A friend of mine has an 87 Trans Am with the 305 TPI engine and from what he tells me it's been recently rebuilt. He eventually is going to pull that motor because he wants to put some real horsepower in the car. I'm thinking about buying the engine off him to put it in my carb'd 83 Z28....I know I should go 350, but my 350 is slated for my 63 chevy truck. I plan on keeping the carb set up I have and put it on the 87 305. My question is, will I have to run an electric fuel pump? Thanks!

 

You can mount a mech fuel pump on a '87 engine ( need a fuel pump pushrod )

 

as long as you have the provisions. you really need to know the casting numbers but even then sometimes it wont work

 

I knw you want to buy fom your buddy, but it really would make more sense just to buy a carb 305 instead of converting a tpi. There are soooo many carb 305s around. I have 2 in my garage. Since their only problem is usually a bad carb, much easier if you already have a good carb. Just a thought.
As far as converting, you think you will have other issues. I don't think either your dizzy (which you will need if you're using he stock carb) or manifold will fit on a 87+ centerbolt head with one piece rms. I have a feeling the fact that it's an 87 roller cam block will also make mech fuel pump install difficult, but I don't really know, never looked at that part.

 

The engine in my 83 needs to be replaced and I don't want to gamble with buying a used engine from someone I don't know. I know the carb is good on my car...rebuilt it myself...it's the huge cloud of smoke when I start it up that bothers me. The engine has a few other issues that I don't want to deal with because it's a 305. This TPI engine is from a guy I know and trust and it will allow me to "stick with the plan" for my truck. Thanks for all the info.