Motor swap opinion/help needed

[Blake_H]

I blew a head gasket in my 87 Chevy 4x4 1/2 ton. I bought a used 94 replacement motor, and I'm currently in the middle of the swap. I was going to change out the timing chain, water pump, distributor and upgrade the manifold to an Edelbrock 3704. I have already rebuilt the throttle body. I also wanted to change out the cam, lifters and springs.

But....

My dad and I were talking today, and he said don't change the cam without doing a complete tear down. His thinking is that all the other parts have 113,000 miles on them, and changing the combo now, might result in in failure in other parts. I don't disagree, but I'm just trying to get a little more pep out of this motor, until I can convert the truck over to a 5.3 liter in a year or two.

I just use this truck to go back and forth to the home improvement store while we are remodeling our house. It's not a daily driver.

So, now that my long winded story is done, what are your thoughts?

[Layne]

I'd not put a cam in if your planning on a 5.3 swap. To me, seems like it'd be a waste of your money. If this trucks a lumberyard runner, and you don't drive it everyday I wouldn't worry about a new cam.

[Blue 82]

I posted some pics of some port work I did on the 193 heads on another thread.
Here's a few new ones
It's worth 20 or 30 hp on a stock TBI engine
I cut an old 193 head in half to show the port configuration (intake side)

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=13877.0

[Blake_H]

Thanks for the opinions, and thanks for the shots of the cylinder head.  That's beautiful work.  Definitely more work than I want to do at this time.

Due to weather, the whole project is on hold until after Christmas.  I finally got the engine stripped of all it's non-essential parts, and it looks good.  I am going to check the timing chain, and replace it only if it is loose.  Otherwise, just the new manifold, distributor and oil pump and it's going in. 

Thanks again for the help.