Engine Swap Everything about swapping an engine into your Third Gen.....be it V6, V8, LTX/LSX, crate engine, etc. Pictures, questions, answers, and work logs.

Cali Engine Swaps

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Old 03-17-2004, 11:23 AM
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Cali Engine Swaps

I was just wondering if anyone in cali has done a engine swap. If so what year F-body did you have and what engine was in it. Also what did you swap it for and how did you pass smog and the ref. I just want to see what could be my choices for a swap.
Old 03-20-2004, 05:19 PM
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Car: 1988 IROC CONVERTIBLE
Engine: 305 TPI PAXTON SUPERCHARGER & NOS
Transmission: T5
Drew,

Passing smog is not a big deal. I'm also looking to swap out my 305. Let me know what motor you decide to select.
Old 03-20-2004, 06:39 PM
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Car: 86Z/92 RS Camaro
Engine: 357 vortec finished. need tuning
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Axle/Gears: need 3.73
Swapped a 350 engine into a 1985 IROC-Z with 305 tpi. He also passed the smog test with the 350 a couple of months ago. Currently I have a work in progress, swap a sbc 357 with vortec heads. Looking to do the tpi set up with engine. Still trying to get the rest of the tpi parts together.

Last edited by 86z/92rs; 03-20-2004 at 06:41 PM.
Old 03-20-2004, 08:40 PM
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Car: 1988 IROC CONVERTIBLE
Engine: 305 TPI PAXTON SUPERCHARGER & NOS
Transmission: T5
Who's building your motor? Is it actually a 357?
Old 03-20-2004, 10:03 PM
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Car: 86Z/92 RS Camaro
Engine: 357 vortec finished. need tuning
Transmission: Still works
Axle/Gears: need 3.73
My friend up in Washington State gave me a 2 bolt 350 1 piece rear seal block. He had the engine built for me since he has a shop. All I paid was for shipping and the parts. The reason he had to bore it out .040 is that one of the cylinder head required it.
Old 03-21-2004, 06:14 PM
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Car: 83 Z-28 (Original owner)
Engine: 305 CC-carb
Transmission: Richmond 6-speed, Rear:3.73
Vortec heads and EGR

I thought the Vortec heads did not have th exhaust heat riser port.
How can you get the EGR to work? Need working EGR to pass smog in CA.
Old 03-21-2004, 08:19 PM
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Originally posted by 83_1/2 L69
I thought the Vortec heads did not have th exhaust heat riser port.
How can you get the EGR to work? Need working EGR to pass smog in CA.
I never said anything about passing smog with a vortec TPI set up in my previous replies. SDPC has the only Vortec TPI manifold out which has provision for the EGR valve. I am planning on getting one as soon as I get some more $$.
Old 03-22-2004, 01:07 AM
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Car: 83 Z-28 (Original owner)
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Thank you for clearing that up.
Cause of confusion, the subject of this thread is smog legal swaps. If you drift OFF SUBJECT when replying, please make a note so the rest of us don't get confused.

I wish it was OK to use Vortec heads in sunny California. They sound like a very good part for considering what they sell for.
Good luck with your motor.
Old 03-22-2004, 01:19 PM
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DrewRS,

The 300 HP crate engine from goautocenter will pass California smog. There's atleast 1 person on the board (Rich?) who has this crate engine and it passed smog fine. I personally don't have it but if I don't find anything better I'll probably be going with this engine when my engine dies. I have a 91 Z28.
Here is the link:

300 HP engine

I also heard you can use the Vortec heads in Califonia as long as you use the SDPC Vortec intake manifold.
Old 03-22-2004, 01:27 PM
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Another engine swap that will pass California smog checks would be to put in an LT1 or and LS1. Although these are not exactly direct easy swaps, there are plenty of people who have done them.
Old 03-22-2004, 09:57 PM
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Originally posted by GoonieZ28
DrewRS,

The 300 HP crate engine from goautocenter will pass California smog. There's atleast 1 person on the board (Rich?) who has this crate engine and it passed smog fine. I personally don't have it but if I don't find anything better I'll probably be going with this engine when my engine dies. I have a 91 Z28.
Here is the link:

300 HP engine
how u ever when to the dyno?.....if so what your is range?.....300hp and 369ft/lbs so like a burnout-mobile...hehe
Old 03-23-2004, 03:14 PM
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Engine: 5.0L/ 305 LO3
Thanks for all the help guys. I heard that if I go with the crated 350. I should be fine since the 350 looks exactly like a 305 on the outside. Is this true? I just want to be sure
Old 03-23-2004, 04:05 PM
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Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
The big decal on the valve cover that says, "5.7l 350" might be a tip-off, though...
Old 03-23-2004, 04:10 PM
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Originally posted by GoonieZ28
I also heard you can use the Vortec heads in Califonia as long as you use the SDPC Vortec intake manifold.
You have to dig pretty deep to find this, but they admit at http://www.sdpc2000.com/htm/TPI_instruc.pdf : "This intake is NOT legal in California on any pollution-controlled motor vehicles, nor has it been approved for any pollution-controlled applications in any state in the USA."
Old 03-24-2004, 05:58 AM
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well we could always change those can't we
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