Prolly gonna sound a like a newb, but...

[87ChevyR10]

Am I correct in assuming that I can transplant any SBC 350 into my 87 w/o any modifications to the engine mounts/bay?

The reason why I am asking is the more I research on improving the current engine, the more it scares me. I am not a wrench head by any means. I can do simple maintenance and that's about it. About as far as I am willing to go is replacing the manifolds with headers. What I am trying to get at is dropping in a 350 crate motor from a place like Jegs. They have a ZZ4 motor package which would take me up 355 HP and 405 TQ and it's turn-key. If I am going to invest anything in this truck, I want it to have a solid engine and drive-train.

I think I can have a family member or two + their friends help me with the transplant. The pulling the engine should be pretty straight forward. I know it has electronics; but, they're not complex like newer vehicles. If I an't get that worked out; how much would I expect a shop to charge for the replacement?

The other issue I may run into is the 700r4 not handling the extra oomph. I was thinking of getting a Jegs performance 700r4 which they claim can handle up to 450 HP. If the stock tranny will work, fine with me.

What I am wanting to achieve is a daily driver that is fun to drive anytime. Otherwise, I was going to settle on just maintaining the truck and buying a motorcycle as my main ride on good weather days.

Opinions welcomed, thanks!

 

[gpmorgan]

It should be a direct replacement. If the crate engine is carb'd you will need a fuel pressure bypass regulator and need to modify fuel lines. Your 87 is a TBI right??

 

[87ChevyR10]

It should be a direct replacement. If the crate engine is carb'd you will need a fuel pressure bypass regulator and need to modify fuel lines. Your 87 is a TBI right??

Yes. I was also thinking of replacing the saddle tanks with a bed-mounted fuel cell since I only use 1 side anyways and it would help keep the weight centered.

Thanks for the info!

 

[gpmorgan]

I was assuming you would be using the OEM electric pump. If your using the mechanical pump then no regulator is needed. I have an old style engine in my 92 and I'm still using the in-tank pump. I put a block off plate on the mechanical pump provision. Sounds like you have a good plan on your fuel supply.

 

[MrMarty51]

Sounds to Me like a fun and worthwhile project.
I am not sure if Your ECM would be able to handle all that performance without some sort of an upgrade, but, if going to a carb. You wo`nt have to worry about all of that.
If using Your stock transmission, I think it will take an adapter for the throttle valve linkage, You want that and You want it properly adjusted so it wo`nt burn up the clutches in the trans.
IDK about the JEGSs trans.s how they do their linkage/throttle valve on those.

 

[Irishman999]

Make it really easy and just keep the TBI stuff, as a matter of fact I have a steel adapter plate I will mail you.

TBI is good stuff for a daily driver, keep all that stuff in tact and run an adapter plate on the carb style intake of your choice. As for the rest of the swap, its really simple. The only interchangeability problems you will run into is the rear main seal style. Your 87 will have a 1 piece rear main, if that crate motor has a 2 piece rear main style that will require a different flex plate than what you have.

Besides the wires, cooling system lines and fan shroud its like 6 bolts and the engine comes out. Well there is also more on the torque converter but still, really easy stuff.

 

[Driver4r]

Irish beat me to it. I was also gonna recamend the adapter plate. Fuel injection is just so much nicer for a DD.

ALSO, your 700 will hold up as long as you dont smoke the tires off of every stoplight.

 

[Irishman999]

Irish beat me to it. I was also gonna recamend the adapter plate. Fuel injection is just so much nicer for a DD.

ALSO, your 700 will hold up as long as you dont smoke the tires off of every stoplight.

Fun fact about the big block that came out of my SS, from the factory its a spreadbore cast iron intake with a factory adapter. Same manifold that you would mount a quadrajet too.

You can get the best of both worlds, intake manifolds strictly for tbi kinda suck. You can choose a good intake and just bolt a TBI unit on it and run. Its the hot setup and highly recommended on the forum I get all my 454SS info from.

