85gulstrandTA

I have a 85 TA 305 tpi 700R4 car, missing the 305 and 700r4. pretty much I have a decent 85 TA body that needs a motor and trans. I'm thinking it would be easier to get a whole car and sell the roller I have. Well after looking and driving everywhere, my car is cleaner than anything I've seen. I've seen crap with gold price tags. I have found a 700r4 from a 91 Z28 and a 305 tpi motor from a 91 camaro(RS,Z28?). The 305 is the roller motor with the wiring harness, acc, dist, computer, injectors, pretty complete. After reading the post here as I am new to the site. I wonder if the 91 305 MAP will work in my MAF 305 car. Is there a point the wiring harness will easy convert to the newer MAP set up? Or am I looking at some thing that is too much work. If I could make this happen I'll have a car that I know the history on and know it's a solid car, for half the price of something I would not buy. the 85 TA just seams too clean to part out or with. I want this car to be a daily driver so depenable is important. What are the pro's and con's or can it be done to a point that makes good sence. Problem, Solution...I need some insight. Is there another better solution? Looking forward to your help.

ploegi

If you are buying a motor anyway, why not go with a 350?

I believe there is a tech article that details what needs to be done for a MAF to MAP conversion.

What you may want to consider, is buying a whole car for the engine/transmission/wiring harness/computer..... Motors are easy to find, good bodies are getting rarer......

87zjeff

iTrader: (4)

if te wiring harness in you current car is complete, it would be much easier to use the wiring and sensors from your current setup with the new engine and trans. if you try to change the '85 over to map- you will literally have to change the complete harness, including dash harness(big pain in the ***) or do a lot of re-pinning. i looked at those tech articles when i did my swap and it was easier to convert to speed density since i had a '91 car with an '87 motor and trans.

85gulstrandTA

The 305 is for mileage and cheapness. I have many 350 motors and 3 400's. Later if I want more power I'll put in a 406 with aluminum heads. I just need a car by the 18th and it must pass smog here in Ca. If I knew for sure pulling the dash out will work...well I'll do it. My 85 has the harness for the TPI with the 9th injector in the harness and computer nothing past the injector harnes on It. The 91 motor I'll ask if it has the harness complete including the dash...stay tuned for that. The 91 motor has a lot of parts I don't have. When I bought the 85 TA is was set up for high speed on the Silver State Race 700r4, 3.23 posi, 406 sbc, ect.ect. I had the car around 6-7 years now. When I got it I used it to drag race at LACR before they closed. Now I want to make it a cruise on the freeway. The tech stuff I've read say the 305 and 350 have the same cams in the motors in 91. The 85 TA's stock tach redlines at 6 grand, almost like it was ment to be. I know the 305 will not have as much hp as a 305 would but it fits my need for now, mileage, roller block, TPI, Cheap (nobody wants them,) and I have access to one with 85k. I thinking bearing, hone and rings, reworked heads and go, that's not the hard part. It's this 85 TPI vs 91 TPI thing I need to get past. The tect stuff I've read upgrade the 85 to 86 but not 91. If I can get this to work I'll be ahead of things and get a project complete and a car on the road that needs to be driven every day. I'll take all the help I can get.

85gulstrandTA

Ok no gage cluster harness but the motor was installed in an 89 car. Does this makes it easier to do now ?

TIMMYS89GTA

iTrader: (28)

firebird and camaro tpi engine harnesses are different.
If you're going to use a speed density setup(90-92) you'll need the harn. from a firebird not a camaro.
You will also want to use the interior harn. from the same model firebird.
Trust me on this,I have already done the conversion on my 89.

85gulstrandTA

So unless the 91 motor was installed in an 89 firebird i'm in deep. I was told 91 motors harness was make to plug into an 89 car's harness. Sounds like if it's a 89 camaro harness I'm not very close to where I want to be.
Any idea's? Any suggestion?

TIMMYS89GTA

iTrader: (28)

the engine will work just fine in your car,you just need to get an engine harness from a 90-92 firebird tpi.
A camaro harness will not work unless you're willing to do some hack job wiring.

85gulstrandTA

Will the 90-92 firebird harness plug into my 85 computer or do I use the computer from the 91 motor and change the engine harness out? Will that work? Seams the harness is adapted from a 91 motor to an 89 computer (camaro ?) already. The 91 305 engine computer and harness are $500.

TIMMYS89GTA

iTrader: (28)

a 90-92 harn. will not plug into your 85 ecm.
you will need the ecm with the eng. harn. sorry for not mentioning that already.

85gulstrandTA

My last post I screwed up..... the harness is made to work in the 89 ecm that comes with the motor. Ok so the 91 motor and modified 89 ecm harness hook to the ecm that comes with the motor. Then will the 89 ecm hook to my 85 car harness (think you told me no regardless if their camaro/firebird, I'll need the whole thing from the same car whether camaro/firebird) ? That's unless the 89 modified harness is for a firebird...correct. If it is for a 89 camaro I'll need to change the car's harness to 89camaro...correct? Did I get that right. Is that the correct way to prosseed?