kpcrash

After banging my head for months on a "ghost in the machine" with regards to the computer and fuel injectors on a stock 86 3.1, we're seriously considering doing what we might do to a drag car.. but keep it as street legal as possible. We don't have smog laws or emissions inspections here so that comes out of the equation quickly - but the basic idea goes like this...
1. Remove engine/transmission/exhaust
2. Remove existing wiring harness/computer (basically everything but the headlights/brake lights.. that kind of stuff
3. Install generic 14 circuit harness + TH350 + 350 (see questions below)
4. Install headers + exhaust
5. Take out the tops and enjoy the ride

Questions:
1. Am I completely off my rocker?
2. Current thoughts on carb vs. FI - or, success rate of TBI w/o stock computer
3. Yes, we'd salvage stock light connectors, etc.
4. What am I missing by not keeping the computer if I plan on basically using 'old school' technology to get this thing rolling.

Thanks

Ashton89iroc

If you want to keep it street legal, do you plan on actually driving this car pretty often? My personal opinion is against going completely old school and making it carb'd. What I would advise is this, add up your entire parts list and see what it totals out to. Once you have that number, take a look at a nice GM Chevrolet Performance crate engine. Even if you are absolutely set in wanting to go old school, thats fine. Chevrolet performance makes a really nice little crate engine that makes 290 straight out of the box and its surprisingly affordable. its a long block, so just slap your carb on there and off you go pretty much. Jump on Summit or a similar site and take a look at the crate engines they offer.

Try not to cut corners simply for the sake of getting it done, you'll regret it in the end. I'd seriously seriously consider turning the car into a street monster. find a TPI system and drop it on a 350. The good thing about the TPI system is, once you have it running and running right, it rarely breaks down. Now you'll have people telling you not to go TPI because its restrictive of airflow at higher RPMs, but its a good thing to start with, and if all the car is gonna be is a street monster, then having your power on the lower end is more favorable. I'm picking up a 350 crate engine and putting my TPI system on it with some other goodies, once I'm done i should be pushing a step over 300HP, I'm upgrading the entire suspension with UMI Performance parts and all sorts of stuff, I'll be able to go toe to toe with 2010-2011 mustangs. To me that is really impressive for a 28 year old car.

Basically, do some research on here, read all the threads you possibly can, buy a Chilton book for 82-92 F-bodies and read it cover to cover. you'll learn loads of information that will help you make a good decision. Don't only think of the NOW, you also want to think of what you want to do with the car in the future. come to a decision that says "I want this car to be ____" and start doing things to make it happen. Good luck!

kpcrash

Thanks for your feedback, it's been a frustrating time with this one, but that's how it goes. The "now" scenario is a daily driver that takes no crap. The future is total street monster

Ashton89iroc

No problem! I'm glad to help! But yea, if that is what you want to do with it then i would try and find a third gen with a stock TPI 5.7 and drop it in your car. that would be a really nice starting point for what you want this car to be.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

It's a 6-cyl car.

WORTHLESS in its current state.

That said, turning it into a hilljack "race street" car is probably not going to make much improvement.

But, given that it has a 6-cyl in it now, .... can't make it much worse. Pretty much, already as low as it gets. Can't really "ruin" it. Unless of course by putting a 4-cyl in it or the like.

OTOH, being as how it has no value or attraction or any of that as it is now, might as well do what you're proposing, and once you figure out why that's not as "good" as it appears on the surface, you'll have gained an education, at the expense of .... basically nothing except a $500 car. Considering what I've paid over the years for education, that looks a damn good deal.

Ashton89iroc

It's a great car to learn on. Tear the thing apart and learn every nut and bolt. drop a 700r4 and a 350 in there, get the proper wiring harness, probably a different rear end and off you go. it'll be hard at first, but in the end you'll have a car that is entirely your own, you'll have transformed it into whatever you want it to be. since the car only cost you $500, you really don't have too much to lose. If you're in the market for a 350 or 305 and a 700r4, I can probably get you hooked up, just keep me posted on what you decide.

1gary

Before anything safety,safety,brakes and steering.tires, sway bars,shocks comes first.A $500 car will hurt/kill you as fast as a $50,000 car.Actually faster if those items are not working properly.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

I'm all for going old school with it. That's exactly what happened to my car and I love it, so simple to work on (when it needs it) and with a new GMPP crate engine it's like having a brand new car.

If I want bells and whistles then I can take a spin in my newish malibu, but nothing beats a good old-fashioned street machine

I second the idea of getting a chilton manual, it will help.

Ashton89iroc

Gary is absolutely right though, jack up the car, put it on stands and crawl around underneath it and inspect all of your suspension parts. One of the first things that go bad with the suspension of these cars is the bushings for virtually everything. Check the sway bar end links, they usually rust through and are worthless. check your brakes and make sure they are working really well and get your tires looked at and balanced. The more horsepower you put in a car, the more braking power you need. the stock brakes will work for 290HP but they need to be working perfectly. Like I said earlier, Old School will work fine with the crate engine, slap a carb on there and you're basically good to go.

Here is a list of things your should do before you drive the car with that new engine.

1: inspect the suspension and steering: shocks, struts, ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar links.
2: inspect the brakes: take them apart and make sure everything is working properly, buy new pads if needed.
3: check the fluid in the rear end: it can't hurt to pull the diff cover and check the oil back there, watch for bits of metal in the oil (it will look shimmery) that indicates you have a problem.

a little bit of wear and tear is honestly ok with the suspension and steering, as long as nothing is broken, SUPER wore out, or just missing all together, you'll be fine.

A Chilton manual is like $10 at a parts store, if you read that you'll learn more about the car then we can tell you in a few messages.

Rockauto.com is actually a pretty decent place to get the basic parts you need, basic as in all the steering and suspension stuff, etc. I got everything I needed to redo the entire steering and suspension on my car for a couple hundred bucks, the car handles like it just drove off the factory line now. As far as the engine components, check out Summit.com, I have a lot of people telling me they are over priced, but thats really far from the truth, they have good prices, quality brands AND they have free shipping over $99.

1gary

Oh forget the Clinton manual.Go on Ebay and buy a Factory service manual with the electrical supplement.Those where published by GM for the dealer service techs and no where can you find the details they provide.Just make sure you buy the one for your yr and model car.Best part???. They don't cost much at all. Guys buy them and resell them on Ebay.