92 camaro 383 carb swap
01-31-2012, 12:26 AM
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Car: 1992 Chevy Camaro z28
92 camaro 383 carb swap
Hi guys,
I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to car work, but I want to attempt an engine swap in my z28. I found a carbureted 383 corvette motor I want to put in it, and I was hoping someone could help me with a list of parts I'll need to do it. I'm particularly concerned with switching from fuel injection, and if anybody knows how the emissions stuff works and how to get it to pass smog I'm all ears.
Thanks!
I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to car work, but I want to attempt an engine swap in my z28. I found a carbureted 383 corvette motor I want to put in it, and I was hoping someone could help me with a list of parts I'll need to do it. I'm particularly concerned with switching from fuel injection, and if anybody knows how the emissions stuff works and how to get it to pass smog I'm all ears.
Thanks!
01-31-2012, 07:10 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
First, there was never a "383 Corvette engine", so it would be good to establish exactly what your engine is.
2nd, no carb is emissions-legal in a '92 passenger car chassis. It may be possible for such an engine to sniff clean enough to meet '92 levels, but it won't be easy, and at a minimum it will require cats. Whether it can be tuned to sniff clean enough really depends upon the cam, so back to question #1. If you do manage to tune it to sniff clean, it will run like crap. And it still won't be legal in any of the 50 United States.
Your best bet is to stick with an EFI system. That way all of your emissions stuff can still work. (But still need to know what cam is in it)
2nd, no carb is emissions-legal in a '92 passenger car chassis. It may be possible for such an engine to sniff clean enough to meet '92 levels, but it won't be easy, and at a minimum it will require cats. Whether it can be tuned to sniff clean enough really depends upon the cam, so back to question #1. If you do manage to tune it to sniff clean, it will run like crap. And it still won't be legal in any of the 50 United States.
Your best bet is to stick with an EFI system. That way all of your emissions stuff can still work. (But still need to know what cam is in it)
01-31-2012, 11:02 PM
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Car: 1992 Chevy Camaro z28
Re: 92 camaro 383 carb swap
Sorry, I misspoke, its a corvette 350 that's been bored out to 383. The cams I have are xtreme energy XR258HR, described as strong torque, good idle. So if I scrap passing smog as a requirement for this project, what am I looking at?
02-01-2012, 12:31 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Okay, technically a 350 is bored and stroked to 383 cubic inches...
The cam you quoted is hydraulic roller, so that hints very strongly that you're talking about an '87-'91 TPI Vette engine. The good news is that the cam is fairly mild, and should be able to pass sniffer with a proper induction system.
Since your user info says "San Diego", let's cut to the chase - TPI is the only system that will be legal. If I guessed correctly on the engine era, and it has the Vette aluminum heads, you will have to equip it as a Vette. That means the EGR valve has to be plumbed for an external source of exhaust gases since the Vette aluminum heads don't have the exhaust crossover passages the cast iron head TPI engines had. You can use CARB certified TPI improvements such as higher flow runners (highly recommended since the stock TPI system restricts a 305, and you're 78 cubic inches bigger than that).
You may have a slight technical issue since your chassis is a '92, and the last year for the Vette TPI was '91, and you technically can't swap in an older engine/system. But, they probably won't quibble over that (for sure keep your mouth shut about it being a 383).
So, forget carb, even if the engine currently has one on it. No way no how it can pass California emissions with a carb.
The cam you quoted is hydraulic roller, so that hints very strongly that you're talking about an '87-'91 TPI Vette engine. The good news is that the cam is fairly mild, and should be able to pass sniffer with a proper induction system.
Since your user info says "San Diego", let's cut to the chase - TPI is the only system that will be legal. If I guessed correctly on the engine era, and it has the Vette aluminum heads, you will have to equip it as a Vette. That means the EGR valve has to be plumbed for an external source of exhaust gases since the Vette aluminum heads don't have the exhaust crossover passages the cast iron head TPI engines had. You can use CARB certified TPI improvements such as higher flow runners (highly recommended since the stock TPI system restricts a 305, and you're 78 cubic inches bigger than that).
You may have a slight technical issue since your chassis is a '92, and the last year for the Vette TPI was '91, and you technically can't swap in an older engine/system. But, they probably won't quibble over that (for sure keep your mouth shut about it being a 383).
So, forget carb, even if the engine currently has one on it. No way no how it can pass California emissions with a carb.
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