digitaljohn

i just bought an 86 Trans-Am with an LT1 and a 700R4. swap was done by a backyard mechanic/body guy. engine was from a corvette. engine is now carbed. runs good, good power. small exhaust leak at the manifold.

anyway, i don't know what an LT1 swap consists of so im posting to ask what i should look for. i already bought the car but i want to fix anything screwy he did. (he definitely was not a professional )

couple things i noticed:

1) fuel pump was a generic electric pump connected under the hood to the rubber hoses, not sure if that's bad or not.

2) battery was on the opposite side that my 88' formula was, probably doesnt matter

3) it seemed like i couldnt get full throttle to the engine at speed, but i've been reading about the swap and it's probably the throttle cable? car had lots of power low end.


just looking for someone to give me a run down of general things i should look for to make sure the swap was done right. thanks for the help got the car for $1000 too

tom3

Post a couple pictures of the engine, don't see this every day especially with a carbed LT1. I'd try to locate that fuel pump back near the tank if possible.

chevy_camaro_ss

iTrader: (4)

I second relocating the fuel pump to fuel tank. Get it installed as nearest possible to the tank. Those type of fuel pumps are made more for pushing that pulling fuel.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

Or just install an aftermarket intank unit and get rid of the external unit all together.... Or you could swap to an LT1 fuel tank.

You can check for WOT by having someone floor the gas while you look at the carb. While its not running of course. See if the throttle lever is opening fully. Carbs have low speed and high speed circuits as well...its possible that the carb needs some tweaking. You know...making the carb match the motor etc etc.

Definetly go over the wiring. Make sure he didnt create any rats nests and fire hazzards, and if he did, fix em now to save yourself bigger issues down the road.

J.

Klortho

I say ditch the carb and put the FI back on it....

but then again I hate carbs.

Mdenz3

iTrader: (7)

Ya, I see no point in the exspense of an LT1 just to put a carb on it.

digitaljohn

Well, upon actual daylight inspection last week the day i came back to pay the rest and take it,... i'm not quite sure what engine it even is. I still bought it anyway. It's a serpentine belt system, and the A/C is up top. Here's pics:








Unfortunately, i was thinking about enlisting in the army and i actually did it yesterday... i'm shipping off in 2 weeks and i'll be selling this before i go. Probably for less than i paid. Anyone want to take on a running, driving, cheap project with great interior and a clear title for under 1k? Need to get rid of it before i go

88 350 tpi formula

iTrader: (9)

oh... it is a gen 1 motor most likely never had efi in it's life.

the car was most likely tpi from day 1. guessing by the fuel line location

digitaljohn

yea, i figured that when i saw it in the light. misrepresented but i still wanted to buy it. what im trying to figure out is what kind of 350 it is. he said it was from a corvette, guess it still could be. can anyone tell from the bracket accessories?

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

wasnt the designation LT1 used in early corvette's as well? Maybe it is from a 60's corvette with the LT1 option, but not the modern fuel injected LT1

just based on the old looking orange block and the short water pump

88 350 tpi formula

iTrader: (9)

if you can get some sight at casting numbers try mortec http://www.mortec.com/

AC

iTrader: (3)

What you have there is either an L98 (350) or LB9 (305). You definetly need to move that pump man. That's jerry rigged to the max and potentially dangerous. If something leaks right there your inches away from your exahust manifolds.

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

are you guys sure that isn't a stock LG4? It was carbed and 86 was the first year serpentine brackets showed up, right? I'd definitely fear it's a 305 and would be feeling pretty ripped off considering the condition of the exterior. Is the interior atleast in good shape?

Klortho

No,if you look at the fule lines coming into the jerry rigged fuel pump that's where the lies for the TPI comes into so it will be either an LB9 or L98 (I'm guesing LB9 though)

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

1987 model year.

That's also where the V6 lines come up. That extra long throttle cable could be TPI or V6. L98 didn't come until 1987.

What's the 8th character of the VIN?

Klortho

true, i forgot about the FI V6, been a while since i owned a FI-V6 f-body

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

That's where the carb V6 lines ended, too, but by 1986 the V6's were EFI.