I want to build up a 350 (or a 383) to replace my crappy, good for nothing, LO3. I want to stick with TBI because that means less messing with the computer and keeping my stock wiring harness. I am only looking for around 300-320hp, nothing mind blowing and it would be nice if it would rev up to 6 grand. I am new to building motors so I have a few questions.

1. I need to stay emmisions and inspection legal so I need to keep 1all the air pipes and such. Which 350 blocks can I use that will have all the nessicary sensor holes and such?

2. I need to keep cost down so I was thinking about getting a used set of heads and maybe just porting them. Are 350 TPI heads a good basis to start on? Also, my car is an 88 so I think I would have to get 87+ heads.

3. Should I stick with 350 or should I get the 400 crank to make it a 383? Does this cause more tuning problems?

4. I have heard of people running the LT1 cam with the stock 305 TBI, but I don't know what to use for this preposed motor. I want something I can drive on the street everyday and not have to stop for gas every 2 miles.

5. I was thinking of getting the 2" bored out TBI and a matching 2" intake. Will this be able to feed the motor for the 300 or so hp I am looking for?

Sorry for such a long post but I am kinda pissed cuz my car is so slow. I want to get the block so I can at least see it in the garage and know hope is coming. I don't have tons of money to drop on it at one time, it would be some here and some there.

Thanks for your input

 

This will probably do better in the tech/general engine section.

 

You will be messing with the computer if you do mods! Get to know it quite well. Pretty much the ecm is a blank slate. None of the stock calibration really lends itself to performance since the LO3 is at the bottom of the barrel. However, the tbi ecms are some of the most user-friendly around as far as stock ones go.

Definatly get a larger tbi and the largest injectors you can lay your hands on. Smaller ones may support the power but you want to have some safety margin so you dont run the risk of going lean up top. Good fuel pump that can support some pressure is in order as well. Itll be able to feed 300 hp. Bunch of people have proven so, but being able to get 300 hp will come down to your tuning abilities.

 

1 any block
2 no try vortec heads
3 KISS
4 call comp
5 i'd forget about tbi

you might want to try this

 

If you dont want to do to much tuning then ditch the tbi. Sounds like your screwed really. You want a motor with around 300hp, and you want to pass emissions,but you dont want to do computer tuning(which is the reason I went carb). So you pretty much cant go carb because theres not much of a chance of passing emessions there. I would go TPI if I were you, its a little more forgiving on the tuning side and more people know how to do it so you could probably take it to your local speed shop and have them do it. I would go with a set of edelbrocke performer heads, a holley stealth ram intake setup, and an LT4 hotcam with 1.5 roller rockers instead of the advertised 1.6 keeping the lift down to about .490. Now with this setup you will most likely be making more like 375hp but it will still pass emissions, get good gas mileage, and be increbly streetable. Now you need to look into what it takes to swap tbi to TPI. Just my Good Luck.

 

He'll have the same problems with TPI as well. If you dont want to learn to tune with efi in general then run a carb. Both tbi and tpi would support 300 HP without much trouble, but with computers there are quite literally too many choices to be made when tuning. With all the tables and constants it can be tricky to figure out what changes need to be made.

 

I don't mind tuning, I am sorry if you got that impression. The biggest deal is that I just want to keep my stock wiring harness. I know that I will have to get several chips burned (or burn them myself) before I would get it running right.

Are there any Vortec heads that I can use that will pass inspection becasue I thought none of the Vortec intakes had an EGR valve?

 

Depending on how your local inspection station does things, you may or may not be able to get the Vortec (L-31) heads to pass. They don't have the exhaust crossovers cast in so external passages need to be plumbed. That may not be a big deal, but if your station does visuals that require all factory devices in tact, then obviously you have an issue.

 

Yea I have to pass visual inspection so everything has to look stock. I asked the guy about doing engine swaps and he said not to even tell them it was a 350 because they look the same, so I want to keep everything looking as stock as possible.

 

I'd find a set of 041 or 461 heads. A mild cam. A 600-625cfm carb and a good CAT, you'll pass no problem.

 

I believe you mean 416 heads. 461's don't have the accessory bolt holes.

Only thing I see is not sure, but I don't know if you are allowed to backslide in engine swaps. Meaning, if there weren't carb's in 88, you can't swap to a carb. And there weren't carb's in 88. Just TBI and TPI. Only present or newer forms of injection. Again, not sure how your station runs things.

 

E-tests aren't based on induction up here, just engine size.
461 heads and the old 186 heads are the same casting, but the 186 has accesory holes. I ran a 461 and a 186 on my 383 before the Pro Lighnings. With a mild cam it mad 401hp at the crank. With a CAT, e-test wouldn't have been a problem.

 

I was talking to buzz. He says everything has to look stock. There isn't too much stock TBI or TPI looking on the top side for a carburetor.

 

Yea I really wanna stick with TBI and just do some (or a lot) of tuning with the computer. I don't really know much about carbs and I don't wanna have to learn a bunch. I already know some about TBI so I thing I am gonna stay with that.