TPI Long Block with TBI intake?

BlackSilverBowtie · Jun 23, 2018

Hey all. So, my 1989 K1500 350 motor is tired and I'm looking to drop a new motor in her. A buddy of mine bought an old 65 malibu that had a tpi motor installed and he's doing a ls swap so the motor is up for grabs. Since the tpi motor has a roller cam and has got to have better flowing heads than my tbi motor I'm curious if I can swap in the tpi long block and put my tbi intake system on. Has anyone done this? Can it even be done? Is this a stupid idea?

arrg · Jun 23, 2018

If it is an iron head L98 (from a F-body) you can bolt all your TBI stuff onto it. If it is aluminum headed (from a Corvette) you will have to modify the center 4 bolt holes on your intake to bolt it on. Either way, it will probably start/run on the stock chip, but will need computer tuning for optimum results. Make sure it is actually a 350 and not a 305 before you go to the trouble.

L31MaxExpress · Jun 23, 2018

arrg said:
If it is an iron head L98 (from a F-body) you can bolt all your TBI stuff onto it. If it is aluminum headed (from a Corvette) you will have to modify the center 4 bolt holes on your intake to bolt it on. Either way, it will probably start/run on the stock chip, but will need computer tuning for optimum results. Make sure it is actually a 350 and not a 305 before you go to the trouble.

Why not swap it complete?

Get the ECM, repin your TBI harness to match the TPI ECM and swap it into your truck?

Even if it is a 305, they still make more HP and TQ than the 350 TBI in your truck.

I had a 305 TPI followed by a 383 TPI in my G20 van.

You could always swap the engine even if it was a 305 and rebuild your 350.

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N9nefingers · Jun 25, 2018

I did exactly what you are talking about in my truck...89 RCSB K1500. I rebuilt a 350 TPI with iron heads from a 89 Camaro. I also did the ultimate tbi mods, turned up the fuel pressure to 15 psi and used a tbi intake without all the smog stuff. My truck runs great but it didn't right after the swap. It fired up no problem but ran terribly on the stock chip. I'm tuning it now with the ebl flash. I'm happy with it.

BlackSilverBowtie · Jul 25, 2018

Cool, thanks guys! I will look into what heads are on her. I am trying to avoid swapping the entire computer over as I am in California so have smog to contend with and would like to keep things relatively simple. I'm ok with chipping it but haven't heard very good things about the chips I have ran across. N9nefingers, what is the ebl flash you speak of?

Chewy1576 · Jul 26, 2018

I'd be interested in the TPI intake if you don't want it.

BlackSilverBowtie · Aug 12, 2018

I went out and actually looked at the motor and it an 1995 LT-1, not an L98. I can't sneak that front distributor by the smog guys. Thanks for the info though. Now I know to keep an eye out for an iron head L98

98 Nitro · Aug 12, 2018

Look for an early 90s 350 tbi Caprice motor they had roller cams, if you get really lucky and find a cop car Caprice they had the TPI cam.

Schurkey · Aug 18, 2018

98 Nitro said:
Look for an early 90s 350 tbi Caprice motor they had roller cams, if you get really lucky and find a cop car Caprice they had the TPI cam.

The Caprice engine also had flat-top pistons instead of dished pistons. Good for about a quarter-of-a-point additional compression.

TPI Long Block with TBI intake?

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