How is it going everyone? Well i am planning an engine swap and i would like to know, is there any way i can make my intake hook up to pre-86 heads?? Or is there a Pre-86 intake with EGR for a TBI system. Any help would be awsome and very appreciated.

Thanx
Dan

 

Yes you could make it work but that would involve hacking your intake. Best thing to do would be buy a standard carb intake and then get an adapter plate (15-20 bucks) for your pre 87' heads.

 

yeah but the thing is, I still have to pass smog and all of that junk. How much do you think a machine shop would charge to do all the hard work and i install it my self. Also, are the heads off of a carb better than the ones on a TBI engine?? thanks for all the help everyone.

Thanx
Dan

 

What exactly do you have planned? You talk about an LT1 cam in your sig, but pre-'86 engine in the topic. I don't believe you can do both.

If you're sticking with a 305, your best head bet is the World S/R Torquer 305's. If a 350, then S/R Torquers. Both are available in '87-later intake pattern models and have the exhaust cross-over port for EGR.

 

The LT1 and LT4 cams will work in the earlier (87-92) roller blocks. The only difference is that the dowel pin is longer on the LT1-LT4s and has to be pressed in or cut off so that it's only .30" long (rather than .62).

 

That is absolutely correct, and to add a bit more info, the LT1/4 cams were drilled deeper to allow the dowel to be tapped back in far enough to be used with the older timing sets in most cases.

However, the 1986 model year blocks were NOT roller-cam designs. 1987 was the first full year of production for the roller cams in V-8s in cars. The 1986 case DOES have the one-piece rear seal, however, and that always leads to some confusion. Those of us that have the 1986 cases, especially the TPIs, have a painful understanding of why it is truly the "bastard-child" of the SBC line.

Then again, Dan never said that he would be using a pre-'86 case, only pre-86 heads, so the LT1 cam could work for him. Personally, I would agree with 5-7. The stock heads without major rework are nothing to get excited about, and the low cost of aftermarket heads is very tempting.

 

The thing is that i am doing a engine swap with a 69 vette block, (only saying vette because it has a hydraulic cam) and i want to still use my TBI, but the heads on my car right now are for the centerbolt head style, i want to put the TBI manifold on the 69 350 with the pre 86 heads. So if i by the heads that 5-7 was talking about i would be ok or no. Well thanks again guys. Oh yeah just to clarify the situation, i am going to be putting the LT1 cam in my 305 for now, until i get my home work done on swapping engines.

Thanx
Dan

 

World S/R Torquer heads are available with 2.02/1.60 valves, '87-later intake bolt style, perimeter or center-bolt valve covers (but you have to decide which you're going to use).

Simply assembled and bolted on, they will out-perform '69 Vette or any other unmodified factory heads. To make them even better, do a bowl-blend/gasket matching job on them. To make them even "more" better, do the full Standard Abrasives-style job on them (includes bowls, guides, ports, and gasket matching).

While you're at it, get a nice aftermarket hydraulic grind cam from Comp, Crane, Lunati - most anything will be better than a '69 hydraulic cam. (BTW, of all the '69 SBC's, the Vette is the most likely NOT to have a hydraulic cam...)

Of course, any of this will require significant TBI and exhaust modifications. I hope you were planning them as well.

 

a whole crap load has been done to the car already, headers, custom Y pipe and 3 inches all the way back. But i am really not looking to beef up the little 305 anymore, i want something with some more cubes . Whatever works works, and i would like to use that 350 cause i already bored it and built the whole bottom end up with forged parts, so that will really suck if i am not able to use this block. Oh well i am not worried about heads right now i just want to know if there is any way for me to use the 91 intake manifold with a set a older heads (before 87). Thanks alot for all the help guys and take it easy.

Thanx
Dan

 

It's not the block that determines what manifold will bolt to the engine - it's the heads. That's all we're saying. Well, that and older heads are inferior performers to current aftermarket heads. Exactly why are you fixated on older heads?

Your '69 350 crank will have to use an '82-'85 3rd gen flex plate (153 tooth, two-piece rear main seal), and the dipstick will be on the driver's side but headers solve that problem.

Use the '69 block and '87-later style aftermarket heads and your intake will bolt right up!

 

is there any way for me to use a 87 and up stock head on a 69 350 (machined at a machine shop) or is it no cigar. See the thing is, i was told by about three different people that i can use my 91 intake manifold on the pre 86 HEADS, all i would have to do is open up the center mounting holes in order for it to work.

Thanx
Dan

 

Yes, you can use later heads on an earlier block. That's exactly what I was saying. However, you don't want to use 305 heads on a 350 (for several reasons) - it will run, but you won't be getting the power you could, and your compression would be sky-high.

Elongating the center two bolt holes on each side of the intake manifold is exactly how you get an '87-later intake to fit on '86-earlier heads, and vice versa. That's what Spyder meant, even though he didn't say it that way.

 

AHH ok i finally get what you all are saying, damn i feel pretty stupid, ah ah ah but i was really doing is trying to raise my posts for my name yeah that is it

Thanx again everyone and take it easy