Hey guys thinking about what all to do in a fall-winter project on my 83 z28. I am for sure gonna be pulling the motor and tranny so I can clean up the engine bay plus I think my tranny is going bad (th350). Just want some suggestions on what I can do with the motor (5.7L 350) why it is out of the car. So some questions are:

1. With the tranny now it just seems to have trouble shifting especially into reverse if anything at all but I am probably just gonna go with a brand new th350 which right now I am thing about the TCI 311098 from summit or is there something better for around that price range?

2. The engine itself when I bought the car 4 years ago I didn't really know to much about the 350 in the car as I was buying primarily for the body and everything else anyway. The engine seems to run just fine no leaks that I can really see except for an exhaust leak on passenger side but other then that I think everything is still good but won't know for sure until I pull her out. In any case If the engine is still good as in block, heads, crank, and so on what are some things I should do other then my headers while I have it out. Can I just do a good $250 rebuild kit on it and be done?

3. I have a good buddy of mine who knows a heck of alot more about engines then me that I am gonna have help me look at it and if he thinks it needs a rebuild should I go ahead and do it or just drop in a new crate 350?

Keep in mind with these ?'s that I am not looking at making an extreme amount of HP here. This car is my please car during the summer and is just for regular driving and I would like to keep as much fuel economy as I can.
Money is not really a huge issue but I would like to stay on the budget side and still get good parts...

Any suggestions are appreciated!!!!

 

If want good mileage than I'd suggest getting a 700r4 tranny or T56 if you like. The over-drive will help a lot on highway driving.

For the motor, do you know what vintage it is? The mid-late 70's 350s really suck. The stock 350 in my 74 Nova only came with 135hp, that's just as much as the 2.8 in my Maro. If so then get a crate, if it's newer than you should probably just rebuild it, slap some headers and a nice cat-back on and I think you'll be happy.
Good luck
Alex

 

I agree the novafirebirdguy... Def a 700R4 with a semi shift kit..
upgrade to a newer TPI motor and fixer up man!

Maybe... Change to a 4L60E or 80E with an LT1 with LT4 parts!

 

Well I am guessing that the engine is around the 83 year of the car but am not for sure. So if it is an early 350 I should just go for the crate I guess I am still looking for some power just not anything huge with still decent mileage...

 

Then I'd say get the 290hp crate 350 that you can pickup for $1800. And for the tranny, if you can find one with corvette servos and a shift kit, it makes a BIG difference. Much crisper, better shifts.
Alex