Okay I have a question for you guys... and please don't hate on me for not using the search feature

I have a 1987 IROC Z28 that I rebuilt the engine and it is out of the car. It is originally a 1987 Carbed motor.

I am thinking about abandoning the car for another car a 1986 TPI 305 that is much nicer with the exception of a small amount of damage. There is less work and the car looks nicer (and I can fix the damage easier then fixing the old car).

Is there anything standing in my way of just pulling the 1986's TPI stuff off of that BLOWN ENGINE and putting in my freshly built engine from the carb'd 1987?

What are the issues I may run into?

The reason I made this thread is because I am in the process of trying to become a police officer (entry cadet level) and I am going through a very demanding interview process as well as double majoring in college right now. Any help would be appreciated (you would be helping a future LEO/MIL person!)

I'm going to check out the 1986 soon. I just want to know what to look for and if it is worth dropping the extra cash, as I have limited time nowadays. Sorry no time for digging through multiple threads (as I usually do!). I promise I will make contributions with lots of pictures and dialog to thirdgen for the help

 

TO CLARIFY:

I want to put TPI parts on an originally CARB'd block. And then that would go back into the 1986 TPI.

 

Everything swaps
BUT
you need a flywheel / flexplate to suit the '87 ( crank flange bolt pattern is different to < '86 )
and you may have to slot the 4 center holes on the '86 intake base to suit the different angle of the bolts on the '87+ engine.
( if you have center bolt rocker cover cast iron heads on the '87 engine , not the old style perimeter bolt covers)

 

I have centerbolt heads on the 87.

As far as the flywheel goes both are 700r4 autos and the fly wheel is off right now. When I go to put it all back together how hard is that conversion?

(it is something I didn't research prior)

I also have a new cam and parts for the 87 engine...

Any issue with camming the TPI setup. (again my research was for carb'd when i spec'd it out the first time).

Thanks for the help. It is much appreciated as I am a busy man, but I still don't consider myself so busy that I think of myself as being more import than others. Your time is very appreciated on this end!

 

Here it was before it came out i will find specs for y'all. I think this thread could be helpful to future people swapping dead engines out.

 

So you either slot the 4 holes in the '86 intake to suit the later head or find a '87+ base
No biggy

Depends on the cam specs ; injection has limitations on what the computer can handle .Post the specs

Trans is not the problem.
If your "87 engine is truely a '87 engine it will be 1 pce RMS which uses a different crank bolt pattern to the earlier 2 pce RMS your '86 should be

Note we are talking stock here , nothing to say any engine or parts has been swapped into any car previously
1 pce RMS block easily identified by the round alum housing on the block behind the round crank flange as shown
A 2 pce RMS crank looks completely different

 

86 actually was the 1st yr of the 1-pc RMS; so the crank flange will be the same.

87 was however the 1st yr of the heads with the center 2 intake bolt holes at the different angle. So you may have to slot your manifold's holes to match.

TPI is just an intake manifold and supporting little goodies. Nothing magical or esoteric about any of it. It couldn't care less what year block is underneath it. Like any intake though, it imposes certain limits on the rest of the engine, in terms of what works well with it; the cam IN PARTICULAR interacts with TPI's design and must be chosen accordingly. Most cams that maximize a carbed motor's potential, will be a horrible mismatch to TPI.

Your 87 motor should also have come with the roller cam. Assuming that hasn't been hacked out of it, I'd suggest a Comp "500" grind, or "501" if you use those headers. Either will require the matching valve springs; DO NOT attempt to run a cam like that on stock springs. Used stock ones probably wouldn't even last long enough to back out of your driveway the first time.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-08-500-8
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-08-501-8

 

What about this? --I think this is the cam...not 100% though

http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp+Cams/249/08-600-8/10002/-1

I know I have hydraulic and I need lifters too. I got springs to match. Let me see if I have a list. All could be exchanged/sold if it isn't what I need with the new plan. I just need an idea of money on it --hoping not to spend it twice because of a change in the plan.

 

timing set
http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp+Cams/249/3136/10002/-1

pushrods
http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp+Cams/249/7608-16/10002/-1

valve springs
http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp+Cams/249/26981-16/10002/-1

retainers
http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp+Cams/249/742-16/10002/-1

o-rings
http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp+Cams/249/501-16/10002/-1

And if I remember correctly I did:
All new bearings
Bored .030" over
New pistons
Rods
turned crank (wasn't really an issue)
Heads: Stock w/slight port&polish smoothing (under supervision of professional), 3 angle valve job, stock valve size (to avoid breaking one because I didn't know with clearance issue if the oversized valves would work) and fully assembled with my goodies. Just for the record they are purdy and shiny and I got a good deal on the head work /guidance.

The one thing I didn't get were lifters but I spec'd them out (money constraints while having other worries made me say meh... enough spent I don't have time to finish it quite yet anyways).

I may have some of the details wrong as I can't find my order info but I believe that is all correct to the best of my memory.

Any major issue give it to me straight y'all. I will get it worked out.

 

Very poor choice. VERY VERY VERY bad. Severe mismatch to the requirements of TPI.

Your existing roller lifters can be re-used, if they're in good shape.

"Stock" means ALOT of different things. "Stock" for either your LG4 (carb) or LB9 (TPI) 305, would be fine. "Stock" for almost any OTHER motor, especially for a 350 or for some other 305, not so much. The casting number will tell. What is that number?

 

Looks like I couldn't make a deal on the 1986. Looks like more work for me (key cylinders, breaks, every gadget under the hood the last fool thought didn't matter...) This project is going to take a while.

 

I also think you need the wire harness for the tpi to plug into the computer best to take out the 86