Before reading this post, try to understand that as much as cars interest me and I would love to be able to have the knowledge to work on my own engine and put it all together myself, I'm pretty sure it isn't realistic. I have no experience working with engines, and minimal with cars aside from the basics. So, I figure this Engine Swap is going to run me a few bucks more than someone who knows how to do all the labour themselves. But first, my car-

I own a 1988 Camaro SC with a 305 TBI and a 4 speed automatic. Everything on the car is stock except for a cat-back Flowmaster exhauast (3" off the cat, into 80 series muffler, 2.5" out each tailpipe) sans the cat, and basic maintenance such as a new radiator and alternator, flexplate. My car's reaching the 200K mark rather quickly, seeing how I have about 30 mins of highway driving to work now 2-5 days a week, depending. I turn 19 in the summer, and become eligible for a loan without my parents co-signing. Originally, I was thinking of just buying a Fourth Gen LT1 (94-95) but got to thinking- it could be much cheaper to just keep my Camaro and swap in the LT1. Infact, I'd probably save quite abit of money by keeping the Camaro I have now, and just putting the LT1 engine in it (not to mention leave my friends in awe). I was also considering putting in the 350TPI out of a late 80's Iroc-Z, but am leaning more towards the LT1 with it being newer and of course, faster.

What I want out of this swap is a newer engine, reliable for my highway driving, with a fair bit of punch. Gas mileage isn't a HUGE issue, but I really don't want to go carbeurated due to it's mileage. Plus, I really like Third-Gen Camaro's and would like to keep the car (my dad bought it in 91, sold it to me). I'm from Vancouver, and figure once I turn 19 instead of taking out that loan to buy a new car, I could take out 5-7 grand and use it on making my Camaro bad-***. I am considering either the LT1, or the TPI. How much do you think an LT1 would run me, not to mention the wiring harness, radiator hoses, etc... (plus, I'd need a new tranny, would I not?). As for a TPI, if i could find one with low mileage, I'd consider it... but the LT1 is just so much more exciting.

Keep in mind, in Vancouver we have a thing called "Air Care" which means I have to pass emissions (putting a High-Flow cat on in February when I go back through). So what do you guys think... spend a little less and go with the TPI, or go for the LT1? Please, all replies are very much appreciated!

 

I swapped from 305 to LT1, there is alot of money involved, but not as much as 5-7k at all :P.. But yea, you will need teh harness and computer, but you can and should get the harness from painless wiring, and the computer probably from a yard or ebay. Not many if any parts are going to swap over, but any way, just get a complete LT1 block and start from there.. You should go fuel injection like the camaros had stock from 93-97... The painless harness will make all that easy once you get the intake/fuel injectors , etc ... I got mine off of a 94 camaro for $100 for all of the parts. As for the tranny, i dont know with the 4 speed.. my 7r400 bolted right up, but im not familiar with that trans .. The lt1 uses an IN-tank fuel pump, but if you dont want to go through the "trouble" of dropping the tank just get an in-line fuel pump.

If you are just putting the stock parts on it , then you will have alot of money left over =p.. the stock exaust manifolds will fit in your thirdgen, can get those for a pretty cheap buck too.. but if you plan on taking 5-7k out, you should get some decent headers.. To me the only hard part about the swap is the wiring if you plan on using fuel injection .. but the painless harness makes all that pretty simple.. although i went the way of using a harness out of a 96 z. If you ever have any questions about this swap in detail , just let me know or pull a post up and ill do my best to answer whatever you need, as will most of the guys on this forum I know how you feel about the thirdgen , i had a choice also of buying a new one , but i didnt , and am very satisfied with my decision.

 

Oh, and as for emissions, if you use the stock exaust manifolds, and hook up all the emission equipment you should be fine.. Or SLP does make some headers with the emission lines on it too =p. I dont know too much about them but i've seen them--- gl

 

Wow, thanks for all your help man. Helped alot.

So what I've understood is I need to find an LT1 engine and pick up the computer and wiring harness. I replaced my fuel pump about a year and a half ago, and it was in the gas tank (cost like 600 bucks to do). So do bypass that, I would just have to put an inline fuel pump in? (What happens witht he one in the tank then?) Also, this painless wiring harness or whatever it was called, is it like a kit to aid in your wiring or something? As you can tell, I'm very green on the topic but if the swap would cost me less than 5-7g's for a professional to put it in (going to try and get one of my contacts to put it in for cash under the table, might get a good deal) then I am very excited.

