1992 305ci TBI to Carbed 383 stroker. Still have some unanswered questions...
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Hey guys,
I've done countless hours of searching and reading on the boards. I've answered a lot of my own questions, but I still have a few left.
I have a 1992 25th Anniversary (obviously) Camaro RS. The car itself is in almost perfect shape, but it's not good enough to either show or race. So this past year I decided that I wanted to start tearing apart the motor and drive train to build a 383 stroker. I purchased a 350 4-bolt roller block in August that I plan on cleaning up and stroking. After I get the motor and drive train right, I am going to get it repainted and set to show.
Currently I have a stock 1992 305ci TBI with a 700r4
Among the large list of things that I am going to have to buy is a TH-350 3 speed tranny and a beefier rear end, I don't know where these are going to come from, but I'll find a way to work that out. I�ve already torn the A/C out of the car,as I honestly don�t care about it. (The car has T-Tops so it doesn�t matter) I will be ordering SFC�s before the car goes back on the road in the spring. I�ve already got a good set of hooker headers that I can move over to the 383 when the time comes.
My main concerns arise from the fact that I do have a 91-92 vehicle with an electronic speedo. I know that the ECM also controls the torque converter lockup, but there are both kits and tech articles out there that can get me around that. How do I get around the electronically driven gauges?
Also, a lot of people seem to be using Fuel Pressure Regulators to maintain the correct fuel pressure to their carbs, but I have heard that those aren�t always the ideal way to go. Is it worth the hassle of dropping my gas tank to install a different fuel pump?
I'm sure that I am going to run across other things during the swap that I have not yet thought about, but I am trying to go into this as prepared as possible. What are your thoughts on my questions above as well as any suggestions you have for me prior to starting this buildup?
Just for laughs... below is a picture of my current slow, run down, Throttle Body Injected, 305 cubic inch pile of garbage.
I've done countless hours of searching and reading on the boards. I've answered a lot of my own questions, but I still have a few left.
I have a 1992 25th Anniversary (obviously) Camaro RS. The car itself is in almost perfect shape, but it's not good enough to either show or race. So this past year I decided that I wanted to start tearing apart the motor and drive train to build a 383 stroker. I purchased a 350 4-bolt roller block in August that I plan on cleaning up and stroking. After I get the motor and drive train right, I am going to get it repainted and set to show.
Currently I have a stock 1992 305ci TBI with a 700r4
Among the large list of things that I am going to have to buy is a TH-350 3 speed tranny and a beefier rear end, I don't know where these are going to come from, but I'll find a way to work that out. I�ve already torn the A/C out of the car,as I honestly don�t care about it. (The car has T-Tops so it doesn�t matter) I will be ordering SFC�s before the car goes back on the road in the spring. I�ve already got a good set of hooker headers that I can move over to the 383 when the time comes.
My main concerns arise from the fact that I do have a 91-92 vehicle with an electronic speedo. I know that the ECM also controls the torque converter lockup, but there are both kits and tech articles out there that can get me around that. How do I get around the electronically driven gauges?
Also, a lot of people seem to be using Fuel Pressure Regulators to maintain the correct fuel pressure to their carbs, but I have heard that those aren�t always the ideal way to go. Is it worth the hassle of dropping my gas tank to install a different fuel pump?
I'm sure that I am going to run across other things during the swap that I have not yet thought about, but I am trying to go into this as prepared as possible. What are your thoughts on my questions above as well as any suggestions you have for me prior to starting this buildup?
Just for laughs... below is a picture of my current slow, run down, Throttle Body Injected, 305 cubic inch pile of garbage.
Senior Member
If I were you I would stick with the 700R4 or get a beefed up version of one. Keeping the electronic guages would be beneficial for future upgrades like autometer guages or LS1/LT1 swaps.
You can get a bypass regulator that would just send the excess fuel back to the tank. Not a big deal.
You can get a bypass regulator that would just send the excess fuel back to the tank. Not a big deal.
Junior Member
DM,
Sounds like we are in the process of the same type of upgrades. The approach I am taking is to retain the TBI injection. I told my builder this and told him to build a stroked 383 to fit under my Performer TBI manifold. Along with a Nitrous works bottle it should be close to, well big numbers and all my gauges will work and so will my built 700r4. As for the fuel pump, again I took a different approach. I measured several times to find the center of my trunk, then cut an access panel right above my fuel pump (with an air nibbler) fix the panel up with small hinges and throw the carpet over it and it's really nice. This turns changing a fuel pump into a 15 minute job, versus 3+ hours.
Sounds like we are in the process of the same type of upgrades. The approach I am taking is to retain the TBI injection. I told my builder this and told him to build a stroked 383 to fit under my Performer TBI manifold. Along with a Nitrous works bottle it should be close to, well big numbers and all my gauges will work and so will my built 700r4. As for the fuel pump, again I took a different approach. I measured several times to find the center of my trunk, then cut an access panel right above my fuel pump (with an air nibbler) fix the panel up with small hinges and throw the carpet over it and it's really nice. This turns changing a fuel pump into a 15 minute job, versus 3+ hours.
Rknrs,
What kind of numbers are you expecting with the retained TBI?
Just curious to see if this is a viable option for what I am looking to do.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
What kind of numbers are you expecting with the retained TBI?
Just curious to see if this is a viable option for what I am looking to do.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
There are a few guys running 383 TBI's and having great sucess. Sure a carb may make more power but they are getting 400 hp with great street manors and fuel mileage. I would only stay with TBI if my 383 was farly mild and used stickly for street duty.
Junior Member
The only drawback that I have found to sticking with the TBI is how wild I can go with the cam. The guys at comp cams basically confirmed what everyone on this board has said, a stock LT1 cam is about as wild as a TBI can handle. This will of course limit the overall power output. I was running 125hp shot on my stock 305 so I figure I will up that to a 200hp shot on the 383 as it is being built to handle lots of juice. My builder assures me I will be in the 12's on engine alone. I'm sure in the future I will opt for a crazy cam and carb, but for now I'll try to make 11 seconds on a TBI.