and 1st post ever!

heres the deal:
i own a stock (more like less than stock) 88 Camaro with the L03 TBI automatic (no idea if trans is TH-700R4 or 4L60E) drivetrain in the same sad shape as most other used third gens, no dings, weird left quarter panel impact, lots of random suface and bubble rust, ghetto-rigged wires everywhere, and an engine thats been more abused than a red-headed step-child, yet somehow still barely manages to explode itself to highway speed.

the "new" engine is a LG3 2bbl 305 (i think. the guy said it was out of a second gen firebird. has a passenger side dipstick.) that my dad bought from a friend for $400. it came covered in surface rust but is still usable, its had 1 or 2 previous rebuilds, and came with new pistons, an aftertermarket cam, stock heads, stock crank, and 3 boxes of oil soaked accessorie parts that cant be used for crap.

my plan for the car right now is to slap that TBI manifold onto the LG3, make the intake system acceptible, upgrade the exhaust a little, throw a new and well deserved coat of paint on it and get this beast on the road.

unfortunetly, I'm no expert mechanic, im not even an average mechanic. i have never built an engine before. netheir has my dad, uncle, cousin, or anyone else in my family. fotunetly i'm pretty mechanically adept, im going to a career center (DACC) in Delaware OH, for Industrial Diesel Mechanics, and just got acceptted to UNOH in Lima OH, for Auto/Deisel. so i'm not completely hopeless. (only reason all this is in is so no one will be a *****)

long story short i just need some helpful advice and any insight you guys might have.

I appreciate your time, and wisdom.
-Diesel Dean

 

Okay,

First off, welcome aboard! My brother in law went to Northwestern, you'll be glad you did that the rest of your life. You will soon have skills that never lose demand. Bravo to you for that.

Next, no one understands the budget build more than me. Here's what's up.

You CAN use the long block. It will bolt to everything except the exhaust manifolds. You can't use third gen manifolds due to the dipstick location. You will either need to use your second gen manifold or get the headers available from many sources.

Beware of your aftermarket cam. I recommend that you buy a cheap stock replacement cam for an 85 TPI Z28 305 engine. It is better than your TBI cam and will run well with the stock computer without custom tuning.

You CAN'T use your intake. The 87-up engines use a different degree bolt pattern for the intake bolts so it won't bolt to your 1970's heads. Your best fix for this problem is to resist the urge to use your LO3 heads (which suck) or your second gen LG3 heads (which also suck) and find some 87 or newer TPI 305 heads or 87 LG4 carburetor heads. These are great heads, they can be found in the junkyard, use your centerbolt valve covers and your TBI intake will bolt up. It's also important to note that these heads are good enough for you to keep when you finally build a 350 for your car later on. They are a budget guy's choice for many build ups. You could also get some late model L31 Vortec heads but then you need a specific TBI intake for vortec heads.

I hope this helps and good luck on your project! Keep us informed!

 

Passenger side dipstick is the same as 3rd gens. 2nd gen manifolds generally don't fit 3rd gen chassis.

You can make the manifold fit the older heads. Just have to elongate the center two bolt holes on each side. But the later TPI heads would be better.

The transmission is TH700R-4. The 4L60E didn't come out in f-bodies until '94.

Oh, ditto the welcome.

 

Ugghh...

I'm gonna have to watch those beers...

Whew....

 

thanks guys!
so a maybe on the LG3
i heard from multiple people (that are all very experianced mechanics) that almost all SBC parts are interchangable, so long as they aren't Vortech or LT or LS .
so whats does degree bolt pattern mean?

 

Degree bolt pattern? Can't say I've heard that one before, but I'll take a shot, assuming intake manifold.

From 1955 to 1986, all intake mount bolts were at the same angle, perpendicular to the gasket surface. In 1987 (on iron heads), the center two intake bolts on each side were at 72 degrees, to make it easier to get to them.

 

well i got the LG3 heads back from the machine shop a buddy of mine works at and they're cracked. yippee. so im trying to find cheap aftermarket 305 heads but i haven't had any luck. know any good places?

 

Check the classifieds here. You just need some 87-up LG4 (carb) or TPI 305 heads. There are guys who give them away free.

Both heads are thicker, better castings and the ports are much better suited to mild mods and better performance.

 

well if at all possible cash wise let your engine breath and if its too muc trouble ifnding cheap headers get a set of 200 buck block huggers with o2 sensor holes in them... aside from that it depends on what you mean by "cheap aftermarket heads" do like the others have said and find some newer than 87 heads... from what i hear the late 80's vette heads are "decent" stock heads and they shouldnt be too hard to find in a junkyard (if i got 3 in my dads junkyard in tiny *** pueblo colorado u should have no problem diggin em up for cheap)