Thanks man!

 

Not to discourage you or anything (I'm all for swaps ) but you may want to take into consideration the mileage/condition of the vehicle. If your going to dump that kind of money into a used car such as yours, you want it to be worth it (as in reliability, not only gains). What kind of shape is it in (rust, dents, etc), does it need brake work, shocks, tranny in good condition, etc, etc...
Those are some of the things that would influence my decision (supposing I HAD that kind of money to dump). You may think about it and decide your better off to get a different car. Especially if you're paying someone to do this for you. Labor adds up VERY fast!

Best of luck, whatever you decide!

 

Car is rust-free... dent in the door from my accident (which is in the process of being fixed). The thing is, I've replaced so much on that car (tires, exhaust, radiator, alternator, flex plate, fuel pump) I don't really want to sell it, buy another Third Gen and end up replacing all that **** once more.

I think the transmission was rebuilt about 6-7 years ago when my dad owned the car. But anyways, it hasn't been ratted really at all except for me dicking around once in awhile, but very rarely. It's black with gold GFX, very rare around here. No one has seen another yet in the city in the 13 years we've had the car.

Anyways, I figure once I drop a new engine in, it'd be pretty much like a brand new car. The ultimate question lies though- TPI or LT1? It's a tough one...

 

Sounds like a decent car. I know what your saying about knowing what you have in the car, and buying another when you dont know what kind of problems it might have. Anyhow, if your going to do it, I say go with the LT1 and get her done right the first time. If you wanna spend the cash, LT1 gets my vote!

 

Personally, i'd swap unless you wanna go for a later model car. Like you said, if you get another thirdgen, your eventually just gonna pump more money changing the basics as these vehicles aren't exactly young anymore. It doesn't cost much, well not 5-7k like the above poster had said to do the LT1 swap. I just purchased a LT1 w/ T-56 for $2,150 off ebay. You just have to wait for the good deals, i'd say swap if your just gonna get another thirdgen.

 

I think he said he'll be having someone drop it in for him too, so who knows what that will add to whatever he gets the engine/wiring/misc parts for...

 

At that young of age you should either keep what you have or get another car. I too was in your boat but I think you will spend far more for a sucessful swap than just buying a used 4th gen LT1. Now I own both cars so I can speak on behalf of both and what it would take to swap my LT1 into my thirdgen. It will take a lot of money and most of all time to swap in any TPI or LT1 set-up in your car that came with a TBI. You need to change about everything besides motor mount location to make it a clean swap without any shortcuts. Plus if you get another car you can always get a warrenty (depending on where you get it) and everything will run right away. Save your thridgen and use it for a swap down the road where you have money for all the little things like exhaust, motor work (rebuild?), and the list goes on for costs that you don't expect right away. What will you drive in the meantime? it took me 2 weeks just to do a cam swap in my can working hours a day. I am no pro, hence the long time, but I had to learn. Learning takes time. I have never done a motor swap but I now it will take longer than 2 weeks. Just ask all the LT1 swap guys who are experiencd how long it took them to get their new combo up and running. Some take YEARS. Use your excitement now to get a car that you can enjoy right now while you research future plans. I love my stock 95 Z. Sure it is stock but it gives me a lot of fun while i build up my RS. I never have the lack of horse power while I build a car up. I just go to the driveway.

 

Go for the LT1, the tpi setup is a complete waste of time and money, the cheapest and easiest route, keeping your speedometer working of course, would be to get a complete LT1 with wiring and computer, preferribly 95, but 94-97 all will work fine, to retain the emissions system and keep it all in tact you will need to use the stock manifolds or get thirdgen headers and modify them, fourth gen headers and a custom Y pipe would also work, drop the tank and install a high pressure pump, best choice would probably be a performance kit from www.racetronix.com , the painless kits are anything but painless, run your existing 700R4 with a painless wiring VSS, you'll need a dakota digital calibration box to step up the signal from the painless VSS so the LT1 pcm can read it properly. Use the stock radiator but get a set of dual fans from a late TPI thirdgen. Upper radiator hose from a 93 V8 f body. You'll need a set of custom fuel lines, I had these made at a local shop for the swaps i've done, you will also need custom power steering lines as the pump is on the opposite side of the engine bay. If you want to retain a/c some extra fabrication will be required. Please feel free to ask anything else about it you may need, or IM me on aim , s/n is Z28*****

You should spend FAR less than a 4th gen car, and be far more happy with what you end up with.