Father and Son - First Car
#1
Father and Son - First Car
We just recently picked up a 92 RS with a 3.1 in it, this will be my son's first car. He turns 16 in May, so there is time to do some things to it. There are some dents and panels that need to be replaced, it will need a paint job, and some other minor things. The car is pretty solid, not any of the rust issues it could have.
I found a 91 Z28 that has a 305 in it, and it will get the spoiler my son wants, along with a straight door and some other pieces I found broken as we were changing the fender.
From looking on the forums, it seems like the engines could be dropped out the bottom and rolled right across to install on the opposite car. The harness stays, brackets, intake, etc. Will this work between the cars, totally just a bolt in deal?
I understand that the wiring harness and computer needs to transfer, assuming the driveshaft as well. I'm also going to swap the fuel tanks because I think the one in the V6 car has rust in it. I have read the V6 rear end has a more desirable gear ratio.
This seems fairly straightforward. Is there anything to watch for?
I found a 91 Z28 that has a 305 in it, and it will get the spoiler my son wants, along with a straight door and some other pieces I found broken as we were changing the fender.
From looking on the forums, it seems like the engines could be dropped out the bottom and rolled right across to install on the opposite car. The harness stays, brackets, intake, etc. Will this work between the cars, totally just a bolt in deal?
I understand that the wiring harness and computer needs to transfer, assuming the driveshaft as well. I'm also going to swap the fuel tanks because I think the one in the V6 car has rust in it. I have read the V6 rear end has a more desirable gear ratio.
This seems fairly straightforward. Is there anything to watch for?
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IROCIN (08-29-2022)
#2
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
No that will not work, just exactly like that.
The harness is COMPLETELY different between 6-cyl and V8. You'll need to take the Z28 harness along with the motor. NBD, it just unplugs at the firewall, verrrrrrry eeeeeeezzzy to swap that over.
You'll need to use the V8 transmission. The bolt pattern is different where it bolts to the motor. Other than that, it's identical, externally (though not internally); no drive shaft work necessary.
It's possible that the 6-cyl car's rear has better gears. They often do. However, it almost certainly has drum brakes, whereas the Z28 might have the highly desirable PBR disks. This is a situation that calls for some individual parts inspection. Odds are, the best thing you can make, is a mix of the 2 cars; not all one or the other.
It's possible to drop the motor out from underneath, with a motor table and all that. The more usual way with these cars is to pull that from above such as with a cherry-picker, and the trans from below. But there's no hard-and-fast rule; do it however your equipment and space and tools allow.
The gauges in the dash are different. You'll want to transfer the V8 cluster over.
And of course, EVERY PIECE of the 6-cyl exhaust, from the heads to the street, HAS TO go. Whether whatever happens to be on the Z28 at the moment will work acceptably, who knows.
The harness is COMPLETELY different between 6-cyl and V8. You'll need to take the Z28 harness along with the motor. NBD, it just unplugs at the firewall, verrrrrrry eeeeeeezzzy to swap that over.
You'll need to use the V8 transmission. The bolt pattern is different where it bolts to the motor. Other than that, it's identical, externally (though not internally); no drive shaft work necessary.
It's possible that the 6-cyl car's rear has better gears. They often do. However, it almost certainly has drum brakes, whereas the Z28 might have the highly desirable PBR disks. This is a situation that calls for some individual parts inspection. Odds are, the best thing you can make, is a mix of the 2 cars; not all one or the other.
It's possible to drop the motor out from underneath, with a motor table and all that. The more usual way with these cars is to pull that from above such as with a cherry-picker, and the trans from below. But there's no hard-and-fast rule; do it however your equipment and space and tools allow.
The gauges in the dash are different. You'll want to transfer the V8 cluster over.
And of course, EVERY PIECE of the 6-cyl exhaust, from the heads to the street, HAS TO go. Whether whatever happens to be on the Z28 at the moment will work acceptably, who knows.
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AltF4smile (11-07-2023)
#5
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
Not sure why you're not just working on the Z28 since it's a much-better-optioned 3rd gen than a V6 car, but if you're determined to do the swap, this thread has all the info you need:V6 to V8 Swap - READ BEFORE POSTING NEW! - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards
You might also want to start a 'build' thread in this forum. Members Camaros - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards Besides giving you a place to document your project, it's also a great place to get help when you run into problems (that always crop up in any swap project).
