Hey ive got an 85 Z28 and i was hoping to get pointed in the right direction as far as a new engine project goes.

Right now its got a 265xxx km LG4, still runs strong, nothin wrong with it except for power ratings.

Major aspects I look forward too are:

Driveability: (i dont wanna drive a top fuel dragster, nor a carb that i need to warm up for 20 minutes, fuel injection would be awesome)

Gas Mileage: (im not too picky, but i dont have all the money in the world. If it runs on 87 gas and gets double digits in the city (preferabbly high double digits, ill be happy)

And last but not least, i want to go fast. im setting a goal at 400hp. Wondering if its possible for me to build a 400hp daily driver.


And just a general question about TPI, my buddy has a cammed TPI, dont know what cam exactly. But he got it cammed, then chipped by a tuner. and for the first 5 minutes of driving his car it is SOOO JERKY. Is that a normal tpi issue?

Edit: sorry, i suppose this should be in the Engine Swap forum.

 

400 RWHP or 400 FWHP? Just out of curiosity, why do you mention 87 octane fuel in the same post as 400 HP?

at 18 mpg combined economy and 12,000 miles per year you save a whopping $2.56 per week using 87 vs 93 octane. For the 8.5 :1 compression ratio engines you save a whopping $1.28 per week running 87 vs 89 octane.

I just don't understand threads asking about big HP but are concerend about saving a couple bucks per week using cheap gas.

Anyway, I digress, what is your realistic expendable amount of cash/credit for the project and will you be doing most, some, all or none of the work yourself?

What tranny do you have? If an auto, are you allowing $1200 minimum for a beefy rebuild/upgrade and then a couple hundred $ more for a rebuilt or maybe a new torque converter?

It's much easier to assist when a dollar figure is given.

 

400hp, was just a number i shot out of my head. and to be completely honest, i never thought about how much more premium would be. I just wanted the capability to drive for cheap.

Now right now it is an auto, and Im hoping to find a T56 and do a T56 swap, I havent looked into the rear end yet, right now its a stock 10bolt. And i dont think thats going to do either.

As far as the engine goes id like to keep it around $5000, I think that sounds reasonable. I would be doing all the work with a friend.

Basically im hoping i can build a good fast TPI (LS1 seems too expensive) that i can drive everyday.

 

I don't know how reputable they are but $2500 for a turnkey 350
http://www.chevy350engines.com/

it kind of makes you rethink wanting to go to FI

 

asuming you dont want a ls1, and that your not set on 400hp, Do something like a turn key from gm peformance parts, http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/Pa...l.jsp?engine=0

Or if you wanted to build the engine yourself, and not cost a major buck this is how I would do it

grab a 350, bore it out a lil to an 355 just to clean it up, get a cam something close to an lt1 cam, grab a tuned port setup and do minor porting to it, just basically to try to take out the sharp curves and to smooth the inside, have that on some aluminum vette heads, and do an mild clean up on those.

I cant help must past that engine wise but for tranny get an 700r4 if you wanna use an auto, rebuild her and stick in a stage 2 shift kit.

You wouldnt get 400hp out of this but you should get pretty nice torque in a usable/lower-mid power range, which will allow better gas mileage to get to an higher speed quicker as you wont need as much gas to get to that speed. Plus rebuilding and boring to a 355 if done correctly will allow her to be pretty reliable with an rebuilt 700r4 behind it.

But also make sure to get a nice fairly beefy rear end to, or just fine a good ls1 axle with 3.42's posi as there a tab meatier then thirdgen axle's, the 3.42 would be a optimal gear set, and then you also are good for concerns of brakes, good luck.

 

i purchased this motor in January... amazing motor.... great price

http://high-performance-engines.com/...duct_Code=HP32

 

o0o i also have the FIRST TPI on it...

 

also that includes shipping....


way i have mine set up is...


ATK motor with longtubes FIRST tpi, 24lb injector and custom tuned by a friend and member on NYTHIRDGEN.COM


havent dyno tuned it yet.. but i will in spring.... but lemme tell you.. that motor hauls ***.......

i was told if i change the RR to 1.6 it would jump my hp also....

 

Not sure of some things....

1) hp numbers and economy do not go hand in hand - you get hp or you get economy, not both.

2) Why is a carb not a daily driver? Your parents, and their parents, and their parents drove a carb daily. Get your lazy butt out of bed 10 minutes early and warm it up! Besides, fuel injection cars are SUPPOSED to be warmed up as well - you're not supposed to start any car and go down the road in 20degree weather without a warm up period.

3) Not sure why an LS1 is out of the question - it's the only affordable way your going to see power and economy get semi-close to one another. You can't find a wrecked 1998+ Camaro anywhere for under $5k?

Although alot has been done with TPI - it's going out. The LSx just has so much better bang for the buck. FI or not - there's alot of folks carbing LSx now - lots of power without FI headache for us old schoolers. Not sure I'd invest in TPI now that there's so much more can be done with newer tech at same prices.

At $3.00+ a gallon and estimated to go to $4+ before end of 2011, I'd get a beater for a daily driver and build my 3rd gen for weekend fun. $1000 would buy a really nice daily beater (around here anyway), and give you the time to do what needs to be correctly to your 3rd gen. You can't do a motor swap in a weekend unless going back to exact same motor/induction. Took me (working a 50hr a week job) almost 4 months to do my carbed 350 swap - of course that was in the driveway and by myself - and several more months to work out the tiny bugs. Nothing happens cheap, and nothing happens overnight.

I say drive it until the wheels fall off, or get a beater and restore/build it right.

Oh - and daily fun ... grab a V6 4th gen 5sp cheap somewhere for your beater - twice the power you've ever seen from your 305 and alot of mileage for some daily tire burning.

 

5.3 or LT1 swap would be pretty good... I have a '97 with an LT1/T56 and it gets excellent gas mileage and good power (290 stock). Not hard to get 400hp from an LT1.