hey all, i'm about to buy an '89 Trans Am WS6...it has a 5.0 TBI in it right now. I'm not a big fan of the TBI set-ups. i want to drop a crate engine in, but i'm not quite sure which one. either a ZZ4 or a 383 stroker are my top choices. how hard would it be to switch the car from TBI to a TPI crate motor?

 

I woulnd't waste my time with TPI either. I would look at an aftermarket multiport set-up like the stealth ram or miniram or go the old fashion carb route. Neither will choke whatever motor you choose.

 

i've been checking out the GMPP website, and they say that the ZZ4 and the Fast Burn 385 (the Fast Burn seems to fit my wants exactly) should only be used in 1976 and older vehicles. Is there any way I can make these engines smog legal for use in an '89? and can i fit the Holley Stealth Ram onto either of these engines?

 

The stealth ram will work on both of those engines. They are not smog legal because of their cam profiles and lack of EGR. You can plum EGR if you would like and run a cat in your exhaust. Adding a closed loop type multiport set-up, like the stealth ram, will also cut emmsions greatly.

 

sorry to be such a PITA, but what EGR equipment would i need to make it emissions legal? this car needs to be smog legal because it will be street-driven. could i just take the EGR stuff off of, say, an L98 or something similar?

 

i e-mailed GMPP about making the Fast Burn emissions-legal, and they told me that the heads don't have an exhaust cross-over, so an EGR valve can't be hooked up.

 

you should still be able to make it legal, what area are you in, as each area is different, example .... up here in Van, BC, CAN, we have sniffer only, so you can do anything to the engine you want as long as what comes out the pipes is cool.

but if you have visual engine bay inspections then it will be harder.
you ould always rig it to "look" like egr is there.

 

i live in new jersey...they have engine bay inspections.

i could take it to a private shop...

 

86-1/2-up Vette L98's didn't have exhaust crossovers, either, and they had EGR.

Of course, there's always the issue of replacement parts being "certified". GM certified a ZZ4 kit for carb'd cars, but never for EFI. (Side note: in later versions of the kit, they eliminated the EGR because the ZZ4 cam had enough overlap to "cure" NOx problems.)

On the other hand, I have a bud who started with a ZZ3, put SD TPI on it, used a Vette Bigmouth base and hooked up the EGR like the Vettes did, used a ZZ9 cam, and pretty much breezed through our fairly strict emissions inspection and dyno sniffer. All in a '90 RS.

If you can keep it "factory looking", and sniff cleanly, you typically won't have problems getting through emissions.

 

stealthram is the way to go !!!!!!!!!!!