mustbeatmopar

i am about to acuire a 350 out of a late 80 pickup, i know its not the best base to start with, but it completly free, i dont want to use the tbi it comes with, so i was wondering, what tpi setup would be best, is thier a difference between a tpi setup off of a mid 80s vette and a tpi of a t/a? can i even make good torqe and hp out of this engine? ive got a six so just about anything is an improvment. advice is always appreciated. by th way if your just going to post a reply about how stupid i am, dont bother its already aparent, and it wasts time

vladicore

the tpi would be a better fi system then the tbi but there are going to be somethings about any tbi motor that are going to kill your power, 1. the tbi heads just plain suc* and porting them is worthless, 2. tbi cams in trucks are awful , 3. a truck tbi motor is very low compression usually like 8.5 to 1 w/ 72cc heads, tpi motors like comopression and better cams and really need freer flowing heads. you can find bone stock tpi heads and a cam cheap and you will be much happier id believe, also if its not a hydrolic roller motor( most 80's trucks wernt) your going to have to find pre 87 heads and cams for the 305. if your going w/ better performing stock parts.
just my .02 cents hope i helped

mustbeatmopar

thanks for the help, i was planning on changeing heads cametc. for more power any way. so i should be in good shape?

vladicore

id say so.

88TPI406GTA

The truck engine won't be a roller cam setup...but could be, if you want to swap the roller stuff in.

The only good thing about it is that you can run 87 octane with no worries as-is

mustbeatmopar

how difficult is it to convert to a roller cam and such? not that it matters the whole project is going to make me pull my hair out

Coult_91

what if it falls out again?

dyeager535

Just depends how much work GM did on the block. Various years of trucks had roller cam "provisions" in various degrees, like untapped bosses for the lifter spider vs. tapped bosses for same.

Just have to open it up and look. As others mentioned, TBI truck motors are pathetic in general all around. (but still made decent torque and passed emissions, which is all GM cared about then)