CJ1989

Hey guys im new here 1st post... i know so what

But heres my question.

I just purchased lastnight a 1988 iroc z28 set up for tpi. i am looking to swap too carb and am unsure of what all i need to steal from my 1985 iroc z28 which is set up for carb.

the 85 is a donor car, the quarter panel is rusted out aswell as the trunk floor. Now the 88 is solid and straight ready for sealer and paint, came complete less a motor and trans. previous owner also had installed complete front end by spohn performance and hotchkis. seems like the right thing too do.

so let me know i need to get my 396 bbc in there soon

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

So your car (88) has no motor or trans in it?

Was it originally automatic or manual? I don't know of alot you could use off of an '85 sbc if you're planning to drop in a 396 bbc.

My '83 was originally a cross-fire injection car, but was a roller when I got it.

If I'm remembering everything correctly this is everything that you'll need:

Engine-set up for carb(correct manifold, etc)
distributor and coil
manual fan (or do some wiring to make the electrical one work...but I'm running aluminum heads, aluminum intake (and water pump) and a flex fan and it stays plenty cool even on 90+ degree days)

rip out the computer and all the guts, you won't need them.

You'll wanna use the ignition system out of the '85, and get all the proper connections for your transmission and speedometer.

an in-line fuel pump would be a good purchase.

1991sleeper

iTrader: (-3)

Man is build a 383 or bigger SBC ... A 396 BB is extremely small motor for a BB these days .. Even my dads 427 is a small BB these days ... U could build a 383 SBC and have just as much or more power, have 100+lbs less weight , and have a lot more room in the engine bay !

Restrorob

iTrader: (7)

I beg to differ after go'n through 3 in-line pumps in less than 2 months, And yes they were mounted correctly. The factory in-tank pump with a return style regulator is much more reliable and pumps plenty fuel for a BBC......

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Well, everyone's probably had different experiences. I was using the assumption that the in tank pump would be scrapped if he took the computer out. A regular mechanical pump wasn't enough to run my sbc w/out causing vapor lock. What pumps did you use? Maybe i'm using the wrong terminology(i.e. perhaps "inline pump" is wrong), but my Holley blue pump has been rock solid for years.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

I'll second that!

I went through 3 Holley Blue, 1 Holley red and 1 Holley black inline pump before I sucked it up and bought a factory in-tank pump and installed it. Thsoe in-line pumps say they're awsome, but mine never last.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Man, maybe I'm just lucky then, haha.

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

Got a comp 120 electric pump, been on one of my cars for 10 years.

As to the op,

if you are swapping to the BBC, there isn't much you can use. Look at the threads that have covered this topic many times.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

I missed this earlier..

WELCOME TO TGO!

Please fill out your profile or give us more info on the cars. Also, where are you located?

Do you get emissions inspections? If you do, your car will fail if you swap a carb onto an 88...

You can keep the computer even though you don't need it, just pull/cut the wires back. I'd see what needs to be kept to keep the gauges and fans running. Is the '88 an auto or manual car?

1. Non-Computer control HEI distributor
2. Non Computer Controlled Carburetor, I recommend the Quadrajet
3. Transmission Lockup kit if you want a lockup transmission (For auto car)
4. Geometry correcting bracket for lockup (For Auto car)

And that's basically it. With the computer hooked up and all your sensors removed, your ECM will freak otu and throw codes. Not sure if you can tune those out or not. But, to get it running, the above listed is the absolute minimum you need to get the car on the road.

Restrorob

iTrader: (7)

Me too !

Welcome Aboard CJ1989,

Yes..... A little more info and even some pics would be great !




The ECU has nothing to do with the in-tank pump, 1 Holley red-1 Holley blue and a cheap piece of crap I had to buy at NAPA to get my truck off the side of the road. The NAPA crap lasted all of a hour, Guy said they've had a few come back. That's when I went back to in-tank pump which was 4 years ago......

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Alrighty, I'll remember that if mine acts up! Wow, an hour is pretty crazy.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

That was me. I spent ove $800 on pumps before getting an in-tank pump. 3 years and it's running strong!

CJ1989

Thanks for the welcome.

Here are some pictures of the mess of wires and others.

i think it being computerized is a bit overwhelming. alot more wires then what im used too

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

So buy a "Helm service manual" and learn. That's where we all started. None of us, with few exception, started ingrained with the knowledge of how to work on our cars. Besides, your car has quite a ways to go before it's road worthy so you have time to learn.

CJ1989

i have everything for this car i just need to get her painted, heres the 85 donor car

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Sure, and with the manual you will learn where everything goes as you put it back together.

It'll actually help you in thelong run learn more about your car. I learned a lot by swapping the motor in my car. Keeping things factory probably helped me more than had I tried somethign else that I didn't have any directions for.


What do you plan on doing to it paint wise?

CJ1989

back to the factory silver the car was

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

That will look sweet! Definitely a sleeper with the engine you want in it.

ReEntry Racer

Couldn't help but offer a few words of advice as someone who has been swapping BBCs into everything for 40 years or more...

The extra weight of the BBC will eventually bend stock K-members of both 2nd gen and 3rd gen F bodies. You have a tubular steel replacement in there and they are known to have less strength than the factory formed ones.

After a few months of rough roads, if you take the engine out, you will find that it will not go back in! The mounting surfaces get closer together as the stresses from the suspension pound the frame upwards.

My current 3rd gen is a '82 TA used for road racing and it has solid engine mounts in an attempt to beef up the stock K-member, and I'll be changing it at the next engine removal. I have already picked up an unmolested IROC unit to use when the time comes.

I hope you plan to use the updated car for straight line work only, as the weight distribution is already 55/45 with a SBC. It will be worse with the heavy engine. A corner-carver it will not be!

I still think you'll have fun with it, but thought I'd let you know what you are looking at. Oh, you'll need some sort of custom hood, with at least 3 extra inches in the center if you run any kind of carb with air cleaner.

CJ1989

so should i just rebuild my 3970010 350?

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

Unless you are building a full on car, I see no reason to build the BBC.

And thats coming from a guy with a 454 and a 427.

CJ1989

and these stock tpi units, is it worth keeping and throwing larger injectors into?

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

All depend on what you want to do with the car.

TPI's certianly have there place.