Hey guys, just wondering what crate engines/short blocks are out there for my '89 IROC-Z. I live in Ca. I was just looking on all the GM/Performance sites and could only come up with engines made for pre '73 cars. Just wondering what's out there- my engines fine but I'm just curious. Oh by the way, it's got to be able to fit the TPI manfiold- no carburated/TBI ones please. And no strockers please- just keep it to any power level of a 350. Can you also list links to any websites. Thanks. -89IRO

 

Well, most crate engines that are long blocks will accept your TPI, as long as you don't get one with Vortech heads.

Look in the jegs catalog or www.jegs.com for some.

 

Well I was just looking and scoggin-dickey offers a "vortech TPI Engine" for $3,399. I don't know about that though because I heard vortech heads suck and they leak like a bitch. What about the zz4 shortblock for $1,195?- doesn't have heads/cam but I like how everything is forged. Since I live in Ca, I don't know what is legal and not legal as far as heads go. Will the TPI manifold fit the ZZ4 or does it all depend on what heads I put on? Should I just stop off at the local chevy dealer (clippenger chevrolet) and tell them what I've got and what I want as far as the engine goes and they should tell me what my options are right? Mark- I forgot to say that about 90% of the GM long blocks are either all for carburated applications or are only for pre '73- not many options out there for me it seems. -89IRO

 

shoot dood... there are a ton of possiblities out there for crate engines... like listed before... check www.jegs.com and scoggin dickey www.spdc2000.com ... there are plenty more out there... you can do a google search for crate motors and pull up more than you will ever need

 

http://www.speedomotive.com/

Free shipping too..........

 

Yes I know, I've already looked on Jegs, summit, S.D.,- all of them. Most of them are for pre '73 though. And the ones that aren't, I don't know if my TPI manifold will fit or not. Right now I like the looks of the 4 bolt zz4 350 shortblock, but I don't know if the TPI will fit. Yes- there are many options out there but not what will fit my needs. Sorry if some stuff didn't make sence I'm in a big hurry. -89IRO

 

Which ones say pre '73? I don't see why that should be an issue, my motor was for pre '86 just needed a new flywheel and it fit fine.

 

Okay,

Any Smallblock Chevy up untill the Lt1 Will work under your TPI.

Those with pre-86 Heads will require Minor grinding on the 4 inner bolt holes on your intake. If you think you can install an engine, I promise you you can handle doing this step.

Engines using the Vortech or Fastburn Heads will not work without the Vortech TPI baseplate, because of their raised runner design and differant boltpattern.

Vortech heads do not suck by any stretch of the imagination, and are likely some of the best heads for a mild street SBC For the Dollar.

However, Vortech Heads will not work in CA w/ the Vortech Baseplate because there is no provision for EGR.

 

This maybe a dumb question, but what about the Knock sensor?

 

O.K. so you're saying the 357 HP vortech tpi engine (long block) will not work for me because i live in CA- but in the SD catalog, the vortech TPI engine says that it requires "EGR kit SD3816"-if I got this, it still wouldn't be legal? I don't know why I'm even interested in it because my TPI stuff I have now is perfectly fine- I don't need an engine that comes with half of the manifold already on it. Now if I went with the zz4 shortblock, what heads would I put on, that would fit my whole TPI setup and be legal for CA? -89IRO

 

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...tart&catid=120

Mark- go to that above link- there you will see on the Scoggin-Dickey website that most of those longblocks are only for pre '73. Oh sorry Bort, I think I may have read what you were saying about the EGR wrong. So if I run vortech heads, I have no choice but to use the base plate (like the one that comes TPI Vortech long block) right? I too, can't use the fastburn heads w/ out the baseplate. SO what other options do I have besides vortech and fastburn heads, if I go with the zz4 shortblock? Oh and, I guess if that vortech TPI engine (longblock) had all forged internals, that would probably be my best buy, even though I already have the baseplate. Are the internals all forged like that of the zz4? Thanks. -89IRO

 

You'd figure you people would at least know how to spell the name of engine you're trying to put in this kid's car. It's V O R T E C not Vortech.

 

Stroker Experts Since 1946---that's what http://www.speedomotive.com/ claims. In my industry getting stroked means you're getting ripped off but they're not telling you.


However, this is a good deal right here, I think (again beware of the stroker):

http://www.speedomotive.com/HIGH%20T...%20STROKER.htm

 

Well forget everything becasue I just got back from Clippenger Chevrolet and my one and only option is to buy a short block L98 (same exact engine I have now.) It's only got 2 bolt mains and is $1,135. Then I guess I would just put a good comp. cam/valv. in it along with rebuilding the heads. Man does it suck to live in CA- can't have any fun here. -89IRO

 

Hey guys- I'm back! I just had another question, this time regarding rocker arms. I've learned that putting 1.6 ratio rockers in can trick the engine into thinking it has a larger cam. I know the equation to caluclate this as fars a lift, but does anyone know of a way to calculate it for degrees duration @ .050"? (to find lift it is this: cam intake lift / 1.50 = X multiplied by 1.60 which then equals your new lift with the 1.6:1 rockers- then do the same for the exhaust side.) Oh by the way, can anyone tell me what the difference is between degrees duration and degrees advertised druation? Thanks guys. -89IRO

 

Yeah, I've seen the pre-73 remark on the engines you're referring to. I think they throw that up as a "disclaimer" in case you can't pass emissions, not because it won't fit your car. You SHOULD be able to swap pretty much all your emissions stuff over to one of the crates if it's a SBC (like the L98 you're looking at).

It seems you live in a serious smog state. (Ca.) Whatever you plan to add so far as performance mods may need to have a CARB EO number assigned to it, or you may fail smog check. There's plenty of aftermarket stuff that would fit the bill, like TES headers, Crane Compu-cam, Catback systems etc...

IMHO...unless you're really hellbent on using the 1.6 rockers, or you just want to know for educational purposes, just get a cam that will work with your computer and be done with it. The higher lift will be there along with the duration that won't wig out the computer. That's as technical as I get.

 

BTW - my car would be CA. smog legal, and I can keep up with most 350's.

 

On my last post I am just asking if the 1.6:1 rockers will affect the degrees duration like it does to the lift. I probably won't put the 1.6 rockers in with the hotter cam, but I'm just curious. Can anyone tell me the difference between degrees duration and and degrees advertised duration? Thanks. -89IRO