92 350 head swap

I've got a 92 Chevy truck engine(350) that was/is TBI but I'm tired of trying to get all the pieces to to put it together as a TBI engine. I went and got a 2104 Edelbrock intake and I found a set of 93 Camaro heads,both are the centerbolt style but I didn't know if it was going to be worth swapping to the Camaro heads or just keep the original heads? I'm assuming since both heads are the centerbolt style they will work? I guess that's a question. I'ts not going to be a racer or anything just a fun toy. I was thinking about a Edelbrock 600cfm also.From what I've read here and there various people say the TBI truck heads were terrible and I can get these Camaro heads cheap and they've been rebuilt. I wasn't positive they would fit. Any answers would be appreciated.Thanks, Eric


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You might consider using L31 Vortec heads from a '96 to '98 Chevy truck. There are two casting numbers that designate these heads, 12558062 and 10239906. Some, but not all of the 906 heads have separate hard exhaust valve seats. Either of them will flow better than any other Chevy production head ever produced. Lift at the valve is limited to 0.450" with the stock setup, but several cam manufacturers have spring/retainer combinations that will fit with no machining and allow higher valve lifts. You will have to use a Vortec-specific intake manifold with these heads, so you'll want to use a dual-plane, high-rise intake such as the Edelbrock Performer RPM or the Weiand Stealth rather than a low-rise manifold. The 600 cfm carb will work fine for an rpm-limited motor with the stock cam.

The high-rise intake and 600 will uncork the intake side of the motor. Now, uncork the exhaust side with a set of 1 5/8", long-tube, equal-length headers. Not shorties, REAL headers.

If you wanted to keep the EFI GM makes a TBI Vortec intake. You may also want to get a larger throttle body. Holley makes a 670cfm TBI Throttle Body for that engine.

Which 93 Camaro?

Got some head casting numbers?

What do you mean by center bolt style? This could mean that the heads and the intake both have the relocated angle of the 2 bolts on each side on the manifold to head in the center of the manifold beside the plenum, or it could mean the rocker covers are retained with center bolts instead of perimeter bolts. Which?

Bogie

The casting number on the heads are 10125320 I was just wondering if I should go ahead and change over to them just because they are the Camaro heads. Since I'm pulling the TBI manifold off It's nothing to pull the heads off at that time. I just didn't know if it's worth while doing. I had just heard the only thing the truck heads were good for was a weight. The truck heads and the Camaro heads were checked and resealed. I just didn't know if it was worth $100 for the Camaro heads or just run the truck heads. I don't think there is a compatibility problem (bolting on). They both have the valve covers with the center bolt mounting. And they have the intake manifold mounting bolts with the 4 center bolts at a differnt angle. Thanks, Eric

You've got a problem, these are are a cast iron version of the reverse cooling heads for the 1990's LT series engines, LT1 and LT4, GEN II motors, they are not usable on a GEN I block which is what your 92 TBI engine is. The coolant holes will dump coolant into the cam valley of a GEN I block there is no gasket-able solution and they have no coolant return that will match to the intake you have.

The aluminum versions of these heads can be modified to run on a GEN I block only because the coolant holes can be welded shut and new passages drilled, and an external return to the radiator fabricated. But this isn't doable with cast iron.

Bogie

Thank you, It seemed the more I read the more info came out on the reverse cooling aspect. Since I'm not all that familiar with this parts changing I figured I'd check with those much smater than me here. From what I've read I have to go with nothing newer than a 92 head and can go back to 87. I'm not sure If it really would gain me much unless I can find a real smokin deal on something. I'm using this engine to replace an inline six so I'm pretty sure anything will feel like a racer compared to the 74 straight 6. Will I gain anything by looking for heads off from a a later model Camaro? 87-92 or so? What would you recommend for me to look for? It's going in a 64 van so it would be like racing a brick. Thanks for your knowledge. Eric

If your committed to the intake you have then the choice of going to the 96 up Vortec isn't on the table as they take a unique intake with a different bolt pattern and raised ports to match the reposition in the head.

There are three good choices for your intake and block

3901068, this is used on crate motors so it might be hard to find. It uses 1.95 intake, 1.55 exhaust with a 64 cc chamber.

14101128, 12556463 these are the aluminum L-98 head used from 85 thru 92, made obsolete by the LT1 and LT4 engines, this is a very good selection with 1.9 intakes and 1.5 exhausts 58cc chamber, D shaped exhaust. The "128" version is perimiter bolts and 90 degree center manifold bolts the "463" is 72 degree center manifold bolts and center rocker cover bolt which will fit the intake you have. Today, these heads show up on the ZZ4 crate engine

14101083, this is the cast iron version of the "463" L-98 head above. Uses
1.95 intakes/1.55 exhausts and a 64 cc chamber. Found originally on Impalas and cop cars, sees a lot of crate engine duty. Pretty much the same as the 463 above, but has a slightly larger combustion chamber to accommodate the lower compression ratio dictated by cast iron's slower rate of heat transfer.

Bogie