I hope someone can help me with this.  I have a 95 chevy 1/2 z71 4x4 350 ci. TBI., that I want to rebuild and Iwuld like to up the fuel economy and posibly Horse Power too. It has 230,000 miles on it. What looked like a blown head gasket when it over heated and stopped running, was 2 shattered pistons. I live in Manteca, California so I have CA Emissions to deal with I do not have much cash but I can do the work my self.

I will find a machine shop to take the heads, block and crank to. I am thinking about headers with the o2 port (smog), but they will be last because I figure I can put them on time and get them when I have more cash. I have seen overall kits for under $350 WITH THE CAM AND NEW PISTONS BUT I guess that they are stock. I need help keeping it smog friendly.

Also I heard that a computer modification is needed with any modifications to the motor. What exactly would I have to do and how much will it cost?

Thanks For Any HELP, Clint

 

Keeping it smog friendly is no problem. Factory compression ratio was 9:1 on those motors, you can probably get away with a slight increase without trouble with a small combustion chamber.

Go ahead and rebuild your short block with good stuff, punch it out to 355 or whatever's necessary to clean up the cylinders.

The top end of the motor's where you're gonna be able to make the most improvements. First thing, I'd look for a set of aluminum heads for the motor. You can find inexpensive but good heads all over the place. Your bottom of the line choice woudl be to find a good set of used C4 Corvette L98 aluminum heads. The other option, call RHS (Part of Comp Cams) and see about a set of their equipped heads.

From their, get a CARB certified hydraulic roller cam for the motor (yours has flat tappet cam stock). That'll give you a big performance increase.

The factory intake and TBI unit are pretty good, and will be fine with a 355 or similar.

The last item will be a performance computer chip from Hypertech or Superchips for the computer to make everything reach maximum potential, and be smog friendly.  

Thanks for the information I will use it. what about a cam? should I stay stock? Again first and foremost I am after fuel economy and I do not ever go over 65 MPH and tow stuff from time to time, but would like some get up and go when I get the itch. My truck weighs 4900 pounds and I would like to get 22 plus MPG. Am I being realistic?  

How about SET OF GM LS1 ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS OFF A 2000 C5 VETTE..CASTING NUMBERS 853 WHICH CAME ON 97-2000 CORVETTE,CAMARO 350 MOTORS..HEADS ARE THE SAME AS 241 CASTINGS..200CC INTAKE 70CC EXH..CHAMBER SIZE 66.67CC..VALVE SIZE 2.00IN 1.55EXH..THOSE SPECS I GOT ONLINE

But will these work for me?