This started one month ago, I got a call from the scrapyard. They just had received an burned 85 Corvette so I bought the engine for 150$.

For now I have the completed short block.
- 2 pieces rear seal
- 2 bolt main
- bored to 4.030''
- Cast crank, had it grinded to .010''
- re-seize rod
- Mahle Flat top piston 4.0286''

I'm not sure I'll use the stock heads as they are 462462, 76 cc and prone to crack.

-Edelbrock Performer heads http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/60909/10002/-1
-Roller Timing chain http://www.jegs.com/i/Cloyes/220/9-1100/10002/-1
-Comp Cams Roller camshaft for computer controlled http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp-Cams/249/08-300-8/10002/-1
-Lunati retro-fit roller lifter http://www.jegs.com/i/Lunati/638/72400/10002/-1
-Comp Cams roller rocker http://www.jegs.com/i/Comp-Cams/249/17002-16/10002/-1

I put my TPI intake on top of this, I think I can make a mean small block out of this. Any ideas of what could be better?

 

Looks like you have a good start. I would try to get some better heads than the Edelbrock. They are decent but for around the same money or a few more hundred you can get some better heads. If you shop around you can get AFR 180's for not much more. The 60909 heads flow 250/158 cfm at 0.5" lift. Stock L98 heads flow 199/164 cfm at 0.5" lift. Definitely an improvement over stock but exhaust is still weak. They will work but a better head would be wise if you ever plan on upgrading. AFR 180 flows 260/207 cfm at 0.5" lift. They have a lot better intake/exhaust ratio plus great low lift numbers.

Looks like you are picking a cam that will work with stock tune. If your TPI system is MAF, it will take to engine mods better than MAP without a retune. There might be some hotcams (ZZ4, LT4, etc) that might yield more performance for less money. A comp cam XFI might be a good option since they have an agressive ramp rate. Hopefully somebody else can chime in on the cam selection. Regardless you will have a nice 355 engine when you are done

 

Thank you!
I'll take a look at AFR heads, my TPI uses MAF. If I can take a better cam for less and if I don't need to retune the computer I'll go with a bigger cam, but maybe not the LT4 hotcam cause I care about fuel consumption!

 

maf or not unless u retune its a waste of time..because it wont be right... sorry

 

As the bolt pattern of the Intake changed after 1987? I know that the angle of the bolt have been changed, but the intake manifold can be worked to fit on 1987 and later heads?

 

yeah its just the center 2 on each side.. just be usre you use a little bit larger washers and some rtv so you dont get an oil leak

 

I've used both the ZZ4 cam and the XFI-268. The ZZ4 (with Long Tube Runners & BigMouth intake) pulled hard down low and offered a good midrange as well. It was a really good cam for TPI, IMO. The XFI is on my HSR setup and is more aggressive including a lot of lift. With the XFI, you really, really should retune your ECU.

Regarding the XFI cam, I completely agree with scamaro355. However, the ZZ4 with a stock PROM isn't too bad untuned. I would still recommend getting it tuned though.

Again, this is just my experience. Hope this helps!

 

what about fitting my LB9 heads on my 355 block? I think they are 58cc, I could change valve, valve seat and guide. I could port them and have a good head set for cheap.

 

I got some news on this thing!

After a few headache I choose a Howards Cam
- 1000-5000 RPM Range
- Intake .488''@ 264
- Exhaust .495'' @ 270
- Lobe Center 112
- Intake C/L 108
- 8' overlap

I also took the Double roller timing chain from Cloyes. There's three adjustment on this timing chain, advance, retard and stock. As the TPI is good for low end torque, should I advance timing to get more torque or should I keep the stock timing?
And for the Head I bought a set of Patriot Performance Freedom series with 185cc intake, 5 angle job, straight plug and 64cc combustion chamber. The flow numbers are:
Int. Exh.
.100'' 64 50
.200'' 130 96
.300'' 181 136
.400'' 219 165
.500'' 248 181
.600'' 260 190

Those are as cast for 795$, I don't plan to port them soon for budget reason...
I'm still missing the roller rocker and the push rod, I think that the comp cam roller rocker at 161.99$ will do the job, anyone tried them?

 

what do you plan to do with your tpi? (leave it stock, extrude hone, slp, etc...?)

 

I'll keep it stock for the summer, maybe next winter I'll change to high-flow base and runner. But I'll order 24 lbs injectors and and adjustable fuel pressure regulator soon.

 

I an't wait to hear how it runs stock. I keep hearing very bad things about tpi above 4800 rpm....will be curious to see how this motor does with stock tpi and then later to see the improvement when your re work the tpi...

 

I'm building a street engine anyways, 4800 rpm and more is quite enough for me!

 

You wont really notice a real SOTP advancing or retarding cams, go bigger or smaller depending. Dont outhink yourself here.

 

ok thank you, I just wondering if this was really making a difference!

 

If you could port your base to match your heads, Siamese your plenum and buy the ***** that increase the stock runner size I think you would really see some serious improvement and really use those heads you bought. you could do the intake and plenum yourself. The best bet would be a set of siamesed runners of some sort if you could spring for some SLP's/edlelbrocks/accels/ or TPIS.The GM Hotcam isn't the best but it's by far the cheapest. You would see a big benefit from a cam in that size range. That cam can be had on EBay for about $130.00. BTW I have been able to get 27mpg with the Hotcam. It's not a bad mileage cam either. Good luck.

 

I already bought the Howards cam and lifter. And I was looking at the Accel/Edelbrock Highflow base for TPI but it's another 800$. How much can I expect from this engine with the stock intake? I used Desktop Dyno 2000 and it give me 423 HP @ 6500 RPM and 466 lbs-ft @ 3200 RPM. 6500 RPM is very very off with a stock intake I think!

 

What is the duration at .05 that desktop dyno does seem way off across the board for waht u have. I wouldn't go by any computer dyno for results unless its one that ask you everything about the engine

 

There is a guy on this board that does a beautiful job porting intakes and plenums. If I understood him right, he can port a GM base and it will flow about as well as the aftermarket base flows unported. I think he only charges about $175.00 to port a base. You might want to look at some of his work.

 

I got a problem,
I used a roller cam and a double roller timing chain.
I purchase a cam button and when I install it on the timing gear, the timing cover doesn't fit. I've got a 1/8- 1/4 gap between the block and the cover.