1988 5.7L TBI to Vortec Crate Engine?

[Schurkey]

Im sure there are heads out there that flow just as well as the vortecs that will bolt up to the tbi and you wont have to get an adaptor, mess with accessory brackets, and so on

I'd be looking at EngineQuest aftermarket heads. They've got an exhaust crossover, you should be able to use your existing TBI intake manifold, and exhaust manifolds, which would save you a huge amount of money--about the same as the cost of the new pair of heads.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVROLET-...ash=item27f225a521:g:VS4AAOSwkNZUkw~G&vxp=mtr

If I'm understanding the photo of the heads, they've even got the angle of the center bolt holes correct for TBI use.

EngineQuest CH350G is as close as I know of. My single concern is the exhaust manifold bolt pattern. I dropped iron exhaust manifolds years and years ago, I don't remember if the iron manifold uses the very rearward (7th) bolt hole on the heads. These heads don't have that 7th hole.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-350-V8-87-95-VORTEC-CHAMBER-Complete-Cylinder-Heads-pair/173155979357?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[skylark]

EngineQuest CH350G is as close as I know of. My single concern is the exhaust manifold bolt pattern. I dropped iron exhaust manifolds years and years ago, I don't remember if the iron manifold uses the very rearward (7th) bolt hole on the heads. These heads don't have that 7th hole.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-350-V8-87-95-VORTEC-CHAMBER-Complete-Cylinder-Heads-pair/173155979357?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

That is the standard exhaust manifold pattern. My concern is one of the reasons why Vortec flow heads flow so well is because of the raised port design. I would be curious as to what the actual flow numbers are of these heads compared to a set of stock vortec heads.

 

[Micah Wells]

Sorry to bring this back up. I've been doing some research to do rebuild and do the swap. Anyone have thoughts on this engine?

https://blueprintengines.com/collec...s/gm-350-with-vortec-heads-roller-cam-1pc-rms

 

[Schurkey]

Sorry to bring this back up. I've been doing some research to do rebuild and do the swap. Anyone have thoughts on this engine?

https://blueprintengines.com/collec...s/gm-350-with-vortec-heads-roller-cam-1pc-rms

Has Vortec heads, so all the problems that entails.
Has a non-computer-compatible camshaft, and all the problems that entails.
Already .040 over, and almost certainly with "destroked" pistons, so there's likely excessive quench distance.

Overpriced.

If you're willing to do a bunch of computer tuning, and you have all that money ready-to-go, I suppose you could do worse.

I think you could also do much better.

 

[Supercharged111]

There's no reason the computer won't run that cam with a tune. Still wouldn't touch it over the GM longblock though.