Alright, I have been thinking about what route I want to take this engine in the future. Now, before everyone says "350 Swap" I want to at least use my stock block and bottom end. Also, I want to keep all the stock wiring and sensors as possible. Want to keep the engine bay as stock looking as possible - nothing flashy. Finally, this is gonna be on a really tight budget, and I probably wont buy anything for another 1 year at least.

Here is option 1:

*TPI Heads (free -> very cheap)
*Edelbrock Preformer TBI intake (around $200?)
*LT1 camshaft ($50 -> $100)
*Springs ($50)
*Other Misc. gaskets, timing chain, tools, ($300 -> $500)
*EBL Flash, and spare ECM to put it in (>$500)
*Full exhaust with shorties ($1000)
=$2500 give or take


Option 2:
*Vortec Heads ($500 give or take)
*GMPP Vortec TBI manifold ($350)
*LT1 camshaft ($50 -> $100)
*Springs ($50)
*Other Misc. gaskets, timing chain, tools, ($300 -> $500)
*EBL Flash, and spare ECM to put it in (>$500)
*Full exhaust with shorties ($1000)
=$3000 or more




So, basically, what do you guys think of these setups? I figure, either setup will make horespower. But, will the vortec setup be THAT much better?

Also, I would probably buy the EBL in advance, to become farmiliar with tuning. And I would put the EBL in a junkyard ECM so that I could swap in the stock ECM should I ever need to. The main problem I see now is, even with becoming farmiliar with tuning a stock LO3, would I be able to generate a good start-up tune for either combo, in less than a day? Because this car is a daily driver, and I dont have another car.

Finally, could you estimate the approx. HP numbers that would be *probable* with either setup? I know they can make more theoretically than they would in real life.

Thanks!

 

i like option two. thats pretty close to what i plan on doing with mine. only differences are i will be running the LT4 hot cam, LT's, and stroking the motor.

with all this, im hoping to get 300+ hp with mine. i think yours could be in the range of 250-275(give or take), although this is just a guess.

 

That cant be possible on vortecs, can it?? 250HP would mean, that I would be near 300TQ. And then my T5 would grenade!

If this is true, maybe the LB9 heads are a better option. Ane cheaper too. I definately have no skill or means to get a hold of a cheap T-56.

 

absolutely its possible. yes the lb9's are cheaper but the vortecs are going to be much better for making power. if 250-275hp is your target and you're happy with that, id say stick with the lb9 heads. they are capable of that kind of power and they will save you some cash.

as for the tranny, it should be fine with 300 ft./lbs. of torque. unless its already on its last leg or you dog the hell outta the car when its done, it wont be too much.

 

Damn. Now I am even more undecided.

The main reason I posted up a long time before I plan on getting the parts, is I have a shot at a free set of LB9 heads. They need to be rebuilt though. If I dont want them, someone else is in line behind me, and I dont want to ask for them if I cant use them.

However, a NEW set of vortec's isnt that expensive. So, its like, should I take the LB9's and pay to have them rebuilt, or should I just buy Vortec's new from GM in the future?

 

what exactly do you mean when you say the heads need to be rebuilt? the only thing that should need to be done with the heads is machine work to make sure they are nice and flat and maybe port job if you want the extra flow. i would buy all new rocker arms, springs, etc. instead of using worn out stock stuff.

 

Thats what I mean. They need new valve seats, valves, seals, springs, rocker arms, all that in addition to a good port job and machine work. Plus, I would have them modified to handle more lift just in case probably.

Where as, a brand new set of vortecs, would have brand new everything in them. All they would need to do, would be have the springs swapped out, right?

And I have no idea how much all that work would cost at a machine shop. But, I imagine it wouldnt be as much as a new set of vortecs.

 

reworking a set of heads can run you into the 300 - 400's...

 

Well, considering we both know what heads I am talking about...

Is there any decent machine shops in the area that would make it worth me taking those heads off his hands? Or do you think new vortecs would be a better long term plan? I dont want to take something that I might not use, when there is somebody else that might need them more. But if he has that motor just sitting there, I was thinking I could try to re-work as much as I could my self. Maybe a good first project?? I could practice gasket-matching with the die-grinder, and maybe learn how to change valves and springs ect. but I would still need a shop to mill them, replace the seats, and so whatever else I couldnt figure out.

 

true but a brand new set of heads fully assembled can run up to 2 grand and sometimes more.

 

wow dude what kind of heads are you running? A set of trick flows out the box are around 1200. Nice set of heads. Im thinking about getting some for my 355 in the future when i learn the EBL flash

 

I don't believe the lb9 heads will give much more power over the L03 heads. With the mild LT1 cam I don't believe there will be any benefit to the lb9's over the l03 heads. If they need work then new over the counter heads can be cheaper. And provide for more power. Machine shop costs along with the new parts add up quick. And you still have a stock head.

You would be bettter off with decent heads (vortec for example) and having machining done to them.

For an example check what a shop charges to mill & tap 16 holes for screw in studs (for the rocker arms). It would be better to put that money into a good head to begin with.

If the l03 or lb9 heads don't need a valve job or guides, only need a clean up and some new springs (and ditch the rotators), then just pin the studs. This you can do yourself for very little money. Then clean the carbon off the valves and lap them in. Maybe a little clean up in the ports & bowls, nothing major.

Put as little money into the actual casting as possible. It isn't worth it on stock lb9/lo3 heads.

Note that the ebl Flash should be shown as <$500.

RBob.

 

Holy old thread of mine!

Anyway, I never took up the offer on those heads. Just gonna wait and buy a new set of vortecs. Also, I think an LT1 cam should work fine on stock vortecs, so that would eliminate my need to mail them somewhere else for machining.

Still need to get a job tho. I am so useless, that even with 5mo experience changing oil and tires at firestone, no shop will hire me now. At least 2 shops I applied to, they say they dont want me, and then a few days later put the ad for the position back in the newspaper. No no idea when I will get income. Probably the worst idea to tell off my boss before I quit firestone lol.

Oh, and RBob - the reason I had the cost so high, was because that was before I realized that you sold them already installed in a ECM. I had planned to have to buy a used ECM here or on ebay, then send it to you for the EBL install. I just want to not touch my stock one, so if I ever sell the car I can throw that back in. I would just use the .bin file running the EBL, and burn it to PROM before selling the car so that it would run good for the test drive lol.