I hate my 305 TBI in my 92 Camaro RS. I want to get rid of it, but whenever I bring up the swap idea, everyone tells me it's too hard. I can donate my car to an auto school that my friend teaches at, and he said theyd install it for almost free.

I want the 330 hp 350 HO crate engine, but I hear that it cant pass emissions, and I live in air care colorado where they **** frisbees about emissions. I definitely want something else, as long as its a 350, but wouldn't I have to convert to tpi which also costs a lot of money? I don't know what the hell is going on.




thanks all
dave

 

You know, that's a pretty good idea, if they'll take on the job. I didn't think of that, because everytime I've approached a trade school about doing something for me, I was told my vehicle was too old.

There's a difference between "not emissions certified" and "can't pass emissions" - the former will keep dealers from installing it for you, which is why most guys do this themselves; the latter is caused by wrong cam choice and the like. That said, the Vortec heads on the 350 HO will necessitate an external tube from the exhaust up to the intake to feed the EGR valve. Other than that, you should be able to pass visual if all the other equipment is on there and working, and will pass the sniffer if it is tuned so that it runs correctly (may require some PROM work).

Another option is to get the L31 shortblock and put World heads on it. They have the exhaust cross-over passage that the Vortecs lack, and your TBI or another aftermarket replacement manifold will bolt up to them. Put in a computer-friendly cam (something slightly milder than mine), and it'll pass visual and will sniff clean. If you get your labor free or nearly free, you should be able to do this (and maybe even go headers/cat/cat-back) for the $4000 you mentioned in your other post, or less. That combo should run as well as the 350 HO would, all other things being equal.

 

Hey 5-7..Guess what, thats where I got my 400 block, HS shop class.........They just happened to have an extra one lying around. Go figure.