should i drop a 350 in it?

[TheX1992]

i just picked up an '88 chevy silverado 1500. 4.3L V6. the thing is, the motor is real tired. my dad also managed to strip out the spark plug hole on the back drivers side cylinder while changing one. i told him i was crossthreading it so i stopped then he gets on it and torques the hell out of it. oh well. now i have three choices.

1.) tap the spark plug. i would have to take off fender and steering shaft to get a good straight shot at it.

2.) get new heads. needs new heads anyway. burns a bit of oil.

3.) take the 350 i have at the shop and put that in there. runs great. was going to go in the 56 chevy but that project isnt going anywhere.


from what i have found, the 350 will bolt up w/ the mounts, the 5spd tranny will work, but i just need a shorter fan shroud. and maybe get a stronger rear end.


what do you guys think? is it worth the work to put a 350 in it?

[400exdad]

I just put a crate 350 motor in my '93 and it was a huge difference over the old 305. If you already have a carb, its prolly a good swap, but if you've still got fuel injection, it may cost a little more than you think. I don't know if the '88 had TBI on it or not. Check out www.chevytalk.com for more info. Oh yeah, the rear differential should be fine.

[UglyMotha™]

now why exactly do you think since it's burning oil that you change the heads out :huh


are you ase certified "Ask Someone Else"

[4TraxRider]

Yes definately. My friend put a 350 in his 93' GMC, made a world of difference. It wasn't a crate engine, it was just one out of another truck I beleive. Still not as fast os my Dodge though.:cool: If you want any info or anything about it I can ask him for you, otherwise, goodluck with whatever you do.:macho

[Butters]

i would put a 350 in it. i have one in my '72 and my friend has one in his '69. i think it would be nice to have the power.

[sly400ex]

Burning oil= bad ring seal.
Drop the 350 in it, the rear end should be fine

[TheX1992]

he said it needed a valve job because it burns alot of oil. who knows.


my truck and the 350 are fuel injected. (TBI). i was going to make the 350 carburated. it came out of my buddies old work truck/van, whatever it was. still has plenty of life. i do have a 400 turbo tranny that was going to go with it, but do i want to go through the trouble of putting that in?

[Butters]

if you put a carb on it it is going to get horrible gas mileage. mine gets only like 8-10 and it has a carb. same way with my friends and his it manual. i would make it fuel injected.

[400exdad]

My '93 gets 17-19 mpg all the time. TBI works pretty good for that, but not for power. :(

Yeh dude 350 crate is the way to go. I got one in my 89 gmc 1500 short bed. It makes some good power. U'll be happy.

[TheX1992]

so you guys are saying i should leave the fuel injection on it? its not a crate motor. i cant afford that lol. its an old 350 out of a work truck thats on a stand right now. i was in the process of restoring it for the 56, but my truck needs it more than the project.