Planning my next next project...engine?

[Ricko1966]

When the speed limit was 55 and gas was $.99/Gallon. What about the other 10%?

The 55mph speed limit didn't start until 74 it didn't get followed,accepted or enforced for a long time after. Me my parents my friends drove carbureated 3 speed automatic cars 75-80 mph cross country. Yep gas was cheaper. But the difference in gas price will never be enough to offset the cost of an LS swap. We'll for the other 10 percent well,what I can remember Grandparents owned a Cadillac and a fuel injected VW square back. My boss Tim had a 406 Monte Carlo and a bunch of different Porsches( all injected with 5 speeds) I had a 914 and a Mechanically injected 911s so yea I guess thats all I can remember,so more than 90 percent of us just had carbureated junk that we drove. And really what does the highway speed limit really matter in the big picture unless he's going on long highway drives everytime he takes the truck out,so if highway is his majority use change the rear gear or go overdrive. I'm guessing it's more of a drive it on the weekend occasionally deal,and occasionally to work and errands in that case a mild small block is plenty reliable and very suitable. Carbureated small blocks maintained and tuned properly,reliably,start and drive in the coldest weather and the hottest summers.

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[Sgt Gus]

Time and money. I like a 350, very reliable engine you can do alot with. If your pulling an engine to clean the bay, you'll definitely learn some stuff.
To keep cost down Rick has great suggestions there. It'll be hard to put a greasy engine in a clean bay though.
I had two broken exhaust manifold bolts when replacing them. I convinced my girls that I needed to rebuild the engine.

 

[SquareRoot]

The 55mph speed limit didn't start until 74 it didn't get followed,accepted or enforced for a long time after. Me my parents my friends drove carbureated 3 speed automatic cars 75-80 mph cross country. Yep gas was cheaper. But the difference in gas price will never be enough to offset the cost of an LS swap. We'll for the other 10 percent well,what I can remember Grandparents owned a Cadillac and a fuel injected VW square back. My boss Tim had a 406 Monte Carlo and a ,

What I find funny is how LS engines are perceived as the latest and greatest engine. Maybe if people say something like, forget rebuilding that 50 year old engine and put a 27 year old LS in it, it wouldn't be so bitter. Yes, the LS is now 27 years old.

 

[Ricko1966]

What I find funny is how LS engines are perceived as the latest and greatest engine. Maybe if people say something like, forget rebuilding that 50 year old engine and put a 27 year old LS in it, it wouldn't be so bitter. Yes, the LS is now 27 years old.

If it was as cheap and easy as pulling out a small block and bolting in an LS that would be one thing. Swap a small block fix a small block etc. No money spent on exhaust, special ignition,new intake manifold, all the little crap that has to get worked out AC hoses,cooling hoses etc. etc. etc. And to what gain my 86 if I did an LS swap it wouldn't turn less rpm on the highway,if I ran a q jet I doubt my milage would increase significantly. It would just be time,money,and effort for what? Maybe little more power and a little more mpg. Not worth the hassle to me. 28 years ago we still had durable,dependable transportation.

 

[SquareRoot]

If it was as cheap and easy as pulling out a small block and bolting in an LS that would be one thing. Swap a small block fix a small block etc. No money spent on exhaust, special ignition,new intake manifold, all the little crap that has to get worked out AC hoses,cooling hoses etc. etc. etc. And to what gain my 86 if I did an LS swap it wouldn't turn less rpm on the highway,if I ran a q jet I doubt my milage would increase significantly. It would just be time,money,and effort for what? Maybe little more power and a little more mpg. Not worth the hassle to me. 28 years ago we still had durable,dependable transportation.

True. If one doesn't have the desire or passion to engineer things and problem solve it's probably not the best use of time & money. Durable and dependable is subject to interpretation.

 

[Ricko1966]

True. If one doesn't have the desire or passion to engineer things and problem solve it's probably not the best use of time & money. Durable and dependable is subject to interpretation.

I have enough other things to use my passion,problem solving and engineering skills on. I don't need to make more work for myself.Don't get me wrong I have,and am considering an LS in a different vehicle,the difference there is I'm pulling out a 4 cylinder and the amount of work required for a small block vs. an ls is negligible. But for a work truck that already has a small block in it. The difference in work and money is big. And on a work truck I won't spend big money on a small block either,just a very basic 350.

 

[legopnuematic]

Don't get me wrong I have,and am considering an LS in a different vehicle,the difference there is I'm pulling out a 4 cylinder and the amount of work required for a small block vs. an ls is negligible. But for a work truck that has a small block in it. The difference in work and money is big. And on a work truck I won't spend big money on a small block either,just a very basic 350.

V8 Festiva?

 

[Ricko1966]

V8 Festiva?

Mazda B2200. I'm thinking a 13 sec 22mpg fun truck is possible without a ton of work.

