Hey all,

So even though the 350 build I'm planning on is a little while away w/this car, sometimes it seems like discussing future ideas helps motivate me to get through the trouble spots with this project early on!

Anyways, basically, my plan w/the engine in this car is the tried and true method to eventually chuck the 305 in favor of a 350. I want to run a modded TPI setup on it.

Since the actual 350 TPI motors are getting tough to come by in salvage yards and craigslist around here these days (and people who do have complete motors usually want too much money for them), the rough plan I have in mind is to find a good short block, a seperate TPI system, and piece together a top-end package. That, or if I can find a good deal on a low mileage one, maybe find a vortec 350 in a salvage yard and throw a TPI on top of it.

Generally, what people have told me is that Vortec heads are great bang for the buck power makers, and flow better than the stock L98/350 TPI heads. I was originally eyeballing aluminum vortecs, but are they that much better than the stock cast iron heads? And are there other,cheaper ways to reduce engine weight than aluminum heads? (I am planning to remove the A/C).

Feel free to recommend any cam options too, if I have any (it needs to be able to pass a tailpipe sniffer)

 

No reason to buy a "TPI" engine;
once the intake comes off it is just a reg SBC so buy a used intake from 3rd Gen parts dept

True
http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...d/viewall.html

but factor in the cost of the custom intake base need if you want to run Vortecs with TPI
http://sdparts.com/catalog/fuel-syst...rtec-baseplate

As you need a custom intake to run any MPFI on Vortec heads and at $400 to run stock TPI
using SDPC base ,would have potential to make more power with Vortec HSR intake @ $550

 

also a 411 pcm is nice

 

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...i/viewall.html
look at this article on modifying a tbi thirdgen. I have been playing with the idea of it in my head everytime i think of how much the TPI Vortec base costs.LOL