NEW ENGINE TROUBLE-hey, i bought an engine from a buddy.(350 hencho en mexico crate block, ported 70s vette heads 10:1 bored 30 over, only 30K miles) Basically, it was running when he had it. i took the carb off, threw the TPI on.I found TDC and aligned the rotor with #1. When it came time to time it, i couldnt find the timing notch, i turned the timing advance **** on the timing gun to just about 60 degrees and there it was. (Now, i tried to move the distributor gear one tooth over on the cam, but it would not start either way. I have not confirmed this yet, but if the camshaft was "degreed" or advanced, would this be an explaination of my issue.) I then loosened n turned the distributor a lil, and got it to 45 degrees advanced, connected the electrical advance wire and fired her up. She idles noticably rough, sits in traffic good (once warmed up) and cruises on the highway perfect, intermittent engine light ( code#42 was on before i adjusted it from 60 to 45 degrees..which i believe was the E.S.Tcode, believe that is the intermittent one also) Now should i be worried about this, i figure everything is ok considering the stock computer is cooperating. I dont want to ruin this engine before i can see what its got at least! (one note:i have a chip in the car still for the 305 (hypertech), im gonna change it to stock soon. I also have the stock 305 TPI on top of this motor, i have no money to get any higher flowing intake yet.

 

Well, can't be sure you have the timing right, but a 305 computer with presumably 19# 305 injectors sitting on a 355 would certainly NOT be ideal even if everything was timed and degreed properly.

You need a 350 ecm, chip and 22# injectors. Once it's running well, then worry about future tuning and intake mods. Also make sure that the computer is SD or MAF depending on what you currently have/had in your car. Check out the prom/tuning board, they'll exactly what ecm you need, I can never remember.

The TPI intake will effect performance, but shouldn't effect the way the engine runs. Guys have TPIs on big ole 400+ cube motors. Now they aren't suited for performance but they can certainly be tuned to run well.

 

Just to add, I'm not saying my advice is the BEST way to go, but without knowing your knowledge, plans, budget, etc. my feeling is go with what you know.

A stock TPI on a 355 with stock or mild heads SHOULD run well with a stock chip and stock 22# injectors. That's not to say there's not other options.