GL to you and your son.
You might also want to start a 'build' thread in this forum. Members Camaros - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards Besides giving you a place to document your project, it's also a great place to get help when you run into problems (that always crop up in any swap project).
GL to you and your son.
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chazman (05-19-2023)
#6
Re: Father and Son - First Car
The Z28 is a basket-case. No interior, floors are rotted and cut out, t-tops are a mess, no glass, no hatch. But it has parts we need to get the RS fixed up. This is the path of least resistance, and there is sentimental value in this route as well.
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AltF4smile (11-07-2023), Clemson327 (01-25-2023)
#7
Re: Father and Son - First Car
Just to update the status of this, the gas tank, sending unit and fuel pump have been replaced, and now the fuel pump fuse keeps blowing. I do not believe that this could be a problem with shorting out, as the condition did not exist before. The old tank was horribly full of rust, and that caused the car to only run for short lengths of time before it would die, likely due to fuel starvation.
I ordered all of the parts off of RockAuto, just from the OEM selections, so I would not think that the current draw would be different. Does anyone have any recommendations? Possibly a wiring schematic so I could do some continuity checks? How would I check the current draw to the pump?
I ordered all of the parts off of RockAuto, just from the OEM selections, so I would not think that the current draw would be different. Does anyone have any recommendations? Possibly a wiring schematic so I could do some continuity checks? How would I check the current draw to the pump?
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RedLeader289 (01-25-2023), StevenK (11-07-2023)
#11
Re: Father and Son - First Car
Just to update, I have been poking at this issue using the wiring diagrams.
Checking the fuse to the relay, orange wire, I get good continuity with no ground. Checking gray wire to bulkhead I also get good continuity with no ground. I checked the positive going into the tank to both the negative, and to the tank and had continuity. So I assumed the pump was bad or sending unit had a short.
I dropped the tank again today, I have 1.2 ohms across the positive side and negative on the pump. With the pump disconnected, the positive side and negative on the wiring harness are not shorted.
Looking into the information on the internet, it seems like the pump should have continuity across it???
I'm kind of at a loss.
To recap, we purchased this car with a condition whereby it would die randomly while driving. The tank was really bad with rust. So changing the tank, sending unit and pump introduced this new issue where it keeps blowing the fuel pump fuse.
Checking the fuse to the relay, orange wire, I get good continuity with no ground. Checking gray wire to bulkhead I also get good continuity with no ground. I checked the positive going into the tank to both the negative, and to the tank and had continuity. So I assumed the pump was bad or sending unit had a short.
I dropped the tank again today, I have 1.2 ohms across the positive side and negative on the pump. With the pump disconnected, the positive side and negative on the wiring harness are not shorted.
Looking into the information on the internet, it seems like the pump should have continuity across it???
I'm kind of at a loss.
To recap, we purchased this car with a condition whereby it would die randomly while driving. The tank was really bad with rust. So changing the tank, sending unit and pump introduced this new issue where it keeps blowing the fuel pump fuse.
#12
Re: Father and Son - First Car
We have it running again! After removing the tank and taking out the sending unit, I noticed that the hose clamps between the pump and sending unit pipe were not tight. Also the pump did not have a foam shield around it.
I'm not convinced that the foam was the issue, I could fathom the hose clamps being loose causing fuel to leak into the tank, and the car demanding more, pulling too much current. I did replace the pump though, so it could have been an issue with the actual pump too.
The car runs great. Going to put the radio and amp back in, we took them out during troubleshooting because we had installed them in between the two issues. Also my son removed a ground effect and door molding last night. Next step will be bodywork.
I'm not convinced that the foam was the issue, I could fathom the hose clamps being loose causing fuel to leak into the tank, and the car demanding more, pulling too much current. I did replace the pump though, so it could have been an issue with the actual pump too.
The car runs great. Going to put the radio and amp back in, we took them out during troubleshooting because we had installed them in between the two issues. Also my son removed a ground effect and door molding last night. Next step will be bodywork.
