Hey people looks like im the proud owner of a 88 TA that needs an engine. the engine it has in there now is a 305 L03 TBI engine. What would i have to change so that i could put a Carb'd 350 in its place ?

 

If you live somewhere that requires emissions inspections, you'll have to change the law. Otherwise, you'll need a 350 block, 4" pistons, an intake, carburetor, fuel pressure regulator, and a custom PROM to ignore your missing loads and inputs.

Oh - and about a day to perform the exchange.

 

you'd need the basic 350 and a non ecm controled carb and hei. then eliminate all the ecm control sensers and wireing.

 

EWWW this sounds like a pain. I was reading that painless wiring makes a kit tat i can use to rewire the car. and yes im in california

 

Well then either you have to change what Vader said; or you'l have to change yourself into the owner of another car to drive since this one won't be able to be licensed and will only be useable as a race car; or change the state you live in to some other state where they allow you to still buy license plates after you do stuff like that to it.

After that, it's pretty easy. You don't need any additional wiring at all except for some way to activate the torque converter clutch if your car is an automatic.

 

The problem is that the trans am im buying has a broken tbi engine, and im looking to replace the tbi with a tpi unit. Im not sure of whats needed as far as wiring and sensors and crap. I had read that all i'd have to change ecm.. but again this is new to me.

 

Why would i have to change the car ? If i keep all the smog equipment attached to the tpi engine, and swap out wiriing harness and ecm why wouldnt it be smog legal ??

 

I answered the question you asked, not this new question about TPI which is an altogether different matter.

Since no carb was available in any 88 one of these cars, Cailornia will not allow one to be installed on an engine in one of these cars, period. So if you do that, you'll need some other car that meets the requirements of the law, so that you can license it.

 

oh!, i got it. Do you all think tpi would work ? and if so whats involved in the process of swapping out a tbi engine for a tpi one

 

Yes. People do that all the time.

You'd need a TPI setup, its wiring and ECM, and the right fuel pump. You'd probably want to change the exhaust since TBI has little drinking-straw-sized parts that are one of the main reasons for TBI being so slow in the first place.

That's not a particularly hard swap, and would be legal.

 

Thanks alot. it seemed like a typical swap, but i wasnt sure. i didnt wanna buy the car and discover i've just bought into a sinking ship. Along with the fuel pump will i have to install a fuel return line ? or does the 88TA with a TBI have one ?

 

it has it

 

Sweet!

 

Cool. engine swaps arent my thing, but im sure it will be quite educational. I've wanted a third gen for so long.. i almost cant believe i have one... cant beat an 88TA for 200 bucks!