I was waiting for the right opportunity to ditch my carb'd 305 setup. I've had enough of it smoking, exhaust leak, and random little issues on this thing, lastly being the harmonic balancer, which I'll still have to fork over at least $250 to fix in time for the LA Invasion. But my patience has paid off.
Last night I drove two hours to pick this little gem up:
I'll post a better photo later.
This L98 came out of a totalled GTA (hit on rear driver side) with 59,000 original miles. From what I can tell, along with the TPI I basically got the whole harness, fuel lines, y-pipe, MAF sensor with air tubes, all accessories and the ECM. I've got 6 months left before my smoking L69 is up for a smog failure, so I wanna try and throw as much money at this as I can before the deadline.
Soooo, my questions:
-Am I gonna have a problem with the flexplate/seal on my L69/700R4 combo when I swap it?
-Do I really need the donor car's full VIN come referee time?
-Anyone got a hoist I can borrow? I've got this thing on blocks in my van and nothing to pull it with.
Man I'm as giddy as a girl scout. Maybe I'll make everyone some brownies.
Well... yea, all that other stuff. I was just referring to his flexplate/trans question. The swap itself is a whole other batch of red tape and nickels and dimes.
All you have to do is swap the motor, flexplate included. It'll bolt right up to your converter.
Good to know. Thanks.
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If you want to ask questions, come on by.
I might take you up on that, Don. I guess I'll have to ditch the mechanical speedo, and recalibrate the electronic one. I'm also wondering (A) whether I'll be able to keep cruise control (either mine or the donor car's) and (B) if my old dash will work with the new ECM and has all the necessary gauges (I'm assuming it won't).
I think you will need to go to a referee before you smog it. Your car is a 1984 according to your personal info and tpi did not come out until 1985. You could try to smog it first, though. A lot of smog techs seem to be clueless about what sort of fuel systems came in what year of car. Just ask Alex! I'm not sure about your dash. I think all of the GTA models came with electronic instruments. You might be able to use a computer out of a Camaro. I think they had mechanical/electrical, but not electronic instruments until the advent of the speed density models in 1990. Don could give you the "straight scoop" on that point better than I can though.
Last edited by Russ-So Cal : 05-12-2008 at 07:21 PM.
If I were you I would had gotten all the fuel lines under the car, all the smog equiptment and dash board with the wires in it. Everything could have been a plug and play.
The referee is the last place you want go to. Don't waste your time unless you need to go to them. If the smog station asked what size engine, tell them it's a 305.
Now you will need a intank fuel pump set up and run a power wire to the plug under the folding rear seat.
Since your going through all of that, throw in a set of Dyno Don Headers.
Last edited by VincentZ28 : 05-12-2008 at 07:44 PM.
I might take you up on that, Don. I guess I'll have to ditch the mechanical speedo, and recalibrate the electronic one. I'm also wondering (A) whether I'll be able to keep cruise control (either mine or the donor car's) and (B) if my old dash will work with the new ECM and has all the necessary gauges (I'm assuming it won't).
Don't assume any of that until we talk.
A lot of things will work, once you understand it.
The swap itself is a whole other batch of red tape and nickels and dimes.
A lot of nickels and dimes equaling a couple hundred of bucks and hours on the net searching for the most mundane crap in a car (little brakets, retainers, tubes etc) ...
Good to know. Thanks.
I might take you up on that, Don. I guess I'll have to ditch the mechanical speedo, and recalibrate the electronic one. I'm also wondering (A) whether I'll be able to keep cruise control (either mine or the donor car's) and (B) if my old dash will work with the new ECM and has all the necessary gauges (I'm assuming it won't).
You can keep all of the stock gauges.
I highly suggest taking up Don's offer to talk about it.
I think you will need to go to a referee before you smog it. Your car is a 1984 according to your personal info and tpi did not come out until 1985. You could try to smog it first, though. A lot of smog techs seem to be clueless about what sort of fuel systems came in what year of car. Just ask Alex! I'm not sure about your dash. I think all of the GTA models came with electronic instruments. You might be able to use a computer out of a Camaro. I think they had mechanical/electrical, but not electronic instruments until the advent of the speed density models in 1990. Don could give you the "straight scoop" on that point better than I can though.
That's true. But I'm not sure I can get away with a TPI in an '84-- that was the only year they had Carbs only on firebirds I think (not even crossfire or TBI). I'm not sure how far "behind" MAF was to speed density in electronics, but the harness looks pretty comprehensive.
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If I were you I would had gotten all the fuel lines under the car, all the smog equiptment and dash board with the wires in it. Everything could have been a plug and play.
The referee is the last place you want go to. Don't waste your time unless you need to go to them. If the smog station asked what size engine, tell them it's a 305.
Now you will need a intank fuel pump set up and run a power wire to the plug under the folding rear seat.
Since your going through all of that, throw in a set of Dyno Don Headers.
Luckily I got the fuel lines and fuel pump. The guy had also the digital dash from this car, but it might be sold already. Now that I actually have the engine for don's headers, I'll be setting aside some cash for those.
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A lot of nickels and dimes equaling a couple hundred of bucks and hours on the net searching for the most mundane crap in a car (little brakets, retainers, tubes etc) ...
I hear ya cali92, and I hope this purchase covered at least the most important stuff. Whatever I don't have I'll have to go back to this guy for or start pulling out my wifebeaters for junkyard runs.
purplehaze... tell ya what, you tell me which brownies you DON'T like, and I'll try not to mix the two batches up.
Alex, if I can keep the stock gauges, that'll work for me, but NOT if I can get my hands on that digital dash.
Don, I'll see you at the Invasion and if I can't stop by your shop before then, I'll come by after I get back from Germany next month.
One looming concern though is the possibility of not being able to get the original VIN. And from what I've gathered, a smog referee will not sanction the swap if I can't provide the VIN. Am I SOL in such a case?
