I want to replace the stock, tired, TBI 350 in my '88 K-5 Blazer. I want 300tq by 2000rpm, 400tq by 3000rpm and keep 350tq past 4000rpm, all with spending less than two grand, keeping it fuel injected and smog legal without loosing any fuel economy! A 383 would be the answer, but wouldn't that shoot the MPG's? I was thinking a 30 over bore to bring it out to 355, get some thrifty 9.25:1 pistons, tri-y headers, a holley 670cfm TB and a new high flow fuel pump. Here is the question, what about heads and a cam? The stock heads make more torque below 2700 rpm than many aftermarket heads do, and flow okay to about 3500rpm. What heads would make as much or more torque below 3500rpm (torquer, vortec) but have a longer power band? What would be a good cam for the torque curve that I want? If someone could explaine the numbers for the cam (lift, duration... etc.) and how they change the torque curve that would help me tons! How hard would it be to swap in a 5.3/6.0 and keep its computer or change it over to TBI and use my stock ECM? Does anyone make heads for those engines that will run an EGR?This will be my first engine build. I'm a Marine currently in Iraq, but will be back at Camp Pendleton soon. Maybe I should check out the Turnkey shop in Oceanside when I get back to the states? Any Ideas would be greatly appreciated!   Scott  

I just looked at the LQ4 SHORT BLOCK (project cars, above) the 6.0 was converted to a carb setup and created 439tq and 425hp with headers and a stock cam, 400tq from 2200-5400rpm, and they pulled even more out with a bigger cam. If they kept the EFI what would these numbers be like? Any links to a 6.0 swap?  

383 stroker is the way to go. the low rpm torque is unreal. i have one in a 2x4 s-10 blazer,the power at 3000-4000 is tire shreading and it will still rev to 6000 and never flatten out on the power. i used flat top pistons and the holley system max II, it was all holley said it was. no regrets  

You might consider a 377. 400 block bored .030 to 4.155 with a 350 crank and rods. The large bore makes for great low speed torque and the 3.48 stroke will help on the MPG. Regular 400 pistons in .030 over will work with the 350 crank and rods. A set of bearing spacers is required but they work great. A set of vortec heads and the proper  roller cam and you are good to go. When I want realy big torque I build a 406 and can get over 525 ft lb. That much torque without the weight of a big block will make you a happy camper.  

That's a good idea about the 377. I think I can put a rolling assembly out of a 6.0 in my 5.7 pretty easy, with the 3.622 inch crank and a 4.030 bore I think I would get about 369cid, or with a 4.125 about 390 inches. Would my block need to be clearanced for the 3.622 crank like it would for a 3.75? Is it safe to do a 0.125 over bore on a 87-95 5.7?  

If you're looking for take, pull your 350 and build it as a 383 with a stroker kit. To get the torque numbers you want, heads and cam are gonna be critical, along with a performance chip for the computer (can be bought from Superchips or Hypertech)

Save the money and reuse your current 350 block. A stroker kit with pistons, rods, bearings, and rings will run you about $600-$700 from www.enginekits.com

Make your compression a net of 9.5:1

I'd go to Comp Cams for a heads/cam combo. Since they own RHS, this is easy. Aluminum heads are so cheap now, it'd be a waste to deal with iron heads.

For induction, you want to find a '92-'95 Chevy/GMC 350 equipped truck or SUV. In '92 GM increased the size of the TBI units (and modified the manifold to handle them) so this will give your 383 better breathing. Or go to www.turbocity.com, they have special TBI units just for 383s.

The other advantage to using your current engine block is all your accessories will bolt right up still, making this whole project a lot easier.  

The turbocity tbi looks good, 590cfm for under $200 , looks like a deal to me, anyone use one? The world products s/r torquer look like the heads I want, for about $800. I,ve known of 5.3/6.0 heads going for nearly nothing, would these fit my tbi block? If I went to  a carb, do I have to get a special intake, anyone recomend a good dualplane intake?  

No to the 377 build...thats an rpm motor...LS build will blow your 2k budget..

hyd roller 406 with cheapy vortechs...approx 210@.050 on 112-114 lsa..STOCK TBI is fine...this thing will all be done by 4000k anyways....long tube 1 5/8s with an H pipe..dont forget to get a chip burned for the extra cubes...(timing curve and injector pulse width)

HP/TQ without killing MPG??? thats tough  

I would love to have a 406 in my blazer, but with todays fuel prices it just isn't in my budget. An LS build would cost over $2000, but I think I could swap one in for under. On E-BAY LKQ has a 5.3 with 104K on it for less than $285 fully dressed. With shipping lets call that $600. I think I can find one with fewer miles for less than $600 on the west coast. Painless Wiring runs $845 or $945 for an extra lenght wiring harness, with the purchas of the wires they will flash your stock computer to your specs for $15 S&H, or $25 plus $15 S&H if you didn't buy the harness. Doug Thorley Tri-Y Headers can be had for under $500, and are good for about 25lb-ft from 2500-4500rpm. This should make a little over 300hp and nearly 375lb-ft of torque, all for about $2000.
    If you wanted to go for a carb you could get a lot more power out of it. $500 for the engine w/o computer, $400 for a good carb, $400 for the intake, $500 for the MSD products, $500 for headers and another $100 for oil, filter and gaskets. This puts you at about roughly $2400 for a lot more motor. With a cam, lifter and rockers this could be an easy 400+hp and 400+tq for under $3500.