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#13
Re: Father and Son - First Car
I have a new quarter panel. It doesn’t really wrap around like I would have liked, so it could be spot welded in hidden areas. No matter what it’s going to be a long weld. I’m hoping to have the panel mocked up and at least started to weld in this weekend.
I also have my 79 Camaro I need to look at, it seems to have a degrading U-Joint and has developed a drip in the manual transmission.
I also have my 79 Camaro I need to look at, it seems to have a degrading U-Joint and has developed a drip in the manual transmission.
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#15
Re: Father and Son - First Car
Got the panel cut and fitted, this is moving slower than I hoped. Need to repair the inner part before installing the fender permanently. Going to drill for spot welds along the back and inside of the wheel well.
#16
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
I am interested to see how this goes. I am not a body guy either and the thought of doing this sort of thing has always been to daunting. Best of luck!
#17
Re: Father and Son - First Car
cutting this and getting everything to be aligned was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I had hoped that the replacement fender would be “complete”, able to wrap around the top into the hatch area and down to the pinch weld. This would have made it easier because they would mostly be spot welds.
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codyman125 (06-21-2023)
#18
Re: Father and Son - First Car
We have made some progress, it’s definitely slow going overall, with little spurts of good production. Even being careful to jump around, we still have some warpage, I don’t know that I will ever go about this with long weld seam’s again. I’d have like a panel that wrapped around so all that was needed was primarily spot welds.
#19
Member
Re: Father and Son - First Car
Grinding those welds is going to be a chore for sure. Still so much opportunity to add heat and warp the panels! Hopefully some glazing putty and some large sanding blocks can help mitigate any warpage. Keep us updated!
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DynoDave43 (11-09-2023)
#22
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
Impressive work getting that rear corner blended in! I don’t know if it is more noticeable from other angles, but I can’t see the weld line at all!
what did you use to bring it back into flat?
what did you use to bring it back into flat?
#23
Re: Father and Son - First Car
Last edited by ATM; 11-09-2023 at 07:13 PM.
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#25
#26
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
Nice work. I like the color too. Pretty cool that was original as well.
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ATM (03-11-2024)
#27
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
You made very quick progress on that body and paint work, nice job!! I am not even close to done with my LS swap yet, but already dreading finding the right person/shop to paint it right.
#28
Re: Father and Son - First Car
im sure we will get to LS swapping it, that can be after a bunch of other stuff gets done.
#29
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
Congrats on finding a painter that will do nice work and that you can work with.
That color is BEAUTIFUL!
That color is BEAUTIFUL!
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ATM (03-12-2024)
#30
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
Hi there,
I like the Polo Green too, nice work. Are you going to put the gold stripes on it? I thought it was a great color combo in 1992 when it came out.
I like the Polo Green too, nice work. Are you going to put the gold stripes on it? I thought it was a great color combo in 1992 when it came out.
#33
#34
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
Where's the pics of your boy helping his old man? That's the stuff of legends on down the road.
#35
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#38
#41
Re: Father and Son - First Car
Thanks, I really like this green. He’s very happy.
I had to weld longer bolts on the lower door ground effects, still need to put those on, he took off driving around after before I could get them put on. Also still have to finish the front ground effect at the wheel wells, it’s a new piece, and being very difficult to go in completely.
I had to weld longer bolts on the lower door ground effects, still need to put those on, he took off driving around after before I could get them put on. Also still have to finish the front ground effect at the wheel wells, it’s a new piece, and being very difficult to go in completely.
#43
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
This is his son, I will most likely be posting more updates, and after school gets out uploading some photos of my car.
got blinkers back working, replaced with white as I didn't like the looks of the orange with the green. the copper shielding was rusted to the terminal, so I had to break the bulb and "gently" work the shielding out of the socket
got blinkers back working, replaced with white as I didn't like the looks of the orange with the green. the copper shielding was rusted to the terminal, so I had to break the bulb and "gently" work the shielding out of the socket
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#44
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Re: Father and Son - First Car
When they get like that, I like to clean the socket with a wire brush in the Dremel. Then use a Q-tip to smear dielectric grease all over inside it.
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