I would like to swap up to a 350 but Im on a limited budget. Can some one tell me the best way to do this. I would really like to keep the TBI and retain a real "stock" look for now. Please help me.

 

You might want to look into just getting a new short block for now, a ZZ4 short block maybe? It'll just be the block and the rotating assembly. You can then swap over your stock heads, cam, intake, TBI unit, distributor, ect., ect., ect. You could then swap the heads, intake, and cam to their high performance equivalents when funds became available. Or, if I may make a recommendation, buy the short block and an engine stand...add the heads and such with the engine out of the car, when you complete it, drop it in. There won't ever be an easier time to swap out engine components as when the engine is out of the car. Hope this helps...

-Mark W.
'88 SC Camaro w/ 305 TBI

 

Swaping on stock heads onto a zz4 short block!? Is that such a good idea? I was under the impression that the stock heads are the worst GM has produced for a v8. Anyways, I'm in the same position as him except I've got till the summer to get the swap figured and priced out. I'd say get a long block caprice 350, it's just like the zz4 except it's got EGR heads and only is a 2 bolt. Either that or look into the f-body replacement engines from the sdpc2000 website. Good luck

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, Jon (91 RS too many mods to list)

 

Why on earth would u put a peanut cam, most restricted heads in V8 history, a sh*tty tbi system and a intake thats holes are the size of the human nostriols on a zz4 block? If I was you and your on a low budget, look for an L98 engine. And I wouldn't put your stock TBI and converting an aftermarket tbi system would be ok, but it would be expensive. If you swaped a carb injection system on your engine it would be a lot cheaper and perform a million times better than your old tbi would. As for stock look, just say it came stock with carb. You would have an open element and that would be it, everything else (besides the carb) would look stock. I am curious, why do u want your engine to look stock?

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Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI (ZZ4 summer of "01")
ASCD Ram Air Hood-3" custom exaust-Flowmaster 80 Series-No Cat-Edelbrock TES Headers (coated)-March Pulleys-TBI Spacer-K&N Open ELement-TransGo Shift Kit-B&M Supercooler 28,000 GVW-Hypertech Thermomaster-160 Stat-3:42 GM Gears-Auburn Posi Unit-Edlebrock Strut Tower Brace-MSD Superconducters-Accel Cap & Rotor-Rapidfire Plugs-265/50/R15 Tires-Emmison's all Gone
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html

[This message has been edited by 91Bird305 (edited November 11, 2000).]

 

Never said that you'd want to, only that you could.

-Mark W.
'88 SC Camaro w/ 305 TBI

 

Dude screw all of that. Go check out www.goautocenter.com. They have a bunch of TBI engines with a good amount of hp for a pretty good price. You can get them as a short or long block, and they deliver. I was gonna do that, but I had a family connection that owned an engine shop. I've called up there and asked them a bunch of questions, they are really nice guys and really knowledgable.

 

Oops, sorry Mark.

------------------
Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI (ZZ4 summer of "01")
ASCD Ram Air Hood-3" custom exaust-Flowmaster 80 Series-No Cat-Edelbrock TES Headers (coated)-March Pulleys-TBI Spacer-K&N Open ELement-TransGo Shift Kit-B&M Supercooler 28,000 GVW-Hypertech Thermomaster-160 Stat-3:42 GM Gears-Auburn Posi Unit-Edlebrock Strut Tower Brace-MSD Superconducters-Accel Cap & Rotor-Rapidfire Plugs-265/50/R15 Tires-Emmison's all Gone
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html