350swap

[noname]

Hey I am new so let me start by saying Hi.


I have a 91 suburban with a blown motor, so I got a "new" engine, casting #3970010 68-79 350. everything has gone smooth until I tried to bolt the intake on. The new block was a carb engine mine is FI, I want to keep FI, the intakes are the same except the middle 4 bolts, 2 on each side are at a different angle on the intake, the 68-79 block are all the same angle the 91 all except the middle 4 are the same, is there an adapter plate I can get to make the carb intake work with FI?? If none available can it work at all?? If so I could have a plate machined. The carb intake is 4bl the FI is 2bl. I ground the bolt holes so I could make it work, I would have to have a spacer machined though, but I dont have enough room to get a long enough bolt in.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[eugene68]

you probably started out with an engine that had vortec heads... they require a different manifold then the old stlye.. the bolts went in basically straight on the old heads...the new ones go in at an angle to the heads.... they do make an "elongating kit" for the manifold.. not exactly the correct way to fix something but I guess if there is a kit it must work o.k... the right way to fix it would be to find a manifold for fi but for the older pre vortec heads..
I think e d e l b r o c k caries a manifold for you ...
good luck in your swap , hope this has helped you . the only other alternative other then the kit which just angles out the holes which it sound like you are already doing is to use your vortec heads on the "new old style engine" the vortecs flow A LOT BETTER then the old style anyway... by the way if you don't want those vortecs drop me a line I will be more then happy to take them off your hands...


Eugene

 

[noname]

I tried calling edelbrock today, man they are worse than the IRS, I was on hold for 25 minutes before I gave up. So as of now I haven't made anymore progress, they have an adaptor plate but I'd rather use a new intake. I will try to call edelbrock again tommorow on lunch, unfortunatley I only have an hour lunch! lol

Thanks for info eugene, as far as my heads go they are spoken for, my brother wants them, he gave me the engine not knowing what it was, 4 bolt mains, knife edged crank, cant wait to start it to hear the cam. pretty good deal for FREE!!

 

[eugene68]

So sorry to hear you got put on hold so long. I usually just go to website and hit the contact us button... email them my question and witin a day or so later they email me the complete answer.. I had a question about an old streetmaster manifold I ran across and they emailed me all the info right away, etc.. thats the one problem with them I guess, they give everyone there their complete attention that sometimes it is hard to get their attention.
I will see if I can find my parts book for them, I swear I saw a manifold with your application in it... by the way are you using
the tbi fuel injection? ( should be 3 bolts to mount the FI) If I am thinking of the right one..
I will see if I can find it tonight..
eugene.

 

[noname]

Yep TBI.
I made the 91 intake work though, I filed the holes out to get the angle right then since I couldn't get a long enough bolt in there I used some studs, cut 1 1/2" fender washers to fit in the spaces, then I found some 9/16" od steel bar, 3/8" inside. I cut the bar down on angles to create a spacer, or bushing, put it all together worked great. So that problem is solved.
I finally got through to Edelbrock before I did all that, they said they did not have anything, so I called Holley, they had a few things but he suggested that I used the 91 intake, he said to have it helicoiled and retapped, but my way worked great and only cost me $4 !
Now on to the trans, thinking of installing a shift kit, any thoughts or suggestions on that?

Thanks