I have an 81 z28 I want to get up and running. I've come across several TBI 350's, is it worth trying to make the tbi work or should I just swap the intake/carb from my old engine? Also is there any major differences between a carb'd 350 and the TBI's?

The car has a TH350 also. Any info is appreciated thanks in advance.

 

You really did not give enough info. If you are thinking of buying a complete TBI 350 engine (with computer & harness) that is one thing. If you are looking at a TBI setup to add on an engine that is another. What model year is the TBI you are looking at? Newer models are much more complex to setup & tune. Next question, What are your abilities? A computer controlled engine takes a bit more work than just plug & play.

If you are new to this but want to go ahead with injection consider a TPI setup which can be easily added and tuned. The harness is fairly easy for a beginner to modify, if you take your time. The computer can be re-flashed for cheap. I have done enough of these for hot-rods I set up a pegboard for modding the harness. Not a bad setup for tuning a modded engine but can be trying at times.

Another injection unit that gets over-looked a lot is the cross-fire injection used in early eighties cars. They got a bad name from computer issues and many were scrapped and are out there if you look. I kept mine off the old 305 in my '82 Z28 and put it on the new 355. Replaced computer with a unit from a '87, changed injectors, added MSD electric fuel pump and an adjustable fuel regulator. It is an excellent running car and tuning was easy by setting fuel pressure and the newer ECM allows editing fuel tables.

 

TBI, or any EFI, will have better drivability than carb's.
I vote go for it and add a exhaust pipe O2 bung if not already in exhaust manifold as OE design.
Get a Haynes manual for the year of TBI ensuring hook-up of total electrical.
You will need to add an electric fuel pump capable of 9-13 PSIG and a return line to the tank.
You will also have to rig up a MIL/Check Engine Light for emissions check if state inspection require it. Most states go by the latest year.

 

Any TBI in a Camaro will be an older system, as the TPI is on the later Camaros. I'd think injection is great, but hesitate to adapt to a TBI system unless the engine was running well when you purchased it, and you know it's all in great condition. It would be a shame to do the whole conversion, and inherit any problems the new TBI might have.

 

TBI 350 would not be from a Camaro. TPI was out in the Camaro in 86. The first 350 TBI I can remember is 1987 and that would be a truck engine. To the best of my knowledge Chevy never put a TBI 350 in a Camaro. All Camaro V8 tbi cars were 305s.

It kind of depends on what you want. Carbs are not horrible. The Holley street avenger is a modern design and works great right out of the box with vacuum secondary and automatic choke can work as well as any stock car did in the 80's. I am not say that carb is better then fuel injection but a good speed shop can sell you everything you need to convert a Vortec truck motor (it will be worth it to find a vortec) and just bolt it together for a reasonable price. If your goal is to learn more about modern cars or just to have a hobby for a few months I think the EFI conversion would be fun. I am thinking my next project will be the LT1 TPI system on my 67.

 

what did you decide or are you still looking