I just picked up a 1988 pickup extremely cheap, with a 350 TBI (original engine). Will this model year TBI 350 likely have the bosses already there to mount the factory thrust plate for a roller cam, and the bosses for the lifter hold downs? I know it will definitely be a flat tappet cam in a tbi truck but I am hoping that the block has the provisions to toss a factory roller cam in it.

Thanks

Steve

 

actully 87-92(I think) chevy trucks did have factory roller cams.

 

Trucks didn't get factory roller lifters until 1996 (Vortec engine), but the block casting was the same as passenger cars with factory roller lifters, and often they were machined for it.

I have the original block that came out of my brother's '92 Suburban, it is the same 638 casting as my ZZ3 block, and is machined for the roller lifter stuff. But, it had a flat tappet cam.

 

I have definitely had a bunch of 80s-early 90s TBI 305s and 350s apart a while ago and they were all flat tappet. But I totally forgot if any of them, or all of them, had the thrust plate and dog bone retainer bosses machined and drilled for the roller stuff.... Thanks Five7, I think and hope it will have them but I guess I'll have to take it apart to find out!

 

I've seen at least one with all of the casting features there but not machined.

 

well, it's only twelve bolts (eight if it's a vortec) to find out!

 

I've seen atleast one casting used that was cast without the bosses all togather. I think the block casting ends in 427 IIRC. It was used through about 1991-1992 or so.