 

[87ChevyR10]

Make it really easy and just keep the TBI stuff, as a matter of fact I have a steel adapter plate I will mail you.

TBI is good stuff for a daily driver, keep all that stuff in tact and run an adapter plate on the carb style intake of your choice. As for the rest of the swap, its really simple. The only interchangeability problems you will run into is the rear main seal style. Your 87 will have a 1 piece rear main, if that crate motor has a 2 piece rear main style that will require a different flex plate than what you have.

Besides the wires, cooling system lines and fan shroud its like 6 bolts and the engine comes out. Well there is also more on the torque converter but still, really easy stuff.

That's good to hear!

As far as I know, the ZZ4 crate engine comes with its own flexplate: "The ZZ4 350 is delivered with an aluminum dual-plane intake manifold, HEI distributor, cast iron water pump, damper, and flexplate. The Turn-Key ZZ4 350 crate engine also ships with all the parts you need
to get it running. That includes an accessory drive package, fuel pump, chrome air cleaner kit, Holley 750 cfm carburetor, starter, and spark plug wires!" - Straight from Jegs http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Performance/809/19201330/10002/-1

So, if I were to retain the TBI, will it flow enough air for this engine? Will I need to get the ECM retuned for the new engine? If so, I may stick with the carb setup. Although, if I were to re-use the current fuel system for the new engine, that would save me some time and money. If you by chance do not have the adapter plate at the time, does anyone else make one?

Most likely, I won't be doing this until spring next year. I have to wait for a couple financial obligations to clear first before I undertake the investment.

Thanks for all the info! I definitely want to make this happen!

 

[Irishman999]

That's good to hear!

As far as I know, the ZZ4 crate engine comes with its own flexplate: "The ZZ4 350 is delivered with an aluminum dual-plane intake manifold, HEI distributor, cast iron water pump, damper, and flexplate. The Turn-Key ZZ4 350 crate engine also ships with all the parts you need
to get it running. That includes an accessory drive package, fuel pump, chrome air cleaner kit, Holley 750 cfm carburetor, starter, and spark plug wires!" - Straight from Jegs http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Performance/809/19201330/10002/-1

So, if I were to retain the TBI, will it flow enough air for this engine? Will I need to get the ECM retuned for the new engine? If so, I may stick with the carb setup. Although, if I were to re-use the current fuel system for the new engine, that would save me some time and money. If you by chance do not have the adapter plate at the time, does anyone else make one?

Most likely, I won't be doing this until spring next year. I have to wait for a couple financial obligations to clear first before I undertake the investment.

Thanks for all the info! I definitely want to make this happen!

TBI will give you all the air and fuel you need. There is a big difference in buying parts for strictly speed and buying cool parts for a street vehicle. A carb will give you more flow but the benifits of efi outweigh that bigtime.

That crate motor has a ton of **** you really dont need, you can get a longblock much cheaper without a carb and mechanical fuel pump. If you retain the TBI everything will mostly be bolt on.

I have an extra adapter plate, I ordered it for my big block and did not realize it was for a small block tbi. I decided first person that needs one gets it.

 

[87ChevyR10]

TBI will give you all the air and fuel you need. There is a big difference in buying parts for strictly speed and buying cool parts for a street vehicle. A carb will give you more flow but the benifits of efi outweigh that bigtime.

That crate motor has a ton of **** you really dont need, you can get a longblock much cheaper without a carb and mechanical fuel pump. If you retain the TBI everything will mostly be bolt on.

I have an extra adapter plate, I ordered it for my big block and did not realize it was for a small block tbi. I decided first person that needs one gets it.

Hmmm.... I guess I'll look at other engines. I suppose I shouldn't worry about buying the serpentine system either. All of that should transfer over to the new engine from the old.

Let me ask this: how difficult would it be to upgrade my current engine to achieve nearly the same specs as the engine I linked? With 82.5K on current motor, would it even be worth my time to upgrade it?

