We readily admit this engine won’t make a lot of other people’s top 5 lists of small block Chevys.
But as we celebrate 60 years of the small block Chevy, the 350 L98 engine makes ours for its heroic efforts in helping keep Chevrolet performance alive in the 1980s. Introduced in 1985, the L98, along with its 305 little brother, valiantly battled with the Ford 5.0L for factory performance supremacy until the LT family came along in 1992.
Here are a few more reasons L98 made the cut:
- 350 Lineage: The first Gen I 350 appeared in the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro and became the most widely used small block of all time. The L98 was an important part of this legendary 350 family, bridging the gap between the old-school, carbureted Gen I engines and the modern fuel-injected LT and LS engines.
- Power (sort of): The L98 wasn’t the most powerful small block. It wasn’t even the most powerful 350 ever. However, it did get things going back in the right direction following the performance-adverse 1970s and early 80s. At 230 horsepower, the original 1985 L98 offered a significant power jump over the previous engines of the day. Later changes to the engine pushed horsepower up to 245.
- Technological Significance: Featuring Tuned Port Injection (TPI), the 350 L98 was Chevrolet’s first successful foray into the world of EFI (sorry L83 crossfire engine!). These computer-controlled engines delivered more precise control of fuel and spark, yielding better fuel mileage and crisp throttle response in the process. With the introduction of the L98, Chevrolet was entering a bold new world—a world where power, performance, and fuel economy could co-exist. And it wasn’t going back.
- Iconic Looks: A brand new look came with the new technology. The “Elephant Trunk” runners of the TPI intake give the L98 an iconic appearance that’s instantly recognizable to many Chevrolet performance enthusiasts.
- Face of a Generation: Those iconic looks are the face of a generation. During the mid 1980s—long after the muscle car era but before LT and LS engines came along—305/350 TPI engines were the flagship Chevrolet performance engines. They kept the performance scene alive from under the hoods of such vehicles as the C4 Corvette, Camaro, Firebird—and even the IROC-Z.
Sure, the 350 L98 wasn’t the most powerful in the vast 350-cubic-inch family of engines. That just means there’s plenty of room for improvement via upgrades. We found good articles from Hot Rod and Super Chevy magazines on the topic, and there are 350 TPI (L98) aftermarket upgrades available. In addition to many Gen I 350 bottom-end components, you’ll find TPI-specific:
One of the best bow tie small blocks was the original 1971 LT-1 with cross bolted mains. Lots of power and a strong crankset
Original 71 LT1 ?? Nope ! Wrong again.. lol
70.5 LT1 in the perfectly styled Camaro same vintage?
[…] iconic muscle car is the Camaro. In 1987 the L98 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 engine became a regular option on the IROC-Z, paired with an automatic […]
All cars get smoked by electric cars except maybe some of the hyper are but an electric could be built to beat them too
If you consider the price of an electric car or the conversion cost to electric. That cost is at least $30,000. You can have a lot of fun with a “slower” gas powered car and $30,000 in your pocket. My gas car is paid for so I can buy an awful lot of gasoline for that. Oh, that and the cost of the tickets and collisions you will rack up with that so-fast electric car.
The TPI L98 in the IROC-Z, TA, GTA, FORMULA, cars HP were way too close to the Corvette in the first few years of the TPI . If the Vette driver was ever lazy on the clutch ,missed a gear or had the slightest issue getting them 50’s to bite he’d play hell trying make it up on the bottom end. From what I understand that’s the reason they dident offer the T5 Manuel with the 5.7 in anything but the Vette and 305 cars.They also made changes to the 5.7 350ci and the 5.0, 305ci cars to reduce the HP, like restricting the exhaust among other things to keep them from running so close matter fact no two engines built exactly the same will render the same HP they had to adjust for that as well . I think there was a few not many but a few of the 5,7 cars I spoke of at the start of my comment would straight up bone stock out run the Corvette. Fast for the late 80’s and I don’t give a f what nobody says every sob on this planet wanted a IROC-Z they didn’t want to share it neither not with the miss’s not with the family dident even want the guys at the factory setting in their car must less driving it no damn body and would get mad to think about sob touching it and it still setting on the assembly line ,haven’t even talked to the bank about getting a loan ,still setting on the couch watching the GD commercial ain’t no telling how many people got their ass’s whipped for leaning up against a sob’s IROC I bet it holds the record for HIGH AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS WITH INTENT maybe a weapon charge in some cases depending on if the perp had his keys on his belt loop when he decided he was going to prop his ass on that die hard IROC man’s -Z being he just talked to the bank and got the loan ,being he was just getting over the 6 miles some fellow at the factory got him for probably spun the tiers and done a donut he already ate a dog bone trying process that now this MFR gone shove him over the edge by telling him about some busted ass 1977 Camaro he just set a inline 250ci 6cyl in because the 350 he took out didn’t have the horse’s he was looking for all while pelvic thrusting my bad ass ride, the car went from black to red in that instant 18 minutes of straight hooks and jabs filled the FAST FARE parking lot,,,Oh my bad fellows I’m out of time to be cont.
LMAO!!
More than the outdated induction and computer, the Tuned Port Small Block (TPI) is a great looking engine, as for it’s performance being better than most small blocks, I’d say it has to do with the more aggressive ramps on the camshafts which the roller cams allowed. Most small blocks had flat tappet camshafts until Tuned port, then it became standard in the late 90’s. The flat tappets didn’t allow aggressive ramp designs and didn’t allow for as much smooth performance. Flat tappets are still fun and cheaper. Roller cams didn’t get all the way perfected until the LS series engines in my opinion but they still are good for 200k usually.
I am 327.
I am 327.
I’m sorry, the position has been filled.