38caddy

Hey guys I'm new to the site and Chevy's . I'm building a 1938 caddy and I'm doing a motor swap to it ,I picked this motor up and have no clue what I'm dealing with . So I was told it was a 350 but I found a 5.0 stamp , so I was also told it was an 89 I found on Google it's a 82-84 but it has a tpi setup on it is this right? The valve covers arnt center bolt . I looked at the intake looks like the bolts go at an angle not straight like I've seen on line ! I'm very confused .
i was kinda thinking of just putting a carb on it . Any input would be helpful thanks

mwill316

iTrader: (3)

Sounds like someone slapped a TPI on an early 80s 305. I'd dump the 305 and go with a 350. That's a whole lot of weight for a 305. 350's are cheaper to build and you'll get more bang for your buck. just my 2 cents

38caddy

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Looks like an 85-86 LB9. The silver perimeter bolt finned valve covers, the half-breed V-belt/Serpentine belt, the 10SI alternator. If it has a 1pc rear main seal it's an 86 motor, 2pc it's an 85. Of course all of this assumes it was pulled out of a thirdgen. TPI didn't come on the scene until 85, in 84 it was still the 4bbl carb in t he fbody, and CFI in the Corvette.

Personally, the early TPI engines aren't my cup of tea. They really didn't start to shine until about 1989. Likewise, a 305 isn't really worth messing with. If you really want to use the TPI, it'll bolt right onto an oldschool 350 block/heads, and with different injectors, and the proper harness, computer, and chip, it'll run fine. If you want to run a carb, it'd be a lot easier to pick up a L31 crate engine, bolt on a 4bbl intake for vortec heads, and blow the doors off the 305 for less than it'd cost to rebuild the 305.

38caddy

Eng is coming back as an 84 and the guy who I got it from put me in contact with the guy he got it from (org owner) he said this was from a 84 trans am and the tpi came on it stock from the factory!
It came with bigger viper injectors (brand new) and a uncut harness. Is this setup worth anything to any of you guys ? I think I'll go carb

Drew

iTrader: (58)

LOL Wow. Some people can spin a yarn. That engine didn't come stock in an 84 anything with TPI.

The TPI might bring around $200 on Ebay, if it's all there and spotlessly clean. The way it looks in the pics, it'll be a hard sell at all. I'm not even sure I'd try to clean up that mess, because it looks like the kind of mess that doesn't really clean up. Could waste a lot of time trying to make a little money off those parts. As for the engine, if it's a 2pc rear mainseal 305, it's pure garbage. I mean the heads might be OK for a 305, but they're not worth rebuilding when Vortecs are so cheap. If you can convince someone to haul it all away without charging you a disposal fee, I'd suggest jumping at the opportunity, and I like TPI.

Tuned Performance

iTrader: (92)

38caddy

The injectors are new in a box . Well it's not needed for h.p. just a replacement for my 100 hp flat head I think it can handle that I'll go carb I'll post the injectors up and the tpi parts see what happens

KyleF

I personally think you would like the low end torque of the TPI if you are not looking for big HP #'s. With the right transmission and gearing that 305 will feel like a much bigger motor down low.

38caddy

I think the rear end is geared 4:56 ish area that's where most old cars were . I like simple. I hate wireing.... I guess I could always keep it hanging around and swap it on in the future to try it out!

KyleF

Wow that is low for a street car. I see good burnouts in your future. What transmission are you running? I hope a 700R4 or other OD transmission. Otherwise anything over 55 is going to be painful on the wallet.

That's probably too much gear to get any performance out of a TPI.

The TPI system is pretty basic. That's why I like it so much. Simple and effective. You could get someone on here to burn a custom Prom for you and turn off all the Emissions functions and codes. Would really simplify the wiring and install.

38caddy

700r4 . I pulled eng apart yesterday it looks brand new inside !
i took the tpi stuff and put aside along with the unit cut harness I'm just going to sell it all off I bought a intake and carb last night !