Ok, I'm picking up a mint 86 Camaro with an LG4 and a 700R4. The motor smokes like a mother, and has rocker rapping... so I'm just going to trash the piece.

I got a 75 Nova with a rebuilt 350, Edelbrock intake, Holley double pumper, full length headers, chome valve covers, etc. etc. for free the other day (guy wanted it out of his yard, body is toast!)

Will I have any problems pulling the motors out and putting the 350 into the 'maro?

Anything I should do while I'm in there?

I'm building this car for a friend who has always wanted a car like mine, so I want it safe!


Oh, and what are the odds that I'll pass emissions with the 350? All that's on there for that would be the cat, and if there's no chance I'll take that off too. I have a "friend in the business" as many do, but if it might pass I'd like to do it that way.

 

Keep the induction from the 305 (carb, distributor, all sensors, probably intake), and it will most likely pass emissions if the 350 cam isn't too radical.

You'll probably need a 153-tooth flexplate for '82-'85 3rd gen application in order to retain the 305 starter. Retaining the 305 starter is a good idea.

Replacing the entire exhaust with 3rd gen headers, cat, and cat-back would give the 350 a chance to breathe. Same thing with the air cleaner - replace the single-snorkel with a factory-type dual snorkel or similar homemade version.

The dipstick will be on the driver's side, which makes putting the '86 exhaust manifold on the 350 difficult. Another reason to go with headers.

Basically, you'll be using the 350 long block, changing a couple of things to make it work in the '86, and making some reasonable upgrades.

 

So I can't use the 86 LG4 flexplate? I'm new to automatics... so I don't know what years fit what!

And the dipstick thing, I don't think he can afford headers at this point, so what can I do?

What's wrong with the 350 starter? Just older?


I'm not sure how big the cam is in the 350... but it had a streetable idle!

 

'86 was the beginning of one-piece rear main seals, which required redesign of the crankshaft flange, and weighting of the flexplate/flywheel to take the place of the counterweight previously incorporated in the flange. It's got nothing to do with the automatics, and everything to do with the age difference of the engines.

You can bend/mangle the dipstick tube, or get a flexible one from Lokar.

The 350 is most likely a 168-tooth flywheel/flexplate, and if so, the starter is different. Maintaining the 153-tooth flexplate and starter keeps your options open down the road with headers, etc. You could use an '87-up 350 3rd gen starter, though (no different than the 305 starters).

The exhaust is really going to choke the 350 (it chokes a stock LG4).

 

So I need a 82-85 flexplate, and I can use the starter on my LG4?

I'll get one of the Lokar dipstick tubes or a knockoff from Autozone. Sounds much easier!

Besides manifolds, what chokes the V8? Or is that the whole problem?

 

Yes.

Sounds like a plan.

The entire LG4 exhaust chokes the engine (with the possible exception of the dual tail pipes).