changes before throwing the engine in would be things like a 170 deg thermostat, and a 200 deg fan switch, since they'd be easy changes.
you could change the cam with a mild one btw, and get away without tuning, but if you're going with the 350 you'll already have a decent cam(not the best by any means, but you'll probably get the same power out of a well tuned stock cam than a slightly better untuned cam), so it may or may not be worth it to you.
oh, and if you get the 350 crate engine and it doesn't come with the tbi setup(and I don't think there's one that does), make sure when you do get your tbi setup for it that you have the proper injectors, they'll either be the 55lb injectors(orange/black wires), or the 65lb injectors(yellow/brown). the 305's came with 40lb injectors(green/white), and probably wouldn't be enough fuel for even a stock 350 setup.
hope I helped.
from there I would either go open element, or rai/cai(this all really depends on the money/time you're willing to put in). from there you COULD put 1.6 rockers on there, but the price/performance ratio on the stock setup is really quite bad with those, you'll get a good 5-10hp throughout your rpm range, but it'll be 5-10 hp.
porting the heads if you get the chance would help too, but again, without tuning you won't see much of a gain, and when you get into things like that you begin to run the risk of having your car run a bit worse, go between too lean too rich, nothing that'll really cause problems, but it'll be there.
I think your best bet would be to do the tbi mods up front, fab up a good intake setup, make sure you're running a decent exhaust, and do a few upgrades to your ignition to make sure it's up to the task. all those will give you the best price/performance you can get without tuning, when it comes to the engine alone.
other quick changes before throwing the engine in would be things like a 170 deg thermostat, and a 200 deg fan switch, since they'd be easy changes.
you could change the cam with a mild one btw, and get away without tuning, but if you're going with the 350 you'll already have a decent cam(not the best by any means, but you'll probably get the same power out of a well tuned stock cam than a slightly better untuned cam), so it may or may not be worth it to you.
oh, and if you get the 350 crate engine and it doesn't come with the tbi setup(and I don't think there's one that does), make sure when you do get your tbi setup for it that you have the proper injectors, they'll either be the 55lb injectors(orange/black wires), or the 65lb injectors(yellow/brown). the 305's came with 40lb injectors(green/white), and probably wouldn't be enough fuel for even a stock 350 setup.
hope I helped.
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