Hey, I'm new here, but i wanted to let you know about my swap, over the summer my friend purchased an 87 IROC which at first i DESPISED! the car had no engine, nor did it come with one, we had a leaking TH350 trans and the interior was wired by a union electricion who thought it was a good idea to use hose wire in the car and other problems like 1 bolt holding down the B&M ratchet shift, or the tires from 1994... well down the road we picked up a 89 TBi RS. that thing had no floor boards... like literally... but it was a five speed. purchased for 300 bucks, sold the trans for 500 bucks. took every part we needed and the 305. yeah yeah, it's a 305. but were both young and can't play big. and besides this is our first big project. well summer passes and here we are 4 months later. a bright orange engine about to go in bolted to the rebuilt TH350. now... the guy who sold us the car won't talk to us. and we don't know what to do about fuel... i know where the mechanical one is supposed to go (it's an 89 block so it's the pentagon shaped pump housing.) but we don't know what the previous guy did. juding by the fuel line placement (on the passanger's side) it was mechanical. so how do i know what he did to the tank, i heard you have to drop the axle to get to the pump?!? lmk what's up about viewing the pump please! Im tim by the way! my user name was supposed to be Thomas87 but i missed the O!

First, all '87 IROCs had an electric pump in the tank, but there were 2 different versions, depending on which engine. But for now it doesn't matter. Jumper wire 12 volts to the wires into the pump, and listen for the pump humming. If you don't hear one, then you'll need a hand-uperated vacuum pump to determine if there's a non-working pump still in the tank, or if you're free to try connecting it the traditional way. If you do hear one, then use the VIN to determine which engine the car was originally built with. Code H, the LG4, had a pump pushing 12-15 psi, and you'll just need a low-pressure AFPR. Simple and cheap.

Okay so heres the update.
We have the "H" vin BUT the fuel pump "red" power wire is cut really high up, like to the point where i'd have to drop the tank or cut the access hole.
But heres the kicker.
The guy before us had a QJ on a 305 in this car before we got it... my buddy helped pull the engine prior to purchase ( bought the car as a roller ) were GUESSING that he had a mechanical on the block, but how is that possible with pump still in tank!?
can you keep the pump in there with an electrical or mechanical pump?

1987 VIN "H" LG4 models had the electric pusher pump in the tank and an engine-mounted mechanical pump with return.

okay fuel problem solved. now to figure out the freaking starter....
and the HEI distributor. can figure out what plugs go into the MSD HEI