350 Carb vs. 305 Carb vs. 350 TPI - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

82TAguy · 09-17-2009, 09:36 PM

Hi everyone. I have a 1982 Trans Am on great condition. I recently bought a 1987 Trans Am (Parts car) because it had a 305 TPI and a T-5 in it. SO my grand plan is to swap in the 5-speed and a 350 with the TPI into my '82. I think that the 5-speed will happen regardless. but I don't know if the TPI swap with be worth it. I also don't want to tear up my cat too bad either. I appreciate your thoughts!

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TT 68 · 09-18-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 82TAguy

Hi everyone. I have a 1982 Trans Am on great condition. I recently bought a 1987 Trans Am (Parts car) because it had a 305 TPI and a T-5 in it. SO my grand plan is to swap in the 5-speed and a 350 with the TPI into my '82. I think that the 5-speed will happen regardless. but I don't know if the TPI swap with be worth it. I also don't want to tear up my cat too bad either. I appreciate your thoughts!

Having owned an 83 Z/28 with the CCC Q-Jet and 305 with a 5-speed and a 5.7 TPI car I would definitely go with the TPI swap.

The 350 TPI motor will tear up a stock T-5 though. You are better off picking up a T-56 or a Tremec 5-speed and sell the T-5. Even stone stock the factory woudn't let you put them together. They knew better.

82TAguy · 09-20-2009, 08:27 PM

Thanks for the response. So, the "Climb is worth the View? then? Any tips putting an 87 system into an 82? Thanks again.

300hpse · 09-21-2009, 10:30 AM

You can keep the t5 with the 350 tpi for a little while. You will want to upgrade it when you can but the t5 will stand up to the 350 for a while unless you start slamming gears and hooking hard launches. Plenty of people on these boards have kept even non world class t5s running with 350 motors, it just takes mild driving habits to keep it alive.

As far as the whole swap itself, youre pretty fortunate to have the whole donor car. If I were you I would start by searching for info on tpi swaps into older trucks (pretty common given the desirable torque of a tpi setup) and getting detailed wiring diagrams of both your current car and the donor.

Another bonus of this swap is the t5 in the donor should be an electronic speedo without the ralph nader 85mph gauge and a much better gauge cluster (imo). If I were you Id swap gauge clusters over while youre at it. I did a similar swap in my 1984 trans am from a '87ish firebird years ago and I can help you out, pm me if youd like to know more on the how to.