I am thinking of trading out some body work in exchange for a rebuilt 1988 350 out of a pickup. My question is This is a computer engine. If I use a old HEI distributor and a older quadra-jet carb can I use this in my 76 camaro?

gotta switch the intake and its probably not set up for a mechanical fuel pump

An 'old' intake may not bolt to the heads. The angles on the center intake bolts changed. HEI should work, fuel pump is dependent on if the cam has a pump lobe.

Roller lifters!

Do a search, this was just discussed recently.

Being a truck engine it might not be a roller block. Should be a one piece rear seal engine, need a flywheel/flexplate for the engine, your old one won't fit it.

Intake will bolt up, you just need to alter the angle of the holes in the manifold with a drill. Too easy. If it's a roller block, that would probably be a good swap, IMHO.

Summit sells an entry level aluminum 4bbl intake under their own brand name (it's a rebadged Weiand intake) that will bolt to the 87-up bolt pattern heads for about $100. Large cap HEI and your choice of 4bbl will bolt right on.

If it's a truck motor it may not be a roller cam block but truck engines all came with flat tappet cams in that vintage, regardless of which block it is. 88 block SHOULD still be drilled for a fuel pump pushrod and the cam SHOULD still have a fuel pump lobe on it (1990 is about when things get really questionable in that regard) but you should definitely check before making any assumptions.

I am going to look at the engine on wednesday. I will check for a fuel pump. Are there any numbers on the block that would tell me more about the engine? Thanks

I am going to look at the engine on wednesday. I will check for a fuel pump. Are there any numbers on the block that would tell me more about the engine? Thanks

I've never closely inspected a late 80's engine but on the 70's and older sbc's
the block number is usually on the driver side, firewall end. Your probably going to have to climb up on the fender it its still in the truck. Take a flashlight. Usually right behind the head, and its braille like so you if you cant find it by eye try feeling for it. Might need some engine degrease and rag to be able to read it.

An 88 350 will be a roller block with the 1-piece rear main seal but would not have the roller cam / lifters.

The fuel pump mounting will be in place but may not have the mounting holes drilled and the fuel pump pushrod in place.

As other have stated, the intake manifold bolt pattern is different with the center two bolt holes on both sides of the carb / throttle body pad. You intake manifold could be modified to the correct angle but the bolt holes on swirl port heads cannot be changed.

On most of the later blocks for trucks, they have cast in "5.7L" along with the block casting numbers. Sorry! I don't have the numbers for the 86-later truck blocks on hand at the moment.

Overall, this engine would be a nice mild low rpm torque engine with a standard HEI distributor and a properly set-up Q-Jet! Also be aware that if you get the water pump with the engine, it is most likely a reverse rotation pump and would have to be changed if your installation does not use the serpentine set-up.

I have a 88 305 in my s-10. The engine size is plainly marked behind the drivers head on the block 5.0 or 5.7. Im wanting to put another motor in my truck but I am searcing for something without swirlport heads. I found an old 92-96 caprice copcar the city is getting ready to sell with sealed bids gonna put my bid in and hopefully I will get it. Everyone on here says the truck motors have the swirlport heads and they run out of breath at 4500 rpm. Its hard to get even 300 hp out of them. The 350 came with 200 hp and the 305 came with 170. Did the research myself on that one. Not a good power making engine! You are limited to cam sizes also but they do have good bottom end torque. They do make some parts to help them out though.I kept the TBI on mine. They make bigger injectors throttlebody spacers chips etc. BUt with a carb you would have to worry about all that.If at all possible I would leave the serpentine setup if I were you.

Put an 89 350 in my 79 pickup. Here's what's different.

Center holes on the intake are at a different angle. I don't know about a Q jet manifold, but an Eddy aluminum manifold does NOT have enough meat around the center holes to grind out to make them fit(or at least mine didn't).

Holes in the heads are DIFFERENT SIZE for the coolant temp senders. Napa sells a conversion sender that is supposed to work with the factory gauge, but it does NOT. Save your $30 and don't waste your time with it.

Bolted a mechanical fuel pump right on it, the block was ready for it.

They're one piece seal blocks. I could have dropped a roller cam right in it(mine's got a flat tappet), if I had the spider and cam.

Comapred to an older SBC, these engines have VERY low oil pressure. I looked up the specs in a Haynes manual because I was scared about how low it was, and the Haynes Manual said 6 PSI at idle, 19 PSI at 2K, and 24 PSI at 4K RPM. I've got at least double that everywhere.

These are NOT powerful engines by any standard. They're a good truck engine, that's it. Not really good for towing heavy loads(although I load the crap out of mine), but they should last a LOONG time.

My 305 has over 350000 miles and still doesnt smoke just not much compression