Ok, here's the deal guys. I have a 97 z that's all stock except for a catback. I have a buddy with a TBI 400 that he built for his truck. Long story short, he doesn't need it anymore and is willing to part with it cheap. I know that to run a 400 I would need new injectors/fuel pump. Would I need new heads/intake/prolly lotsa other stuff?
Also, I'm fairly well mechanically inclined and he works on all of his vehicles, but he's only worked with TBI/TPI era cars, and I've never taken anything apart on my car. So, I need the voice of experience for help.
thx

 

More involved in this swap than you really want to do. This will cost more than if you built your own motor.

 

That's why I was asking. I know that the LT1 heads would be a bad choice because they'd jack CR through the roof, but I can do pretty much anything with this 400, including rebuilding it from the ground up. I just want to know exactly what would be involved so I can be mostly prepared. (I say mostly because it's almost impossible to ever be completely prepared for something like this)

 

Will LT1 heads even work they are reverse cooled?

 

I know they are reverse cooled, but having taken neither engine apart, I don't know if that would change anything. Does it make a difference where the coolant passages flow, or just to where the cooling system hooks up to the engine?

 

the lt1 heads will not work on the 400. its a bad idea. from top to bottom its a pain in the *** PERIOD. ignition, flywheel, engine mounts, accesories. if you are going to be able to rebuild a 400 why cant you do the same to the lt1? you realize you can get 400rwhp from a stock bottom end lt1 right?

 

I'm not disagreeing you, I just thought it might have been better in the end to have a few more cubes pushing. Plus, it's not currently in the car, making it easier to work on. I know there's a lot of potential in the LT1, I just thought the 400 would be a little more potent.
Anyway, thanks for the input, guys. I appreciate everyone steering me away from a major pitfall before I was waist deep in it.

 

Why not a 396ci LT1? Doubt you would notice the missing 4ci.

The LT1 heads can be converted to match the coolant ports on the Gen 1 SBC, but why bother. There are better heads out there for a Gen 1 SBC, without the need for conversion. And you would need to use the LT1 intake, which then requires modification for a distributor (since you no longer have the Optispark distributor) and the Gen 1 coolant passages.

 

Since I'm building up the LT1 now, do I have to use only LT1/LT4 heads for reverse cooling, or will other SBC heads hook up? (You know, the little things nobody tells you)

 

OK, disregard that last post. I had a "married" moment, and reading another post the light bulb lit. Thanks again, guys.

 

You can have sbc heads converted to reverse cooling, but it will cost you.

 

After doing some research on the threads on this forum, I'm thinking more about Lloyd Elliot's LE2 package. It just makes a lot more sense, budget and otherwise. New heads and then having new heads either converted or ported... Too much expense for what I have under the hood right now.