Engine Differences

[WinslowS]

I have a TBI 350 with 168,000 miles that smokes badly under acceleration. The oil pressure varies from around 25 at idle warmed up to just over 30 under acceleration or right after startup. It seems weak, or it could be the 38.5s and 4.10s. I can't afford a remanufactured engine, but found a low milage 89 Camaro engine for a good price. I was wondering what the differnces are in these engines, if I could keep my TBI and just use the longblock from the Camaro. Don't want to go into TPI swap. So what are the differences between the engines, especially ones that would cause me problems during the swap?

 

[83_Shortbed]

there should be no issues using your tbi on the Camero longblock. Oil pressure doesn't care if you have 38s and 4.10s or anything else. as far as differences a longblock is a longblock the only way there can be a problem is big block vs small block

 

[sledheadak]

is the camero engine a 305? or a 350? the 305s were far more common.look up the cam specs on both engines and make sure they are close.

 

[pauly383]

The Camaro engine may have a different cam to deal with the Camaros intake and exhaust , and gears .

Probably work allright though .

 

[WinslowS]

I was talking about it seeming weak when I mentioned the tires/gears.
It is a 350, I've heard the car engines had roller cams during this period. Anyone know of any head differences?

 

[JEBSR]

If it's a 350, it's an L98 with TPI. Yes it will have a roller cam if this is the case. All you have to do is exchange the TPI intake for your TBI and swap all of your accessories on to it. Simple swap.

 

[Thunder]

As said in above post. Simple swap. Will work with your chip.
But to get the most out of that motor without spending a bunch of cash. Would be get some cop car 65PPH injectors and an adjustable fuel pressure regulator. Then to To top it off get a Caprice TBI Cop car PROM. IIRC the prom number is 8746. It will only cost a few hunderd more for injectors and prom and you wil have a nice runing TBI motor.
With the L98 heads you will loose some torque down low and will probabally take a small hit in you gas milage. But you will gain quite a bit in midrange/ topend power.
Or you can pull the L98heads and put your (rebuilt?) truck heads on it and make some serious torque with the roller cam in the TPI L98 engine.

Oh yeah. Make sure it is a 350 not a 305.

 

[83_Shortbed]

heads should all be the same for small blocks you should be able to put any small block intake on any small block whether its a 283 or a 400 (alot of aftermarket intakes say they fit 283s-400s). so all you would have to do is swap on your intake and acc and youll be set to go

 

[Thunder]

heads should all be the same for small blocks you should be able to put any small block intake on any small block whether its a 283 or a 400 (alot of aftermarket intakes say they fit 283s-400s). so all you would have to do is swap on your intake and acc and youll be set to go

Ummm not Exactly. That statement is true for early Gen 1 SBC. But Gen II(the type of engine we are talking about in this thread) and III have vast diferences in manifolds.
SBC heads will bolt to any small block but intakes are different.

Center bolt GenII heads have different angles on the center manifold bolts. Old style manifolds wont bolt to them without machining or drilling the center bolt holes.

Vortec heads require a vortec manifold manifold. No other SBC manifold will work with them.

Ls1 is its own animal. Altho you can bolt the heads to any SBC they wont work because LS1 is reverse cooling. Also require their own special manifold.

 

[broncoman6524]

Center bolt GenII heads have different angles on the center manifold bolts. Old style manifolds wont bolt to them without machining or drilling the center bolt holes.

Actually....you CAN bolt it onto a first gen, apply your rtv and get it all set and good to go, try to put the middle bolts on and go SH*T that aint right. ask me how i know... bought an edelbrock carb manifold off and 87 monte carlo. oh well sold it on egay and made 25

 

[kp texan]

Ls1 is its own animal. Altho you can bolt the heads to any SBC they wont work because LS1 is reverse cooling. Also require their own special manifold.

Gen II small blocks (LT1, LT4) use reverse flow cooling as well so don't try using parts off those.

-Wes