long block difference?

[NXRacer]

A local auto wrecker has an a20a1 motor for sale that i'm thinking of buying. I'm thinking of putting my FI head or intake on the a20a1. what i'm wondering is, are the blocks the same between the a20a1 and the a20a3. I'm talking about HP ratings and durability. I'm gonna be rebuilding if for seans turbo kit and stuff so i want to know if the a1 block will be the same as the a3 block. I'm pretty sure it is but i just wanted to make sure.

The reason i'm asking is that he's selling the motor for like 275. Ill probably talk him down since i'm gonna be using only the long block. Thats half the price of what i've gotten before so i wanna get it before its sold to somebody else.

[A20A1]

the a1 is the same... unless the deck height was changed or something I would see no difference.

you can always swap over an A3 head with cam anyways.

[shepherd79]

yes, blocks are the same.

[NXRacer]

nice! then i'll be going down tomorrow hopefully and putting a deposit on it so they'll pull it out for me. *fingers crossed*

[AZmike]

The compression difference comes from the pistons. If you're going to run turbo, the carb ratio of 9.1 would be better than the newer FI ratio of 9.3.

[corrected wrong compression ratio]

[A20A1]

I wish they made the interlocking copper gaskets so you could double up on the head gasket.

[bobafett]

i thought carb CR was 9.2:1 and 86-87 LX-i was 8.8:1 and 88-89 LX-i was like 9.5:1

[shepherd79]

all years DX and LX had 9.1:1
86-87 lxi had 8.8:1
88-89 lxi had 9.3:1

[bobafett]

hmm i was close! :)