Guys-

I've got a nice chunk of money saved up and I'd like to upgrade my IROC with some of it. I have come down to 2 options, which I'd like to get some opinions on....

Option #1: I purchase a brand new 5.7 TPI engine (from GM?) and swap it in. I assume they sell the entire setup, block and everything as a whole unit? Is there anything else I would need to buy seperate for the swap? I'm guessing the computers are different between 5.0 and 5.7, so would I need a new module or will it come in the purchase? Anything else I should know about doing something like this? Any estimates on a cost of a new 5.7 TPI?

Option #2: Stick with my current LB9 setup and add SLP ceramic coated headers.

The reason I am asking is, the ceramic coated headers I'm lookin' at are gonna run me $900- $1000 with installation, which is cool... as I said, I have money to spend here. But I am wondering if it would just be better to buy and install a new 5.7 TPI? I guess it all depends on how much a new engine would cost, cuz I have no idea...

Thanks!

-ONE2FLY

EDIT: I just realized... my car is running either 3.08 or 3.23 gears... I know a 5.7 w/ 3.23 is good... but how well would a 5.7 w/ 3.08 work? Not very good I wouldn't think..... damn!

 

How many miles are on your current engine and in what kind of condition is it in? If you do swap in a 5.7, the only electronics you need to change are the injectors and i believe the knock sensor. The 305 injectors are smaller. Everything else should swap over. I believe the L05 long block (tbi 350 truck motor) is about $1500, so the tpi long block should be in the same neighborhood. If you go that route, i'd invest a few more $$ in a crate motor instead of your basic replacement-quality motor. Its a little extra money but they already come with all the good perf. parts (they have 330hp vortec motor for $2000). I'd do that before paying $1000 for headers and installation on a 305. I guess it really depends on what you're trying to do.

 

330HP Vortec engine for $2000?!

Whoa... I'd sure love that... where can I look into purchasing that?

Would the swap be the same? That's obviously not a TPI system... is it? So I'd have to change all kinds of stuff? I'd have to pay a shop to do the swap because I don't have enough time or the knowledge required to do it myself....

And what about my 700R4 transmisson? Can it hold down 330HP? Cuz that would suck to go for a test drive after installation, only to blow my tranny.... and what about my rear end?

$2000 - $2500 is about the max I am willing to spend here...

Thanks a ton, you're really helpin' me out.

-ONE2FLY

 

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...id=120&pid=115

 

JR4444-

That is a BAD *** engine!

Unfortunately... it's just the crate.... I would need to buy $3000 worth of parts ontop of the $2000 crate in order to get it functioning in my car, so that's not gonna happen....

I dunno if a swap would even be worth it at this point...

What I was originally thinking was I could buy a brand new (0 miles) 5.7 TPI system for $1500+, and drop it right into my car... using the existing equipment (pulleys, serpentine belts, manifold etc...), and just putting extra money into bigger injectors and new knock sensor....

That WOULD give me more horsepower than adding ceramic coated headers to my 305 right?

Just trying to get the best bang for the buck here...

-ONE2FLY

EDIT: On second thought, I may just go with an engine rebuild and in the process, bore my 305 to a 350... that's probably the cheapest way...

 

Get you an LT1 or LS1 from these guys and drop it in.
http://www.billygrahamsfirebird.com/

 

Buddy, sorry to break it to you, but you can't bore out a 305 to a 350...
So i guess you can update your sig...

And obviously getting a 350 is a MUCH better idea than just getting headers, headers will only give you about 10 or 15 horsepower, and once you get the 350...there is A LOT of potential...unlike the 305...

 

Yeah.. you can't exactly bore a 305 enough to make a 350, the block is different. There is hardly any difference between 3.08 and 3.23 gears, definitely a waste of money if you were to upgrade one to the other. Your tranny can easily handle 330hp if it is in decent shape. And besides..if you drop it in under your tpi you're not going to be making 330hp.

Buy the headers and put them in yourself, it really is not all that difficult. For the extra 300 or whatever labor you could buy some top of the line tools to help out. think about the horsepower/$ ratio.. 1000/15=$66 per horsepower... bad deal.

There is a lot of potention for a 305, but obviously not as much as with 45 more cubic inches.

 

Just go for the short block...

 

1st of all, how much do u have to spend and what times do u really want to run??

 

Well.... #$$%, that goes to show you how much I know about engines, haha... I'm learnin' though...

I'm gonna keep it simple and go with the headers, found a shop that can get em in the car for $800, which is cool with me...

I'm also planning on dropping in a JET Stage II chip, so hopefully that will all keep me entertained...

I'm not trying for 1/4 times, I just want a nice street car.

-ONE2FLY

 

Ouch!!! I don't know about where you live but I found 3 place that would install headers for $200. If you've done some searching for prices and that's the best you found; thats cool too, just make sure you call every place that will install headers.

 

I think he means $800 including the SLP headders.

 

Keep the 305 and go with the headers. It's more impressive to see a 305 run 13's than it is to see a 350 run 12's. As for pricing, you can get the SLP headers through a GP for $375 or $475 if you want them coated. There is a GP going on know. Check out the Spohn's Group Purchase on the Exhaust board.

 

Forget the 350 and supercharge the 305. Like jfreeman74 said it is more impressive to see a 305 run 13's.

I think there is a guy named "willie" on this board with a 305 that runs high 12's. He has a web site but I cant remeber it.