Hello All,

I apologize if this is in the wrong place, I am a noob to this site.
My brother and I are in the middle of an engine rebuild and have run into many issues with the 350 TBI Casting number 14093638 (VM144151) with the 14102193 swirl port (Pre Vortec, post old design heads). This engine was bought to be put into a 1979 C10 truck that is running the original mechanical fuel pump, the main goal here is not to build a racing motor, but a very strong low-end torque machine that can haul boats and other heavy loads easily. We are going to keep the mechanical fuel pump and would like to keep the intake that will accept a quadrajet or holley 650.

The issues we have run into with this engine seems to be that very specific time period where GM was mixing and matching parts trying to get rid of old inventory before rolling out the Vortec designs.

Our most pressing issues are: The 14102193 heads and valves are in very rough shape, so we have the ability to buy 305 HO heads casting number 14101081. We know these are 58cc heads and with a very mild cam, would this be too much of a change in the combustion chamber size?

Also, attempting to source a Master rebuild kit has been most challenging. The cam that was installed in this motor has no, and I mean No markings other than on the oil pump side and it is labeled BC 155.

At this point, we need some help from any of you that have experience with this setup. What is the cheapest, easiest way of getting this motor up and running? Vortec heads, 305 swirl port heads, 350 swirl port heads? What cam will work with this as it is set up as a roller cam and does have the one piece rear main seal. Did anyone find a decent master rebuild kit with close to stock parts? I have pictures or can get pictures of any and all casting numbers or measurements of the internals.

Thanks for all the help guys,

Richard Pursley

 

I had a 1986 Camaro Z28 with the LG4 305 and a 5 speed transmission. As I soon found out, the engine installer shop's owner was very dishonest. The 350 being used was a LM1 350 which is pretty common. Apparently, the mechanic in a effort to increase his profit margin, used a 350 short block with 305 heads. He supposedly installed a RV camshaft. Kind of a generic term for a camshaft profile that is only slightly more agressive in terms of valve lift and duration. The 350 heads had a combustion chamber volume of 76 cc's. The 305 heads had a combusion chamber volume of 58 cc's. The mechanic tried to argue with me that the compression ratio would go up because the combustion chamber is only 58 cc's. Thus make more power. While it's is true that the compression ratio would go up, because the intake valves are smaller and the ports are smaller, who cares if the compression ratio is higher. If the engine can't breathe, it isn't going to make any reasonable amount of power. The engine would barely rev to 5000rpm and between 2500rpm and 4500rpm it was a dog. Big mistake to do a swap from 350 heads to 305 heads on a 350 V8.