 

[Chris64]

If it were mine it would get different heads,rings,rod bearings,headers,and a cam. You've got 76 cc heads,you don't have enough compression to run much cam. Yep I'm going to get cruzicified here but A pair of TBI heads that nobody wants, would be dirt cheap,bring compression and torque up a bunch,stay with a small cam,929,edelbrock performer,MTC 1,so you got all your power below 5000 rpm. Yes there are lots of better heads than TBI heads but for a dirt cheap low rpm build they'd fill the bill. You can ring and bearing the block in the truck,if you aren't pulling the engine.

OK, so I'm trying to keep up with you on this because a lot of it is Greek to me. Where could I acquire TBI heads? I'm not seeing anything on the used market.

I've found a few articles. My understanding so far is that I could look for something off of a 91~ SBC. I'm reading that they will bolt on the block but the intake won't fit. Is that what you meant by Edelbrock performer? (Edelbrock makes a performer version of all their products it appears).

I already know people are going to say no, but I'll subject myself to it anyway. What about something like this?

Amazon.com

 

[Ricko1966]

OK, so I'm trying to keep up with you on this because a lot of it is Greek to me. Where could I acquire TBI heads? I'm not seeing anything on the used market.

I've found a few articles. My understanding so far is that I could look for something off of a 91~ SBC. I'm reading that they will bolt on the block but the intake won't fit. Is that what you meant by Edelbrock performer? (Edelbrock makes a performer version of all their products it appears).

I already know people are going to say no, but I'll subject myself to it anyway. What about something like this?

Amazon.com

Tbi heads were on all throttle body injected 350s and 305s 1987 - 1998 Cadillacs,Chevrolets,Buicks.( you do not want them off a 305).Your manifold or any CHEAP,think used performer manifold, will not bolt straight on,4 bolt holes are there but at the wrong angle,NBD a grinder,a dremel a drill bit will oblong the holes so they work. Or get a 4bbl manifold off a Truck or caprice with center bolt valve covers. When I mentioned performer before I meant a performer cam,it's a little bigger than a 929 cam or an MTC 1 cam the heads and intake should be dirt cheap used,Junkyard,craigslist,market place etc. The TBI heads make best power at 28-30 degrees total advance,most other SBC heads make best power at 36 degrees. So the TBI heads are not lighting off the mixture as early this means more burn at closer to TDC so less power is wasted fighting the piston coming up on power stroke,so less wasted power more torque,more mpg,less chance of detonation. Do some research on MBT minimum best torque,minimum best timing. Lots of people hate these heads. They are not a true performance head,they are a good low end power head,torque,mpg. I'll post up some results from people that actually used them on quarter mile cars, no they are not as good as some heads,but not as bad as people make them out,and for an under 4500 rpm budget truck motor,I think they are a great choice. P.S. 20 years ago I hated them too! I'll get more screenshot of cars running 13s with TBI heads guys using them on TPI cars for more lowend since the TPI manifold kills the top end on them anyway. ALSO I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THERE IS A THING AT THE BOTTOM SAYING I AM AN AMAZON ASSOVIATE AND MAY GET A COMMISION. WTF WHY IS THIS POPPING UP ON SO MANY THREADS?

 

[Ricko1966]

Check your local pik n pull for this

 

[Camar068]

OK - Money is an object. My whole reason for asking is that I want to spend wisely. I have a new Edelbrock AVS2 so I wanted to stay carbureted. If I went EFI I'd probably just go with an LS which I may do someday, but for now, I'm enjoying the process of learning about this motor.

I was thinking about pulling the motor so I can clean up the engine bay/firewall (and paint the cab - which I want to do sooner than later because the windshield is leaking). I was thinking a mild CAM, maybe heads. I guess my compression is low? So pistons and rings (and bearings). I wasn't sure if heads would be needed or if I could just reseat the existing valves. So the stock heads are just not salvageable?

Camar068 - what's the difference of a diesel 350 converted to gas?

Did you read the article/link? I think the heads are the most expensive part.

 

[CountKrunk]

I'm pretty sure everyone who wasn't around during the 55mph speed limit era knew it was due to gas prices and OPEC.

People think old cars are slow because almost everything built after 2000 Can hit 100 mph and cruise there if ya have the road for it.

**** i cruised at 90-105 for an hour in middle of no where FL on a straight ass road in my old car, a 2016 camry.

As for the purpose of this post. Hit the YouTube my friend. Tons of videos just about this. That way you'll see the work start learning the lingo and seeing what it will take and cost.

 

[Z28 Guy]

I own both a Built LS engine and a stock TBI 454 in my fleet. Each one has a purpose. I never owned a old school small block but from what i have LEARNED is building a LS motor is not cheap at all. The lifters are your biggest enemy as you get what you for. Been there and done that. The lifters in my 2000 Z28 costs me 600 dollars alone and the cam was 450 dollars from cam motion. If you just plan on cruising i would look in building a old school small block. Im thinking of a 502ci GM crate motor to replace the weak 454ci in my truck for several reasons. The R20 is my tow rig for my Z28. Be careful with these engine builders too. You ask/tell them what you want and they will try to sell/build you a 9 second racecar engine.

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