I have just made plans to acquire my cousins truck. He rolled it and it's totaled. Ironically it's the same truck as i have but with a 3 month old tranny. My tranny's been shifting a bit harsh lately and i think a swap is in order. The enigne is a 350 with vortech heads (1997). Since i now have a perfectly good 350 with 4 bolt mains, it would be dumb to invest in a new crate motor, ecpecially since this one has several new parts (distributor, etc.). Im just wondering how im going to get it into my camaro. Im going to keep the TH350 that my car already has. I know it will bolt right up, but i don't know what to do about the engine computer. It needs O2 sensors in the exhaust (im not putting cats on my car) to keep it out of limp mode. And fuel injection is the other issue. Would it be easier to convert it to a carburato and ditch the engine control computer? I also have to decide if it's worth it to keep the vortech heads. My friend's been looking for a set of vortech heads for a long time. I might sell them to him with the intake and buy different heads (probably dart iron eagles). Is this a good/bad idea?Im only going to sell the heads if i decide to convert it to a carburator. If i keep the fuel injection, i'll keep the vortech heads. Im getting the truck for almost nothing so my budget is less limited. Money isn't a huge issue anymore. Which way would be cheaper, and which way would be easier? Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

 

About the O2 sensors... I believe you can get o2 sensor simulators that are designed for hi-flo cats/x/H pipes or in your case none at all.
Personally Id ditch the Fuel injection and go carbuerated it's alot easier plus alot more tuning possibilities.Get an edelbrock performer Rpm Air-Gap intake manifold. My dad's friend has a 72 camaro with a 355 cammed,all that and he's running Dart heads on it and he only puts top quality parts on his engine. The darts and vortec have the same valve sizes,The Intake runner on the Vortec is 5cc's more than the Darts, however the Dart's combustion chamber is 8cc's larger than the vortec. Basically I think the vortecs are going to flow just about as well as the Iron eagles and save you $800. Keep us posted!
By the way if you want to check out the specs im looking at here are the links

Vortec
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/ho...58/index1.html

Dart Iron Eagles
http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/2688...50-Springs.htm

Edelbrock Performer Air-Gap Manifold
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

 

I'll take that into consideration. Right now i think i might just keep the vortech heads but i want opinions. That way i'll know i've looked at it from every angle. Does anyone else have an opinion/advice?

 

The only other problem You might encounter is the flywheel. Just make sure You use the one from the '97 engine ( it's counterweighted like a 454 or 400 type early engine ). Other than that, it's a pretty simple deal.

 

Sweet. Im pretty sure that the engine computer will have to be replaced, (or eliminated if i go with a carberator) to make it compatible with the TH350. How hard would it be to keep the fuel injection and still go with the TH350?

 

The T 350 is a mechanical, pressure operated trans without any computer control so it will work fine. Just eliminate any transmission computer leads that may exist. It should work fine.