Any issues using this crate engine in the 85? It’s a one piece rear seal engine and has very little valve overlap. I know I’d need a new intake base and either someone that could make a new prom (or maybe a better fuel system). I know I could send my short block out, but a crate engine saves time. Hoping to have some fun reliable new hp for either Cruising the Coast or Sick 66 later this year.

Feel free to throw advise my way, as well. I’m all ears.

 

That engine should work fine, may not need a PROM for that. As noted you need the SDPC intake since this has vortec heads, and the 1 pc flex plate.

 

Might as well spring for a Pro-Flo XT (plus tuning) if going this route. You will need a new flywheel as well. Conventional sbc style heads (iron or aluminum) will give you a bit more intake flexibility (assume cost is a factor).

 

If you are after huge hp gains then ignore my comments. I see cruising in your list of things.

I guess a question I would be asking is, how much time would it really save? Certainly it will cost far more to do it this way, but perhaps this isn't an issue. Wait for it to arrive, wait for SD base to arrive, tuning delays. Who knows what else, wondering about egr passages?

If time was the number one consideration, I'd think you could probably find a perfectly good 86e and older 2piece rear main seal block and transfer all your TPI stuff over in a weekend and be done with it. Or have your local shop do the transfer, and reseal the donar in the process, if you do not do the work yourself.

If you are sophisticated with all the potential fitment issues as Bjank I know is, and I think Tboy is too, then givr. But I guess I wonder if buying the crate engine, with different heads, and then all these other changes that need to occur, would really save you time? would egr passages work for the 85 tpi? does the SD base work for egr from 85?

My daughters 84 block was pooched. We bought a 76 L82 vette engine and swapped everything over. It was super easy. straight across. Took the time to re-do the rms and reseal everything. That engine cost me $500 and had 175-178 compression across the board at 4000 f asl. Perfectly excellent for her cruiser and beginner auto cross car. Would this be the fastest method for you?

The other possibility is finding another 85-86e TPI engine.

 

No worries. I appreciate your reply.

Cruising and spirited rural driving is what I enjoy. Of course road trips too.I go to the Dragon often, one HRPT under my belt, and want to go to Pikes Peak next year.

I do plan on doing the work myself. Scroggin-Dickey has the manifold I would need. I wasn’t sure if my stock flywheel would work going from 2 piece to 1 piece rear seal. The EGR isn’t a worry. My stock 85 still hasn’t figured out that it’s missing. 85 TPI cars don’t have the egr tube/sensor that 86-91 TPI has.

The time saver is collecting all of the pieces and then knocking the swap out in a weekend. The car runs fine with only 40K on the clock. Realistically, it would probably be quicker to swap the cam and put a set of Edelbrock 5073 E-street heads and better intake base and runners, but them I’m half way to the cost for a crate engine and intake. These heads should put me at ~9.6:1 if I went that route.

On a side note, I did find out that a guy/business owner that supplies proms to Summit Racing lives about 5 miles from me and burns them for local drag racers.

 

Personally I see no reason to buy a vortec head crate motor long block, force oneself to buy the Vortec pattern Scoggin Dickey TPI intake base for another $500, which I have heard actually flows LESS than a factory GM TPI intake manifold base, when you really can readily find a crate motor long block with non-Vortec heads.

Also yeah if your car currently has the factory 4+3 setup and you want to reuse your factory two piece rear main seal 4+3 flywheel, you should look for a crate motor that is two piece rear main seal.
Otherwise you will need a new flywheel, which isn't the end of the world but yeah!

That being said, your plan sounds like it will work!

 

10 years or more ago I bought an 85 project car that somebody had put a new ZZ4 Crate Engine in but couldn't make it run right. When my son in law helped me pick it up he claimed it as his own.. Long story short I took it to a local tuner and it was mostly a matter of hooking up all the factory grounds that had been ripped out when the original engine had been removed in a haste. Yes some tunning was done to the ECM as the ZZ4 has a bit more Cam than the L98. A decade latter this is just a good running little bit faster 85 that's done a couple track days and takes the kids to the car shows. This is also a 4+3 so somebody bought a Flywheel. Its got long tube headers as well. The ZZ4 heads are angle plug which is better when using long tube headers.