Ok so I've been doing a little research on here since I bought my 86 Z28 350(non-TPI) and I've been heavily looking into swaps and such and I've decided I really just wanna go the purist route and keep the 350 and see what i can do from there. Now I know every answer I get will be mostly opinion but i still wanna hear it. i have a few buddies that throw in their opinion but I think the biggest thing with them is not wanting me to have something faster than theirs lol. i'm pretty new to the V8 world so bare with me I'm still reading and researching.


Questions:

1) Would it be worth it to convert to EFI and go with a TPI set-up instead of staying carb'd?

2) I'm leaning massively toward going the twin turbo route, but running low boost for reliability and practicallity(who really need 700whp on the street? lol). Would it be possible with the carb?

3) If the above question is true, what about running a twin carb set-up? I figured having a Y pipe coming out of the cool side of the intercooler would work, if not I could run twin small IC's like the 300zx TT uses and have 1 turbo, 1 IC, per carb. Still looking into all of that but I cant find much on turbo camaros.

4) Factory auto tranny(I think I read its the 700R), how much power can you run thru one of these before it kicks the bucket? Rear diff?



I got a few more but I gotta run to work. i'll post more if i get any response to these. If its a repost and you know the link to where it was discussed before feel free to post that instead. This forum is WAY bigger than the ones I'm used to(this is my first "commonly seen" vehicle i've ever owned lol).

 

i have a few thoughts and opinions for you... first is that TPI is VERY fussy and does not like high RPM's.

as far as tuning goes, you could not just simply turn the boost down and have it run fine, you would need to do some tuning/jetting on the carb.

i would look into aftermarket EFI systems, even though they are quite pricey, with that, you MAY be able to adjust boost without tuning.

 

If i goes EFI with boost I'll def get a stand alone with a ecm reprogramable via laptop. I have a buddy thats got 2 TPI upper and lower intake manis hes willing to sell me for dirt dirt cheap and I figured if I didnt use it I could take it to the swap meet or sell here lol. but yeah they all tell me its not worth it. That guys dad actually took both TPI set ups off his own cars and went with a twin 4bbl set-up.

 

if you plan on going with forced induction either TPI or carb will perform equally well even into the HIGH rpms as forced induction sorta throws tpis inherent flaws out the window....

what it comes down to is what you are looking to spend a stand alone computer to run the efi is pricey not to mention the fuel system upgrades required to run it ... how ever if you have most of the stuff it would probably be only a little more expensive than a holley DP to set up for blow through

and you wont need the extensive fueling upgrades to run a blow through carb

 

i feel like such a douche. After doing research all day then actually getting out and look at my engine, i think I've got a 305 lol. I got alot to learn here, this is a whole new world to me. Now i gotta dumb more time looking into a whole new engine lol.


I started thinking and I really just want to keep this simple. Keep the carb set-up but throw on a few bolt-ons and some valvetrain work. Maybe just go with headers, exhaust, igniton(def MSD), fuel delivery, cam, xcyldyne valves with PSI springs, and I'll do more research into the carb I want and the brands of the other parts I'll go with. This car will be daily driven for a while but i do have a back-up car for downtime so its no biggie really and a far as money goes I really dont care. Its not gonna happen over night, as amtter of fact I'll prob just do a tune -up then research from now til next tax time and start then. I dont jump into something without knowing what I'm doing or getting. We have a local shop called Camaros-R-Us so any carb tuning I'm sure they can handle. As a matter of fact i might just swing by there and chat with the guy after work in the morning.
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Also, i get a discount on most of this stuff thru CV Products(Brain Vicker's father's parts warehouse). All the things I can get are on www.cvproducts.com

 

Start with a good tune and mabe a cam.

 

383's get cheaper and cheaper... well so do Ls1's too

305 are not worth it in my opinion. they lack the overall grunt most people want.

But you can say you got a v8. just a witlle one.

 

Some comments & observations:

- 350's weren't available in '86.

- 305's can be made to run, but for the same money a 350 will run quicker.

- The "purist" part really has me confused. What's "pure" about twin turbos?

- Boost on a stock bottom end has to be very limited, and very, very carefully controlled. The stock cast stuff can't take much power and even less extra heat.

- If you build an engine for boost, see the "same money" comment above.

- The stock carb is computer controlled. Fine system, but I don't recall ever hearing of anyone putting a turbo on that system. Roots blower, but not turbo. A couple of years ago I talked to the Pro Charger people at the Mile High Nationals - the conversation didn't last long after I mentioned "computer controlled carburetor".

- The highest power claim that I'd believe for a TH700R-4 is 600 HP. That takes extensive mods.