okay so here goes, I built this motor over 4 years ago with little knowledge of engines it ran great but im going to tpi now so heres the run down.

-350 from a '72 camaro 4 bolt mains it been bored .020 and the forged crank was cut .010 for use with over sized bearings

-i used the hyperutectic flat top pistons with the valve reliefs

-added a cam, i understand this is a single pattern cam but i was running it with a carb at the time.

Style: Hydraulic flat tappet
Basic Operating RPM Range: 2,000-5,000 RPM
Intake Duration 050 inch Lift: 216
Exhaust Duration 050 inch Lift: 216
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 216 int./216 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 272
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 272
Advertised Duration: 272 int./272 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.454
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.454
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.454 int./0.454 exh. lift
Lobe Separation (degrees): 110

I am concerend with my head choice. I pulled the engine out 3 years ago and its been on a stand ever since.

i bought a wrecked 88 iroc with the 305 tpi so i figured i would use the 305s heads and intake. the reason for the head change is that i was running 882 heads and from what i understand they are crap.

i used thicker head gaskets because i was worried about compression ratio. they are fel pro gaskets for use in supercharged or turbo applications

at any rate im worried now that the motor is going to be starved for air as i never had the heads opened up, i took them to a head shop and had them hot tanked and rebuilt new seals etc. as i said i was much younger and didnt grasp air flow like i do now.

plans include for now retaining maf system on the tpi for ease of installation and im not into burning new proms just yet. i have to purchase a new prom for 350 tpi from gm or find one at the bone yard. going with 22 or 24 lb injectors although i believe the 22s will work just fine with a adjustable regulator to set fuel pressure. would also be doing some grinding on the intake for better air flow.

do you guys think this will be a performer motor or a boat anchor?

I will buy new heads if you guys think i should, i just havnt used this engine and already bolted up the heads and they have been on there for over 3 years, the gaskets were over 100 bux. everything is expensive in canada - should have shopped at summit.

 

that cam doesnt give you a good rpm range, as far as having anymore work done to the heads id say no.....by the time you spend all the time and money fixing them you could have a heads up on some vortecs and a vortec intake.
5.7 vortec heads would better suit your setup like a 906 casting, take it from me im running 305 heads on my 355 and i spark knock on 93 octane. It really depends on what your wanting from the car

 

thanks for taking the time to read all that, i know it was alot of info. i havent put the pushrods or rockers on the engine yet so its never too late for a cam swap. i was going to through some 1.6 rockers on to bump up the lift.

anyone have a rough idea of what kind of hp this setup would make - even a ball park figure.

its mostly just going to be used for a weekend cruizer and maybe to have a little fun in now and then but not used for anything like racing.

it will be backed by a 700r4 trans with a tci converter i think its the sizzler, like maybe a few hundred rpm higher stall than stock - already in the car.

 

If your not afraid to do it again. I would stick it in the car and see how you like it. A tpi runs in the 1000 to 5000 rpm range anyway so your not that far away. You said the motor ran great, with a tpi on it it should be fine.

There are a lot of 1/4 milers on here that just hate the peanut cams and heads. You are talking a basic daily driver, sounds good to me. Thats what I have, "wrong" heads, cam, motor too big, ect, ect...... But is it fun to drive, yes.

If you were happy before you will be happy again, also there is a whole lot less tuning involved the closer to "stock" you are.

After you get your feet wet on tpi, then decide what the next step will be.

 

a stock tpi cam would do fine for you, if want to cruise.........gas is high if you use the 305 heads you will have super high compression and that in conjuntion with a big cam means gas hog........

 

thanks for the replies guys. im going to run the motor as is and see how it does, maybe take her down to the track just for fun. in a year or two down the road ill do a cam and head swap to the vortec setup or somthing similer.

would there be any problems with the motor internals after it has been sitting for so long? i had filled it up with clean oil just in case after putting it on the stand.

 

as long as it wasnt sitting with the internals open you should be ok, i dont know about where u are from, but down here dirt daubers get into everything

 

up north i am more worried about moisture, the engine is all sealed up. when it gets really cold out the water condenses on the metal so i was kinda worried about rusting issues. the motor is filled with oil right into the lifter valley. i think it should be alright

 

if it isnt locked down id figure it to be fine.........the oil filter should catch any (if there is any) debris, shouldnt be anymore steel than in your standard break in

 

I would, when you drain the oil, let it set a day or so. You don't want a hydrolocked engine turned over with the starter. Pull the plugs and hand turn it, to save bent rods ect....

 

first of the choices in vortec heads the 906s are the crappy ones you want 062s... are the better casting as most of the 906s i believe came with 1.84s on the intake but some had Inconol seats neither are useful when making power with a 350... chamber size is about 64cc... you should go back and recalculate your CR you shouldnt have really needed anything fancy for gaskets with 305 heads...

 

yea i went with the thicker head gaskets because i was worried about the compression ratio with the 305 heads. after reading alot of threads on the boards here im starting to think this motor is going to be starved for air, but its going to have to do for awile until i get the parts together for a rebuild.