Thread: 350 with a turbo... for street?

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I have been scouring the internet all over and can't seem to find the right answers.

I currently have a 1987 camaro LT (with the 2.8L engine). It runs great, but needless to say the 2.8l has to go!!!

I plan on keeping this car for my lifetime and pass it down to my kids some day. I do not want to turn it into a drag car... I want a reliable and quick street car that isn't a killer on gas.

I dont care so much how much money I am going to be putting into this car, as long as the price is not more than i would spend to buy the new 2010 camaro. I do not plan on performing a job as of yet, but i would like to know where i am going with this project

I have a 327 sitting in my garage right now, it runs but has 350 smog heads on it. I think that i want to throw a 350 into my car instead. I know the v6-v8 swap is going to take a little work.

My question for you guys is, would it be worth throwing a turbo or a twin turbo kit onto the 350? I am a bit new to the auto world, but this is something i would love to learn how to do. Would I be better off with a supercharger instead? like i said, i do not care so much about price.

If i were to throw a turbo kit onto the 350, what kind of performance gain would I see? also, would i be better off with a nice carb or a tpi? I am looking for reliability and efficiency for a quick street car built more for some nice acceleration power.

Any ideas for me guys? i have an empty cup haha.

Displacement: 355 cu. in.
Carburetor: Speed Demon 750 with mechanical secondaries
Heads: GM L31 Vortec
Intake: GMPP Vortec dual-plane
Camshaft: GMPP HOT hydraulic roller, with 0.525/0.525 in. of lift and 218°/228° of duration @ 0.050 in. of lift.
Exhaust: Hooker 1 5/8 in. headers with Flowmaster 2 1/2 mufflers
Pistons: stock
Rods: stock
Crank: GM
Ignition: Stinger electronic with MSD 6
Timing: 34°
Comp. Ratio: 9.75:1

MAX HP: 412 @ 5600
MAX Torque: 423 @ 4400

Go that

before going crazy with the engine i would beef up the drive train.by using the stock drive train you will soon be setting on the side of the road.

If price isn't an issue, buy a GM Performance ZR-1 Motor, supercharged 638 HP, and shove that in there.

Welcome to CHR! If you're going for nice street power in a keeper car, you might want to consider one of the newer LS type engines. Available new or used with hp ratings in the 400 range and still very, very streetable and decent on mpg, too!!! As Stude mentioned, it's going to take more then just hp, don't forget the rest of the drivetrain and also the brakes should be upgraded to match the new go power. Also the 3rd Gen 'maros need some chassis upgrades, too. Subframe connectors, an improved torque arm, and relocating the lower bars forward mount points is a good plan. Oh yeah, and don't forget new shocks, struts, and suspension bushings. Lots of horsepower will only end up being a parts killer unless the rest of the car is upgraded to handle it!!!

I agree with Dave one hundred per cent. An LS engine is the way to go, and you can get a wealth of information on the internet about this conversion.

why not a gmpp fastburn 385? reasonably cheap lots of go and a warranty being new to swapping ease of installation plays factor too

Welcome to the forum! I will weigh in with these guys on the LS Motors. I have a 2000 LS1 in my Studebaker. Mine has been in the car for 4 years and about 14k miles without a problem. It has run 13.68 at the track on my wide whitewall radials. I just took a 2000 mile trip to the International Studebaker Meet. While there, a bunch of us went to the drag strip and I made 9 passes on a 90 degree night with a best of 14.16. Then drove all around Glendale and Scottsdale AZ in 109 degree heat with the AC on and beat feet 800 miles back to home in 12 hours at 75+ mph. When all was said and done I figured out I got 26 mpg for the trip including the drag strip and in town times. If you start with one of the 6.0 truck motors that run on regular gas, you can always add a turbo or a blower later. Lots of guys are doing that. The motors seem to be pretty bulletproof for street use, if you are gonna squeeze one I am told you should change the rod bolts. These motors really do give you the best of both worlds and the EFI and computer controls are not that challenging. Pretty much set it and forget it, and if you don't know how there are plenty of folks around that can help with that.

Pat