Talk to me about the 350 truck motor

A family friend has a customer scrapping an older I want to say 89-90 pickup with a 4 bolt 350. It has higher miles but still runs good and he says would make a good rebuild core. First off, is this still a computer controlled motor? Second, are there any major differences between the LO5 and the truck motors? I can get this motor for cheap but not sure if I should grab it or just find a B car LO5.

5.7 L V8

1988–95

210 hp (160 kW)

300 lb·ft (410 N·m)

It is TBI, it is computer controlled. It is basically the same motor. It is probably even an L05 with different accessories/air cleaner.

Gastt wrote:

5.7 L V8

1988–95

210 hp (160 kW)

300 lb·ft (410 N·m)

It is TBI, it is computer controlled. It is basically the same motor. It is probably even an L05 with different accessories/air cleaner.

Thanks Tim!

It would be the same motor as your L05. It is computer controlled (TBI). BTW, not all truck motors are 4 bolt mains (and the only way to tell AFAIK is to drop the oil pan)....but unless you're building a high horsepower race motor, the 2 bolt main vs 4 bolt main debate is a moot point. There aren't any major differences between truck motors and car motors (the truck has a different computer (which gives better performance than the car computer), bigger exhaust manifolds, and maybe different TB.)

The issue here is cost. If you are rebuilding the truck motor, it is probably going to cost you more than it is worth. If you can get a good low mileage motor, just swapping them is a reasonable cost. The heads are supposed to be crap, so no matter what you do, it will not be a hotrod engine. If you can get some good heads, it may be worth rebuilding. There are a couple of sites that specialize in upgrading the TBI engines, and you should consider them.

If you are just going to refresh the engine, it can cost you a couple of hundred dollars in parts. Other than that, it is a bolt-in. Some of the LO5s did make more power than the stockers in a B-body. The 9C1 TBI 5.7L made 205 HP, but had a different cam, injectors, exhaust, and computer. The stock car LO5 made 180 HP. If you get the truck engine, you should determine what it needs to run properly with the computer you are using. You need to know the cam specs vs. the B-body specs. The heads will be the same as the B-body engine.

Nothing is set in stone, but the motor was offered to me so I figured I'd get some ideas. I may just do new seals/heads/cam/headers/new ECM flash on my LO5 and call it a day. Between what just the parts for a rebuild will cost, plus machining. It's getting expensive quick.

I believe the intakes, and distributors are different.... Distributor hole is larger on the B car intakes, thus the need for a larger base on the dist.

JY Vortec heads '96-'02 would be an improvement, and they might just bolt on, but I don't know if the tbi intake works with the Vortec heads.

Mike

200OZ wrote:

I believe the intakes, and distributors are different.... Distributor hole is larger on the B car intakes, thus the need for a larger base on the dist.

JY Vortec heads '96-'02 would be an improvement, and they might just bolt on, but I don't know if the tbi intake works with the Vortec heads.

Mike

From what my research is showing, the heads will bolt to the block, but the intake is different and I'd have to get this. It's a TBI to Vortec conversion intake.

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Truck LO5 is flat tappet cam.

jayoldschool wrote:

Truck LO5 is flat tappet cam.

I thought the truck got roller cam in mid/late 87?

Here are a couple of places that specialize in LO5 engines, or have good information.

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The B-body TBI engines have a short distributor. To install it, they made the hole in the manifold larger so that it can be angled for clearance. You have to modify any other manifold to fit the distributor, unless you want to install a standard one together with the manifold. The adapter manifold for the LO5 with the Vortec heads has the small distributor hole. It would have to be enlarged, and to do so the back of the manifold must be built up for strength.

Or you can just put them in together and call it a day. Sure, if you ever need to do the dist, you need to do the intake gasket, but how often is that going to be?

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LMAO.

Welp. Got a call from the guy today. Got more info on the motor. It has 88k, no smoke, noises, etc. Comes with everything, ecu, trans, TB, harness. He's a family friend and he's going to give it to me and let me pay for it whenever. I think I may grab it, only because the mileage is really good, and everything for the swap would be there already. Wont even really need to have it rebuilt.

Nick is right. If you are going to the trouble to replace a TBI motor upgrade!!!

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Nick is right. If you are going to the trouble to replace a TBI motor upgrade!!!

Clever pictures aside, I like the TBI. Im not looking for big power, 200-225 is about all I want and need. So the truck motor is fine. LS is out of my budget, and I can get into this swap for less than what LT1's sell for here.

If you get the cam, computer, injectors, and Y pipe from a 9C1, you will have 205 HP. If you put duals and headers on it, you should have about 230 or more. Electric fans from a 93 FW will net you about 5 more HP.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

If you get the cam, computer, injectors, and Y pipe from a 9C1, you will have 205 HP. If you put duals and headers on it, you should have about 230 or more. Electric fans from a 93 FW will net you about 5 more HP.

Well aware.

However, to buy all those parts, (still havent seen a chip) I'm STILL into the motor for less money. In any event, I want to be able to clean the frame and wheel wells, may as well do it when there isn't a motor in the car.

Nothing wrong with a flat tappet TBI engine just make sure you always use a zinc additive
oil in the engine.GM made millions of flat tappet engines before the invention of the roller lifter.
Do the swap and enjoy the satisfaction of making the wagon even more special to you.