Hey everone, This is my first post and Im in need of your help. Im transplanting a 1985 305 tpi motor and a 700r4 trans into a 1962 impala. My question is on cam choice. Im looking to build a little more torque since the imp. is a little heavier than the z it came from. It will be running a 3.73 rear gear. works out to the 3.42 that was in the z. comp cams suggested part number 12-256-4 specs are 449 in456ex 112 lobe seperation. anyone ever try this cam? One more thing I should add is the motor will be changed over to a speed desity. Thanks for any help Tim.

 

I was thinking about getting that cam, looked good to me. I dont know how a 305 is gonna move a land barge like a 62' Impala tho

 

SMURFIN' Z28, come on get real. a TPI 305 will move that big car way better than any little 283 or 327 that it probably came with. TPI builds torque remember? why do people think 305s are such dogs? man that pisses me off when people say things like that, it just proves how ignorant they really are, jeez.

tbair64, a TPI 305 will be a great swap if you just want a smooth cruiser. it should get good gas mileage and be very reliable. a cam with around 208-214 degrees duration ( @.050 lift) shoudl have a smooth idle and deliver good off idle torque, which is what you want. if the engine is in good condition with stock manifolds and a cam similar to the one listed above you should make around 220-230 hp and in the neighborhood of 310-320 lbs ft torque.

 

Oi! I know that the 85' in particular LB9 is a peppy motor.... I have one! And it would most certainly move that car better than a 283 or a 327 from that era.... It would be just fine for a cruiser. I guess I was just thinking a 350 would be better suited for the job if he is going through the trouble of the swap anyways.

 

yes it is obviously the same amount of trouble to install a 350 as it is a 305, but i am assuming that is all he has, which will do fine. sorry i snapped, i just get real testy when people talk smack about 305s on here, because on the street around here where i live, i havent been beaten by one yet. i just have a short fuse when people worship the TPI 350, because its not really all that great in stock form, neither is a 305 for that matter.

 

Thanks guys The 305 was a great deal could pass it up 300.00 for motor and trans. there both getting a rebuild. and the car is just a cruiser. it will have block hugger headers from street and performance. I was a little worried about getting the car moving also so cam choice is a bin deal on building *** torque. also a gear change. Thanks Tim

 

Just a couple of thoughts and suggestions. Not gospel, but you might want to do some homework and consider them:

• The longer stroke/bore ratio of the 305 is going to provide more torque than the original stock engine, with little doubt.
• The TPI will help build low end torque even more.
• The TH700-R4 has a markedly low ratio first gear, and is better suited to get a heavy car moving than the Powerglide or ST-300 that may have originally come with that Impy. It was likely a ST-300 if the car had a V-8, or air cooled PG with the mighty 230-inch six. The TH700-R4 was specifically designed to propel a heavy car or truck with a mild 305 bolted to the front.
• If you install headers, consider longer tube versions if the space will allow. They will compliment the TPI quite well.
• With all the torque, you might not want to go quite as tall with the rear gears if you want any kind of fuel economy and top end.
• Consider keeping the oxygen sensor in the system when you select headers. Programming and operating the engine without it could prove a challenge.
• The '64 is among my favorite B-Car bodies. Take good care of her.

 

Long tubes, a nice cam(like the one stated above), a good torque converter, 3.42's(TPI's don't like 3.73's too much), an air foil(every little bit helps ), and if you can do something with the plenum like taking out the TB walls maybe port it a bit. Add some runners and a base for max efficency. Good luck and keep us informed!!!

 

Thanks for the help. The headers will have the o2 bung in place from street/perfomance. the taller gear is because of tire size in the rear 27.29 or2555/35/20 the 3.73 work out to be 3.42 overall drive gear. the long tube headers are not going to work for me. not enough ground clearance. Im glad to see the cam will work out.

 

In that case just get some Hooker headers shorties and be done with it.

 

one more thing... if you are planning on switching to SD you had better learn how to burn proms... or have sombody burn you one

 

Do not get me wrong here, cause I like my 305 in my Z. But, in my '64 SS, the 327 is great. Sure the powerglide and 3.36 rear kills it off the line. But rolling at around 45ish mph, the '64 will hurt my Z. Through the quarter, the Z easily wins. The Z28 has 700r4 and 2.73 (to be changed for 3.42 soon). I would like to have a tpi 327 in the Z! Aside from the 302, the 327 is one of the best motors chevy made. I like both cars as is and would not change the "personality" of either.

p.s.: as mugh as I hate to, the 64 is for sale

 

smurfin, street/performance handles all the reprogramming with a new chip set up for your cars need along with a new wiring harness for the speed density. fireball. When I got the car there was just a body no drive train so this combo came along for a good price and the wheels started turning. Thanks Tim

 

It should be a good combo. I was just talking about having both! I alway thought the tpi set up made for the best looking motor.

 

fireball, thanks for pics of your cars. they look great. sorry to see you selling the 64. It looks to be in great shape. how much ? Thanks Tim

 

i had always heard the 85 tpi ecm had issues that were fixed in 86. which ecm is he using for the swap? should he go with a later ecm?

 

He said he is going with a SD ecm (90'-92' ecm FYI)