Hey new here. I just bought a 1986 Corvette which was all original when I got it. It has a 350 with 169,000 on it. Got a great deal on the car. Reason being is because it needs an engine. The one that was in it was knocking pretty bad. So, I pulled it apart and found that the #4 rod bearing was trashed and there's metal shavings all over in the pan.

I've considered all my options and the easiest thing to do would be to find a compatible used 350 and bolt all the original accesories onto it. I've read on this thing a little bit and found that the 85-6 Corvette engines for the most part are identical and ideally if I could find one of those at a reasonable price I might buy it. After that, it gets a little tricky is my understanding. All I want out of the car is for it to look, run and drive the way a stock 1986 Corvette would.

My question is what models would I have to look at in order to find a compatible 350 besides a 1985-6 Corvette and what kind of changeover issues would I have?

 

Can use any 350 SBC ( or larger ) and just bolt Vette accesories to it.

 

What about the TPI intake and the profile of the cam? What other models could I find a 350 with an intact and compatible TPI? Are all the sensors and so on in an identical location from say an F body or later year Corvette 350tpi unit as they are on the 86?

 

Scrogging Dicky has a 290 Hp long block for $1900 or $1500 for a 250 hp version. That's not bad. They are not the only ones that sell GM performance parts long blocks. Of course you could always go with an LS1.

http://sdparts.com/

Or give me 3K for mine.

 

You buy a engine and swap your intake and sensors on to it
F-Body TPI intake similar but has enough differences (EGR/ fuel rails ) it is easier to use the Vette intake you already have
In which case you are looking for a long block ; not a more expensive complete engine with parts you don't need

 

Hmm, I suppose I had always thought of the engine that came out of the vette I bought as rather unique to that particular car. It has aluminum heads, a bolt on oil baffle, aluminum valve covers, L98 cam, and a built in oil cooler attached to the filter adapter all from the factory, not to mention the TPI setup. At the heart of it all, I suppose it's just a run of the mill 350 Chevy with a lot of extras and I could just bolt all that to the engine I decide to put in like you're saying. That's probably the route I'll go. Although, it would sure be nice to have something as close to it as possible.

I just have a couple of particular questions about the engine that came out of my 86:

1. Are the valves 1.94"/1.50" in size?

2. Is there a difference in the intake bolt pattern between the heads I have and 1987 and later heads? I've heard that there's a slight difference in the angle of the bolt holes towards the center of the intake on later 350 heads. Can I even modify my intake to fit later heads if this is the case?

3. Since finding an identical to the original cam wouldn't be easy, what kind of profile am I looking at as far as getting a different camshaft? I don't want to reuse the original 169K milage cam and lifters. I know the L98 had a slightly hotter cam than a passenger car or pickup, but I also want to keep the stock computer happy.

Thanks for all the info so far.

 

1) Yes
2) OEM vette heads remained the same in regards to center bolt angles. You can slot the holes if needed.
3) Dozens to choose from, although most don't reinstall stock or near stock. Contact the cam manufacturer of your choice for their opinion.

 

[QUOTE=Pete K;1574085501]
2) OEM vette heads remained the same in regards to center bolt angles. You can slot the holes if needed.
[QUOTE]

Just 1 more question on this: If I use a non corvette longblock will I have an issue with this and will I have to slot the heads(I assume this changes the angle)?

Thanks for all the responses.

 

Worst case is to slot the center 4 bolts of your existing manifold. Heads do not get modified.

 

If your car is an 86 you have magnesium painted valve covers and they aint cheap so hang on to them. Just buy or build a short block and swapp your vette parts over. Oh and like the other guy said you are going to want to get a cam that is compatible with the tpi intake or you might end up with a tow truck motor all torque and no hp.

 

Like the stock motor?

 

L98 cam is so wimpy you would be hard pressed to find something worse