im planning on getting a camaro or firebird this spring. probally a 90-92 with a TPI 305 and 5-spd. then the following winter i would be planning a swap to a TPI 350 and 5-spd. I've done some reading on this site and have not found many conclusive answers. Im also planning on using the information you guys give me to create a FAQ site on the 305 to 350 swap so people that are in my position will easily be able to find all the info they need. first off, how easy is the swap? is it as simple as pull the old engine out and put the new one in? Im planning on using a 90-92 350 (not sure on engine name) and if im not mistaken the Corvette had a 5-spd with the exact same engine. is that 5-spd equalivent to the 5-spd in the 305 camaro/firebird? i realize you guys are probally answering questions that you have already answered before, but this way all the info i need is in the same place, making it easier for me to put the info onto the website.

 

That's about it... pull the 305 out, take the TPI and exhaust and stuff off, put it on the 350, drop it back in.

The Vette has never had a 5-speed. None of the manual transmissions that have come in it since 85 are applicable to the F body.

The 305 to 350 swap is so trivial it hardly needs any questions answered. Basically, everything (and I do mean everything) external is identical. TPI is identical the same on both engines. The only things that are different, besides block internals and head castings, is that the 350s used 22 lb/hr injectors, and the chip is different (fuel tables).

Swapping among year-model variants is a little trickier, with the 1-piece rear main seal issue, intake bolt angles, valve covers center or perimeter bolt, oil dipstick, the 2 TPI control flavors, etc; but that would be the same even from one 305 to another, and is not specific to the 305-350 swap.

 

as RB put it, the swap is simple if going from 305tpi to 350 tpi. Just get a 350 knock sensor and prom, might also need the 22 lb injectors. the rest of the stuff will transfer over. If you go from tbi to tpi it is a little bit trickier but nothing you can't figure out with a little patience and research. I did the tbi to tpi swap in march of 2002. It was my first swap and I ran into a few problems a long the way but it is done. I found all of the answers to my questions on this board.

 

welcome to the boards by the way.

 

from reading around this site i've learned that the 305's 5-spd wont hold up to the torque of the 350 correct? so a alternative to this could be a vette trans... i thought the 350 in the vette was the same in the camaro/firebird...? if it was then you could simply swap the manual trans from the vette to the camaro correct? dont tell me they didnt offer the vette in a stick......

RB83L69, are u saying that swapping a 88 305 with a 92 350 is harder than a 88 305 to a 88 350?

and thank you for the welcome

 

btw, is a new exhaust required too? and what kind of numbers can u expect out of a 350 manual trans f-body? are they equal or slower than a LT1?

 

That depends....

The 88 305 TPI was a MAF type, the 92 would be speed-density. So, there are wiring differences, and the air intake isn't the same. On the other hand, if you simply took a 92 350 short block with no TPI, and you had to swap the 305's TPI over anyway, then there's no difference.

Vette and F-body TPI setups weren't quite identical. The Vettes had aluminum heads with no exhaust crossover passage. Therefore the EGR arrangement is different, because the Vette system has a pipe that hooks to the exhaust manifold; and the intake base is different, because the F-body one has the passage in question, but the Vette one does not.

I didn't say Vettes never came with a stick, I said they never came with a 5-speed. They had the "4+3" for a few years, which was a T-10 with an overdrive behind it; then they changed to a ZF 6-speed; nowadays they use a T-56. None of the Vette transmissions are anywhere near a direct bolt-in to a F-body. The ones that came in TPI and LT1 Vettes have a totally different mounting arrangement, and the T-56 they use with the LS1 isn't even attached to the motor, it's stuck to the rear end. Totally not applicable to our cars.

As far as whether they're equal to a LT1, I guess that depends on the 350. If the 350 has TPI, it would pretty tough with almost any level of mods to get it to equal a stock LT1. On the other hand, with a performance induction instead of TPI, such as a suitable carb or some other FI system, it's not hard to beat a LT1. They're only 300 HP or so max in stock form, which is a piece of cake with a carb.

 

so does the 6-spd from the LT1's bolt right up? if not, what are your trans options with the 350? also, how fast are the 350 camaro/firebirds? do they atleast run a 14.5? my target range is about 13.5 if i decide to build one. could that be reached with heads, cams, and a full exhaust?