I need to pull the engine out of my '86 and plan to spend some time slowly rebuilding it as I can find the time and afford parts. In the meantime I need to drop something in for little money. If I can find a older 350 complete with whatever heads it has on it for little money can I drop it in without issues and will my tpi bolt right up on it or do I need to find a L98? I need a "cheap" way to still enjoy the car.
Thanks for any answers or suggestions.

 

May not be a perfect match to the TPI (operationally ) but sure
Just be sure what ever you pick has the same bolts holes on the front of the heads where the accessory drive bolts up .
Some earlier engines had fewer or no holes at all

If you get a '87+ engine with cast iron, center bolt heads then the 4 center holes on your intake base will need elongating to suit the different bolt angle used on those heads

 

There are a couple of crate engines that will work, some of the members have used them. JEGS might still have the free shipping, and they're warrantied. However, I don't know what your budget is as they run upwards of $1400. I've seen used engines on eBay from C4's go for as little as $500 complete, just drop them in. You can also check Craigslist. I picked up a used short block for my 85 for $100 that I'm tearing down and rebuilding presently.

Do you have an early 86 with iron heads or a later one with aluminum heads (center bolt valve covers)? If you have the iron head one, the motors from the 80-86 Corvettes were basically the same (I think the cam profile for the carbed ones might be different), your TPI will bolt right up. Engines out of the F-Body will work too, but as it was mentioned before, the intake bolts won't line up perfectly.

 

It is an early Iron head '86 so any of the L81, L82, L83 engines will work? What about old L48's? i did find a Corssfire intake engine from a early 80's camaro in good running order on the cheap. Didn't know if it would work or not.
On an engine that doesn't have the accesory mount holes is there a work around using different brackets? My heads are gonna need work too so I'll need to replace the whole long block with whatever I can find or trade for on the cheap. Thanks for all the info.

 

Elongating the center intake holes to change the bolt angle is just an issue of clamping the intake in the mill and removing some material, right? I mean that won't "ruin" anything or cause any leaks?

 

The 14010207 casting from Vettes 80-86E will work. They all have the 2 piece main seal so you wont need to replace your flexplate. I know the L83 and L98 used this casting, they're both 2 bolt mains. 1980 & 81L82 blocks are 4 bolt mains I believe, not sure though. I think they all had iron head casting 462624, which is the same casting you have in your 86. I'd mount the intake and accessories and drop it in. Almost plug and play.

The L48 used a different block casting, #3970010, but it may still do the job, check for the accessory holes in the heads and the cam profile. You want to be sure the specs are close to whatever the 86's ECM is programmed for. Getting the specs close to the 86 should avoid the CEL. Check the casting numbers on the heads as well to see it will compatible with the TPI and the cam you chose. I'm sure if you post the numbers here, someone can tell you yay or nay.

The Cross Fire Camaro's and Trans Ams where only 305ci displacement, so they're smaller and I'm not sure they'll work with the ECM. The 14010207 casting was available other GM passenger cars and trucks as both a 2 bolt and 4 bolt main. You shouldn't have a problem finding that. Keep in mind if you go with a newer block, one with a one piece seal, you have to replace the flexplate. It's cheap enough, but you should know ahead of time before you get the last minute "Ah Ha" right before your installation.

I hope that helps.

 

I know its been done. However, you can also pick up a later year intake to fit those heads if you're uncomfortable altering the holes. The only problem there is will the EGR work?

 

Thanks so much for this information. I know the 14010207 casting number was on blocks used for trucks, suburbans, etc. These other engines were probably all tbi. Would those engines work or are the specs too far off for the vette's computer? I'm not as concerned with a cel as I am with it going closed loop and it running too rich, lean or erratic. The engine will only be in the car about a year while I rebuild the original so I'm not concerned with optimal performance, I just don't want the car to sit there because I can't stand not rotating through my cars. I'm sure I can pick up one out of a truck, van, or burban locally and cheap but vette engines are harder to find at the junkers and held in higher regard when it comes to spending the cash.

 

Personally, I'd be more comfortable with pulling the 14010207 out of a car or truck with TBI than a car or truck with a carb, but I don't think it will make a difference in the end. I would think the specs for a TBI engine would be closer to one with TPI. Do you have any leads where you can pull this engine? If so, look up the heads on it (Vortec heads will require the modification of the bolt holes on your intake) and then see if you can find the cam profile and compare that profile to the L98 (I believe the stock profile is 202 intake, 207 exhaust at .50 lobe lift with a 114 degree lobe separation - that's what the 85's should be and your motor is basically the same).

I understand the Corvette tax, we all do.

 

I have a few leads at local junk yards. Mid 80's truck/van engines with 80-100k miles in good running condition look to be anywhere from $250-$500. I'm hoping I can find what I need in the $350 range since I can get an exact match rebuilt from Carolina Machine Engines (a national rebuilder that is close to me) for under a grand (about $1200 if I don't turn mine in as a core). Since I'm rebuilding mine I really don't want to go that direction. I think getting one from a scrapper is my best option. Then I'll always have a block and heads that I know are good sitting in the garage because I don't have any sbc stuff on hand. I've got a 302 ready to go back in a pony car and a 4.3 vortec v6 out of an old S10 SS.
Putting that 4.3 in a C4 would be a neat novelty project but I think that would require a lot of work just to have a car that would get some laughs and it would make it tough to drop the original 350 back in. The wiring harness and computer alone would be a bloody mess.

 

I understand about your preference for finding an engine from the scrapper. Its a dollars and cents thing. I used that rationale after I was quoted $5000 for a stock engine rebuild in my 85. I figured with that money, I can get a used block and build it with some mild performance parts, take my time and know what I have and still have money left over for someone to do the engine swap for me.

If you find a good block and need heads, I have a set of the 624 iron heads w/valve covers and an intake manifold I can sell you cheap if you're interested.