I'm going to be tearing into the convertible (finally!) and getting her fixed up. I bought the car as a theft recovery from a local auction over a year ago with a bad engine, no windows, and all sorts of other fun stuff. I've cleared my schedule and got a few friends coming to help. We're planning to:

Yank the old 305/auto
Install a replacement 305 TBI (I know, but $$ is an issue)
Convert the car to a 5-speed
New glass
New hood
Clean up and reinstall the interior

So the car will hopefully be running and driving by Monday!

Just thought I'd share. I'm very excited. She's sat along the side of the garage for FAR too long.

Pic's will be posted after we're done.

 

Weekend's over, spent three long days wrenching.

Summary:
Both engines out
Holes cut in Convertible for manual hardware.
Engine and Tranny back into Convertible
Engine Harness Re-connected


Still Remaining:
Pedals (They're in, but not where I want them yet, gonna redo it)
Tranny wiring
Re-install interior
Set Timing
Re-fill Fluids and Start It

Some Pics:

Here's the car as it sat for the last year or so:




Yanking the Engine and Tranny from the parts car:


Me being stupid: (also trying to keep the tranny from smacking the firewall)


Out of the Car:


Boards said too many pictures per post, gonna have to split it up.

 

Old Engine:


New Engine:


Hole in the Floor for the tranny:


Empty:



I haven't got any pictures of the new engine in, we were pretty tired when we finished last night, so we packed up and left. Soon though . Feels good to finally be making progress.

 

Looks like you are doing a nice job. i am pulling my 305 out some time in may and replacing it with myy zz 383. Are you go to clean up the parts of the engine like sanding them down and repainting them. Also are you go to clean the rust off the k-memeber? it would be a good idea since you have everything out. Good luck with your project

 

Yep, in the "empty" picture, dunno if you can tell or not, the top of the cross member was sanded and coated. The only real rust issues on the car are the battery tray, crossmember, and a-arms. I did the battery tray and the part of the crossmember that is covered by the engine normally. I am waiting to do the rest until I have my front suspension apart this summer

I'm jealous man, I'd have much rather been putting a 383 in. Good luck with your swap!

 

I too have just started work on my 91 camaro convertible. I'm just about finnished with my interior, i did a grey to black swap, everything was grey not all i need it seats and door panels, but im going to try to die my door panels. I just dropped the car off at the body shop to pull the frame. cant wait to put everything together and paint it.

Mine looks just like yours, same blue, 305/auto, going to change over to stick in the future. black top. Iroc hood on mine tho. and 20"s

looks good, keep up the work and keep posting pics.

 

Swung by the garage today and got the latest pictures. This is where we left it Sunday night:

Engine in the car and wired up:



Hey! That's not the automatic it came with!


The car needs a thorough cleaning throughout, including the interior and engine bay. It will probably take one more full day's work to finsh the linkages and tranny wiring, put the interior back in, and all the other little stuff. Hopefully next weekend.