John, I know this question is probably more for you, but I'm posting it on the board in case others have this question.

About the heads...
I'm probably going to swap heads when I do this intake swap. I'm looking at AFR or Edelbrock heads. Do you need to know what heads I'm going to use before you work on my intake? And do you recommend the heads and intake being port matched, or should the ports line up very nicely?

About the throttle body...
I have an Edelbrock 52MM throttle body right now. If you were me, would you upgrade to a 58MM throttle body? The motor is a 355ci (1987 T/A 5.7), vette pistons (higher compression), Edelbrock or AFR heads, headers, a different cam (not sure which), and the LT1 intake.

About the injectors...
Can I upgrade to LS1 injectors? I know they look a little different, but will they still fit?

Thanks guys!

 

Yes, you shoud choose your heads before drilling a LT1 intake. There is a differant bolt pattern, early and late style.

I believe the 52mm TB will be fine on a mild 355.

Yes, LS1 injectors will fit. Beaware of the differant year/part numbers. Some were 26 lb and some were 28 lb.

 

Being that my motor was from a 1987 T/A, I will be replacing my heads with the 1987-newer style heads, Edelbrock or AFR. Are those year heads considered "late model" heads?

I'll be getting my LT1 intake very soon (this week) and would like to send it to you soon. Do you currently (in a few weeks) have time to work on my intake? And what additional info (if any) will you need to know about my motor before I send the intake?

Thanks!
Mike Noonan

 

You really should e-mail me Mike. To make this tech I'll say the following.

1986 and prior engines are consideres to have the early style heads/intake bolt pattern.
1987+ have the late style heads/intake bolt pattern.

I drill the LT1 intake to which ever bolt pattern you want. The engine block doesn't care if it has early of late heads on them only the intake cares about that.

You could put whatever heads you want on the car, just have to get or modify the intake to match.

The late style heads do better for an LT1 intake conversion then the early style. This is because the early style causes me to grind away at the drivers side intake casting to allow for the angle of the bolts.

Turnaround time is about 3 weeks from me for an intake.