 

[Stroked]

I was thinking you could buy a ZZ4 long block? It'd be the same thing as you were looking at, just without all the accessories.

EDIT:

Yep. Jegs and Summit both have it.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Performance/809/24502609/10002/-1

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-24502609/overview/

 

[87ChevyR10]

I was thinking you could buy a ZZ4 long block? It'd be the same thing as you were looking at, just without all the accessories.

EDIT:

Yep. Jegs and Summit both have it.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Performance/809/24502609/10002/-1

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-24502609/overview/

Thanks for the find! That'll save me about a grand! So, will everything I need from the stock 350 transfer over to the ZZ4 w/o problems then (aside from the TBI adapter plate)? Even the starter? If so, I may have even more $$$ to put into the rest of the truck!

EDIT: I found it is cheaper to buy the ZZ4 engine package rather than the ZZ4 block + serpentine system. I could sell what I don't need and make back some money. About the only stuff I need to remove from the ZZ4 is the carb. I am really wanting as much new under the hood as possible.

Also, do you have a link as to where I could order the adapter plate if yours is gone when I am ready for it? Thanks!

EDIT 2: I've been reading Harris Performance website and I feel like retaining the TBI will be a bigger hassle than converting to carb. IE: HP, INC indicates that engines producing over 270 HP will need more fuel pressure which means a better fuel pump. Also, the site indicates for engines producing over 340 Hp will want to use the 454 injectors with the 350 TBI. Sounds to me like the setup the ZZ4 Turn-key package has will work just fine. Although, I am leery using a 770 cfm carb on this engine. I calculated the max cfm this engine would need 588 CFM @ 90% VE. So, a 600 CFM carb would ne much better than the 770 CFM I wonder if Jegs would swap out the carb if I called them?

Good thing I have time to get the details worked out.

 

[Driver4r]

That's good to hear!

As far as I know, the ZZ4 crate engine comes with its own flexplate: "The ZZ4 350 is delivered with an aluminum dual-plane intake manifold, HEI distributor, cast iron water pump, damper, and flexplate. The Turn-Key ZZ4 350 crate engine also ships with all the parts you need
to get it running. That includes an accessory drive package, fuel pump, chrome air cleaner kit, Holley 750 cfm carburetor, starter, and spark plug wires!" - Straight from Jegs http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Performance/809/19201330/10002/-1

So, if I were to retain the TBI, will it flow enough air for this engine? Will I need to get the ECM retuned for the new engine? If so, I may stick with the carb setup. Although, if I were to re-use the current fuel system for the new engine, that would save me some time and money. If you by chance do not have the adapter plate at the time, does anyone else make one?

Most likely, I won't be doing this until spring next year. I have to wait for a couple financial obligations to clear first before I undertake the investment.

Thanks for all the info! I definitely want to make this happen!

HOLY FUEL BATMAN. 750cfm for a 350 thats about 150-200 to much.

And ChevyR10 If i wasnt just a hair under 4 hrs from you, ide offer to come down and help. But damn, thats a hell of a long drive.

 

[87ChevyR10]

HOLY FUEL BATMAN. 750cfm for a 350 thats about 150-200 to much.

And ChevyR10 If i wasnt just a hair under 4 hrs from you, ide offer to come down and help. But damn, thats a hell of a long drive.

Yes, I know. I have 1st hand exp using too big of a carb on a 350. I had an 85 R10 with a 355. The carb it came with was a 600 CFM edelbroch. However, it was in poor shape and Jegs had a deal on a 750 CFM carb for $200. I took the chance and installed it. I got the truck running after installing the lightest springs and it was still dumping gas out the tail pipe. I wanted to replace the 600 with a 500 or 550, but those suckers were expensive!

I appreciate the offer, but I have an uncle who is a wrench head and I think we can tackle this together. Hopefully, all I need is a weekend to do the swap.