CanadianRoots

iTrader: (1)

OK so I kinda feel like I'm a little over my head....

This is my first time that I'm taking on a major engine swap for myself. I help my friend build his 91 Mustang a bunch of years back but he's pretty much useless to me at this point.

I have a 91 Camaro RS with a 305 TBI and a 700R4 trans. I just redid all the suspension, converted the rear to a 02 LS1 with disc and did a C5/Z06 conversion on the front.

Now I just went out and got myself a 84 Z28 from a friend who needed some quick cash. I'm planning on taking the worked 350 that he has in it and the 6 speed borg warner trans out and putting it into my car.

I'm just kinda feeling very over my head at the moment. I know its gonna be a while before I can put the engine and trans in my car because I'm a little strapped for cash and this is something that I want to do right the first time.

I guess I just feel like I've read so many great threads on here from other people that I'm hoping some of the more experienced TGO people on here can give me some sort of direction to go in.

I know the 350 has work done to it and I'm working on getting all the paper work that I know he has to find out exactly what.

Anyone who has words of advise or even who lives around LI who wants to lend a hand (or a hoist) it would be greatly appreciated!!

-Chris

PS once I get the Engine and Trans and couple other pieces I need out of the car I should have a rolling chassis for sale, no interior or hood but a pretty decent 84 body....

Apeiron

The engines are about as easy a swap as they get, since you're doing V8 to V8 from a pretty similar car.

Don't hack your wiring harness up. Swap the accessories, senders and switches from your 305 on to the 350. This way your gauges will still work as they always did, and your oil pressure switch will still power your fuel pump while the car is running. Use a return-style fuel pressure regulator (eg. Mallory 4309) with the in-tank pump.

If the exhaust on the 84 is better than what you've got on the 91, you might want to take that, too.

Getting the transmission in will be a bit more work. There'll be some cutting involved to accomodate the shifter and clutch hydraulics.

CanadianRoots

iTrader: (1)

I know about the Trans, believe me I've been doing my homework over and over and over again on that!! I've read a lot of great posts on here that have given me a lot of insight!

The engine isn't the stock engine from the car I know that much. It was a crate motor that he put in about 2 or 3 years ago.

I definitely don't want to do a hack job! I don't want to rig things like we did in my friends car I want this stuff to work right and look right no rigged up things!

One question I do have is I want to keep fuel injection in the car. The engine in the 84 is carbed, a carb made for a ford at that, and thats gotta go! I know that I would probably have to switch to a 350 TBI unit and change the computer but is there anything else that I would have to do? Or should I just scrap the stock stuff all together and go for an aftermarket TBI/EFI setup?

Apeiron

Aftermarket TBI would probably end up being expensive. You could keep all your TBI stuff and put it on the 350. In that case you definitely don't want to hack your wiring harness.

I think the 305-350 swap sticky might have some info on what you'd want to change.

1985WS6transam

iTrader: (4)

Im normally over in West Islip but I am at college in RI for a few months... let me know when your doing the swap and if im around i will give you a hand. It is really easy if you take your time and double check everything. Ive done a few swaps and plan on doing one next summer (305 to 388) I need to finish getting some AFR heads. I dont have a hoist, I usually borrow one from a friend but I am thinking about buying a cheap one for like 130... Also look on craigslist they have cheap hoists. Ive never done a 6 speed swap, but I would love to see it, lucky you have all the parts and measurements from the other car.

CanadianRoots

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I'm gonna be pulling all the parts out but the body will be long gone from the house by the time I'm ready to swap everything in. I'm gonna have to take A LOT of pictures as I go to reference everything!! I'm actually in Seaford, not that bad of a ride... maybe 20 mins or so... Anyway I would love someone with some experience to help out.. I'm figuring the swap prolly won't happen untill March of next year unless the weather is really mild over the winter, no real garage to work in.... I'll def let you know when its gonna happen though!! I appreciate any help I can get!

CanadianRoots

iTrader: (1)

So I'm just about to the point where I can get the donor engine and trans out of the car. I have all the hoses and electrical disconnected the only thing left is disconnecting the headers and then getting the trans ready to get pulled out at the same time. I'm really itching to get the new 6 speed into my car and I'm debating swapping my 700R4 out for the 6 speed first and then when I get the engine ready to go in put that in second but I don't know...

Any opinions? Should I wait and do both at once or should I swap the 6 Speed in now and do the engine when I'm ready?

-Chris

darrencarr

Yeah you should do both at once because some stuff you would have to take apart twice. and the more you take stuff apart the more you risk damaging it. On the other hand if you get it apart once and take it apart again soon it'll probably come apart easily the second time. Still you'll be working twice as hard trouble shooting problems for an engine and tranny combo that youll only have in for 6 months.

CanadianRoots

iTrader: (1)

OK so this past saturday I got a friend of mine to come over and we pulled the engine and trans out of the donor car. Took us a total of about 5 hours to get the engine and trans out 7 hours total with some other things we pulled out. All I really have left to take out of the donor car is the pedal assembly and a few other random parts. The motor is in great shape and should clean up real nice! Hopefully next spring the car will be up and running the way I've always wanted!!

darrencarr

yeah your buildup sounds a lot like the one I'm doing right now
(got a 350 in pieces all over my garage.) Well, good luck!