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swapping to vortec 350

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Old 07-03-2008, 08:55 PM
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Car: '82 formula clone, 95 saab 900se
Engine: 350 vortec'd tbi, 2.0L turbo
Transmission: 700r4, 5 spd
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 2.77 open
swapping to vortec 350

so i picked up a vortec 350 out of a 3/4 ton pickup with 65k miles on it a little bit ago for $450. accessories and all.
now it's going into my '82 trans am with a tbi setup from my old '89 bird. the '89 had the lo3 so i've been accumulating the parts i'm going to need
so far i've got
bbk 255 lph fuel pump
350 esc module
350 tbi injectors

i have a friend who has a jet performance chip that he had bought for one of his trucks that had a 350, any chance that this chip will work for my application?
and is there anything else that i'm forgetting that i will need for the swap?
Old 07-04-2008, 02:31 AM
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Vortec headed 355, xe262
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.70
Re: swapping to vortec 350

The truck and your car are different weights so characteristics under load will be different, thus your tune will be off.

The truck fuel injection system is a fairly odd setup anyway if i remember right. Im not sure it even fits under our hoods. You might want to reconsider using it at all.

Again with all the accessories - they probably wont fit in the car, so you'll want to move all your thirdgen stuff onto the motor.

Read this thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tbi/...i-buildup.html

This post is good:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...65-post10.html


There are very limited programing options for the Vortec PCM. Everything I have seen is $$$$. The newer Vortec PCM is flash based without a chip of any type. It is OBDII with much more wiring. The vortec would also take many fuel system mods to install with the factory intake. You would have to install 4 oxygen sensors, 2 before the cats, 2 after, then install many other solenoids, sensors, and relays.

Actually the Vortecs poppet design sucks. The TBI setup has more potential to it.
So what you'll probably want to do is buy a carb intake for Vortec heads, a TBI adapter, or buy the GMPP TBI intake for Vortec heads, and then learn to tune your TBI setup on top of hte L31 long block.
Old 07-04-2008, 12:43 PM
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Car: '82 formula clone, 95 saab 900se
Engine: 350 vortec'd tbi, 2.0L turbo
Transmission: 700r4, 5 spd
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 2.77 open
Re: swapping to vortec 350

yeah i read that thread, and i don't know if you read all of my post but i'm using the tbi setup off of my '89 firebird formula. and i forgot to mention that i already have an edelbrock performer rpm vortec intake from when i had put vortec heads on my 305.

and i think the only part of the truck accessories that won't fit is the mechanical fan attached to the water pump. i've already dropped the motor in minus the water pump and no problems with clearance.
Old 07-06-2008, 08:14 PM
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Car: '82 formula clone, 95 saab 900se
Engine: 350 vortec'd tbi, 2.0L turbo
Transmission: 700r4, 5 spd
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 2.77 open
Re: swapping to vortec 350

doing some research on here i guess i have to run the f-body serp. setup because of something with reverse flow water pumps.

anyway anybody else have any input?
Old 07-10-2008, 07:58 AM
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Car: 83 Z28
Engine: 406
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9" with 4.10s
Re: swapping to vortec 350

Serpentine setups spin the water pump opposite direction of the crank. That is why the pulley for the water pump is smooth does not have grooves.

If you run a reg belt setup, then you need an 86 or earlier water pump. Look in a Summit catalog and all the pumps tell you which direction the impeller is made to spin.
Old 07-10-2008, 05:27 PM
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Car: '82 formula clone, 95 saab 900se
Engine: 350 vortec'd tbi, 2.0L turbo
Transmission: 700r4, 5 spd
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 2.77 open
Re: swapping to vortec 350

the accessories on the vortec motor are run by a serp. setup and so are the accessories from the '89
Old 07-20-2008, 06:10 AM
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Car: '81 Z-28
Engine: Soon to be a 383
Transmission: Muncie
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: swapping to vortec 350

Accesories and belt setup will work good. Everything, even the water pump are used from the firebird.

Biggest things will be fuel pressure with that pump, and tuning to that engine. A holley system may be easier to tune, if it's in the budget. If not, there are plenty of articles on that, or places like tbichips.com
Old 07-20-2008, 02:09 PM
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Car: '82 formula clone, 95 saab 900se
Engine: 350 vortec'd tbi, 2.0L turbo
Transmission: 700r4, 5 spd
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 2.77 open
Re: swapping to vortec 350

yeah i'm thinking that once i have everything all setup i'll see what i can get done for a new chip as inexpensively as possible.
Old 07-24-2008, 01:47 PM
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Car: '81 Z-28
Engine: Soon to be a 383
Transmission: Muncie
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: swapping to vortec 350

You may be able to run the truck chip long enough to give you a chance to get another. It may not act quite right, but should be very drivable. If you decide on more power later, then a carb and cam can always be put in down the road too.... that engine is a great building block for performance.
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