Heart Transplant, don't know if doner is compatible

[cherokeejohn]

My 72 is up n running, as I've posted in other threads, also posted about my transmission not working. Well I have come across a possible doner for a motor n trans both, but I am not for sure it will work. I'm hoping to get some answers on this thread. The doner vehic. is a 1987 chevy 30 van front clip/camper/motor home. The motor and trans are the same, a 350/th350 with 16,500 original miles. It runs and drives great, no probs, no smoke,trans shifts great. The motor in mine is still smoking like a freight train. Thick white smoke, and after it warms up to operating temp I've noticed a tapping sound on the PS head. I'm guessing that the 21 years of sitting has done it in. Can anyone help me by telling if my doner option will work? Can i change over my intake up and put the motor and trans in my 72. I hope so because my budget is far beyond blown already. I can pick up the doner for a REALLY GOOD price, and after using all i can, scrap the remains to try and recoop some of my losses. If it will work, I plan to rebuild the original motor and trans, but taking my time and doing it RIGHT, so that it will be back to original and be dependable for years to come. I love my C/10 and have lots of plans for it, but it is also my Daily Driver. No matter what kind of day I have, I can hop in my truck and 5 miles later, I feel good as new. It just has that effect on me, I'm hooked, what else can i say. If anyone can help with my questions, please let me know asap. I need to move on the doner quiklyas it has to be removed from where it has been stored within the week

[Syndrome]

I've got a 350 TBI out of a 87-91 chevy van in my 70 gmc. I didn't put it in there but its in now. Not sure what tranny is in it. I haven't really looked at what is stamped on it either.

If your not used to those TBI's then they can be a regular pain in the rear to get running correctly. I've been messing with mine for 2 months and it will only idle, if I even touch the throttle then it dies.

[cherokeejohn]

I've had over a dozen S-10's and most of them were TBI's. I've outgrown the tonka toys now and stepped up to a real truck, lol. I was asking if i can put my intake and carb on the motor from the RV. i have a brand new carb, less than 2 months old, and i had my intake cleaned thoroughly. I'd prefer to keep it carburated. I'm not sure if i even need a motor, i do need a trans tho. my motor is smokin like a freight train, thick white smoke, and a valve starts tapping once it's warmmed up. I checked to see if there was any coolant in the oil, but it's clean. I don't know, it sat for 21 years in a field until i purchased it. I drained the b ad gas, cleaned the tank, lines, and fuel system, and put a new OEM quadra-junk on it. it fired right up, and sounded good. I expected it to smoke a bit , but it has'nt lightened up yet, and now the valve thing i stated above. I am a body n paint guy so I am a ok mechanic, but this is above me

[WIDESIDE72]

The intake wont bolt directly onto the tbi motor without a little modifying but it can be made to work. The two center bolts on eqch side are at a different angle than your intake. I have always been able to drill them out though. It is going to be a crap shoot on whether the tbi engine has a provision for a mechanical fuel pump. If there is a block off plate over the fuel pump area you might have gotten lucky and the hole for the drive rod is drilled. This means the plate is there because without it oil would leak out. No plate means no drive rod hoe. If the plate and hole is there,the next would be to take the fuel pump rod out of you old engine (or a rod like it), insert it in the hole, crank the engine over (disconnect ignition wire from hei dist so it doesnt start) and see if it works back and forth, you lucked out. If not you will need to install an electric fuel pump. Unfortunately my experience has been that none of the tbi motors i have swapped had the lobe on the cab to drive the mechanical fuel pump. There will be other minor issues but these are the biggest.

[tlcrz1972]

The van engine & trans should bolt in with minimal issues.

The heads are different because of the FI intake, but that can be overcome.

But my suggestion is go with throttle body FI with a painless harness, there are a few issues to going this route, but once you have it running you'll love it. Especially if you go overdrive.

Been there done that, and from here on out most daily drivers will be FI.

[hugger6933]

The main difference between the two sets of heads [for all practical purposes]is that the pre 87 head has the 4 center intake bolts[2 on each side]are at 90 degrees to the carb pad and the 87 to95 are at a angle of 72 degrees. You can take a drill bit or die grinder and round out bit and make it happen ,then cut two wedge shaped pieces of small pipe or something like that to help support the area cut out then put a flat washer on top of the little pie under the bolt head. That will help in the sealing and keep the manifold leak possibility to a minimum. If you are concerned a bout doing this procedure, you can purchase an intake manifold that is capable of either type of intake pattern. If you do chose to change intakes make sure it says it will fit the 87 center bolt head.The TBI motor with a carbed intake on it runs really decent in a daily driver. The compression is a little higher than in motors of recent times[right before the TBI appeared] and the heads had new tech for the time [mid to late 80's time] that helped in the running. I think it is a great choice for one of these trucks in fact I have one in one of mine that will be coming out of my 68 GMC to be changed to probably go into one of my 70's that I am building. [I am building a 68 GMC with a 454 4L80E and two 70s one 350 T-5 the other 454 T400] Good luck to you , enjoy your truck.Oh ,by the way I am a p& b guy and own my own body shop and have since 1987 and build late model trucks and other wrecks. But I was a mechanic first? Jim

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

The main difference between the two sets of heads [for all practical purposes]is that the pre 87 head has the 4 center intake bolts[2 on each side]are at 90 degrees to the carb pad and the 87 to95 are at a angle of 72 degrees. You can take a drill bit or die grinder and round out bit and make it happen ,then cut two wedge shaped pieces of small pipe or something like that to help support the area cut out then put a flat washer on top of the little pie under the bolt head. That will help in the sealing and keep the manifold leak possibility to a minimum. If you are concerned a bout doing this procedure, you can purchase an intake manifold that is capable of either type of intake pattern.

This is what I was getting at but didn't want to get into on a smart phone! Thanks!

[cherokeejohn]

awsome, thank you all for the intell, It will greatly help. I am going to look at the van/RV within the next few days, and will keep everyone posted on here with updates. hugger, your xactly right, I am 3rd gen P&B, and both my pop and grandpop always sai to me during my training years that in order to be a body tech, you have to be a mechanic . This is oh so true, I just have always R & I motors and trans's n sent them to specialists so to be honest, the inside of an automatic trans frightens me a lil bit, not that i doubt in myself or capabilities, just fear the anxiety and headaches

On a brighter note, my latest order from classic arrived and I've installed my ductwork for the heat,A/C, and defrost. Also my new glove box came, I dont understand why they are still made of a cardboard material, any moisture at all and they start to fall apart, so before that goes in, I am making sure there are no leaks anywhere near there. still have the dash tore down and hoping to paint that and the inner cab today. The more I work on my truck the more excited I get to be behind the wheel of her. Soooooo much easier than the S-10's i tinker'd with and modified for years,although they were great for all the learning. I did put a 400 small block in a 84 S-10 longbed once. It had to have a open flywheel due to room. It sure was fast and fun tho, it would spin the tires till they blew if you didnt let off, lol

[WIDESIDE72]

I forgot to add that of it is an rv I am about 99% sure the trans would not be a th350. More than likely a th400. Not a good or bad thing, just something to consider as far as length when considering Driveshaft. The 400 is a little tougherbut takes more power to turn because of the heavier parts.