Hello all!

Just popping on here, probably something I should have done ages ago. I've been the proud owner of 3 Camaro's to date:

91' Z28 5.7L TPI AUTO (Sold due to unibody rusting to hell)
98' Z28 LS1 6-SPEED (Sold due to layoff, what a sad day, however I was able to drive it for one year, and sell it for exactly what I paid for it the previous year)
83' Z28 305 5.0 CARB'ed AUTO (Very sharp car for the age, zero rust, 150k miles on engine and tranny recently rebuilt, interior is 95% MINT)

So with that background knowledge, I'd like to introduce myself. The name is Ryan and it was only polite of me to introduce my babies first, as I'm sure you all understand.

Something about the 3rd Gen which keeps me coming back...

Well got some good news. The reason I sold the ol 98' was due to my lay off from the government (yes, they actually do lay people off) but I now have my job back, which means, I am going to have some EXTRA $$$ to turn this 83' into the star it was meant to be.

After initially purchasing this car 6 months ago, much of the common problems were fixed with most older 3rd gen cammys. New window switches/hatch/power motors/weatherstripping/window rails/145mph gauge cluster etc. So for a few hundred bucks the interior is probably I'd say 99% MINT. Which is good. The exterior needs some work and I didn't bother fixing anything mechanical as I didn't want to re-purchase things if I were to swap engines or the tranny.

Basically, I'm at the point right now of, "What to do..." the whole concept stage. I would like to note, I am not entirely mechanically inclinded to the point where I could actually perform an engine swap on my own, or custom build a wiring harness, swap the rear end, or slap in a T56 on my own.

Here's what I'd like to do. First things first, I absolutely need to convert this to a 6-Speed Manual. I'm working on gathering the parts as we speak:
Shifter Plate
Clutch Pedals
Hydraulic Master/Slave cy

The next thing I take it will be an actual T56, bellhousing, clutch/flywheel, shifter/crossmember/mount.

Now, a question I have for everyone is... and I hate to reask these things as I'm sure these have been asked and answered a dozen times, but since I'm new, humor me please. Should I be looking for a 93-97 T56? Also, since I am not 100% mechanically inclinded, (this is a big question, I do not understand this)

"?" What type of bellhousing will I need to connect a T56 to my 305 5.0L SBC? Also, if I were to say, find one at a junkyard, will this bellhousing fit on OTHER SBC's? Or maybe even an LS1? Do the bolt holes line up?

Now for a question regarding rims/wheels.

"?" I currently have some 15"/16" on the car now (front disk / rear drum) and I'm wondering what it would take to get some 18"/19" Z06 or C5 rims on it? I heard about "WHEEL ADAPTERS". What is the purpose of these and are they added after the rotor and before the rim, I take it?

If you've gotten this far, you've helped me tremedously! Be a trooper and read on!

Okay, a question regarding shocks. I believe I have four shocks on this 83, not struts. Does anyone have a good recommendation on some "decent" (as in not-overly-expensive, yet superior to stock) shocks?

Last question, what does it take to change a CARB setup to a FUEL INJECTED setup, as in putting in an LS1? I noticed someone said new fuel pump (in tank) new lines, and a Fuel Pump Regulator need to be installed for the system to work? Any other bits of info?

Guys, I love you for reading this, even if you don't have the answers, and I am very happy to be among family here.

God Bless 3rd Gens!

Regards,

Ryan

PS. Also, take a peek at the picture and tell me if this baby ain't worth restoring and becoming the beast it's meant to be?

 

Few more pics!

 

1. If you want a T-56, the ones to get are 94-97. Avoid 93 as it has the super wide gear ratios, and is said to be weaker.

2. The bell housing you need, is the stock T-56 bell housing. Get that, as well as EVERY OTHER POSSIBLE PIECE, from your donor car.

3. No stock crossmember will work; but there are several aftermarket ones that will, including ones that also relocate the torque arm attachment to the crossmember instead of the transmission.

4. You have struts up front, and shocks in the rear. Same as all other 82-92 Camaro & Firebird. There are a fair number of choices; Monroe and other stock replacements, KYB, Koni, Bilstein, probably a few others. The car NEEDS SPRINGS. They all do. Get a set of springs in it ASAP, and of course, shocks & struts at the same time along with all the other front end renewal parts like ball joints, control arm bushings, the whole steering linkage, sway bar end links, etc.

5. C5 wheels fit fine. You need 2" spacers, because the wheels have 2" more backspacing. The spacers essentially take up those extra 2".

6. For FI, you need a computer, wiring, fuel pump, and various other small goodies like an air intake and a different throttle cable and so forth. The pressure regulator is usually a part of the FI setup.


Just FYI, I happen to have a car somewhat like yours, except more like what you're talking about wanting it to be; 83 Z28, 305, T-56 ( I think mine is out of a 96 or 97 but I'm not positive), C5 wheels w 2" spacers (the wide spoke "wagon" wheels).

There's a VERY LONG post in the Transmission forum, something like "Answers to T-56 questions you haven't thought to ask yet" or some such. Go find it and read it.

 

Few silly questions.

What is a TV Cable?

When replacing the 700R4 with a T56 (94-97) what connections need to be made between the transmission and the engine?

Another silly one...

On the T56, what is the black cable that runs from mid tranny (top) towards the bellhousing?

Thanks!

Ryan

 

One more question fellas!

I know the LS1 swap is popular, however, I'm not entirely sure why. On my 98' LS1 I truly enjoyed the performance ~335hp w/mods. However, since I'm already carb'ed, what GM Crate engine would you recommend (~$2000) to get similar performance. Please note, this is never going to be a drag/track car, however, I'm looking at a few particulars here that I would like you to keep in mind!

I would like to get ~28-30mpg.
I would like to chirp the first few gears.
I would like it to throw me (and that special someone) back into the seats hard.

With all this in mind, if I stick with a GM Crate SBC carb'ed, what would you recommend? Am going to be ordering a T56 relatively soon, which can handle 400 torque, but I'd like an engine with at least 300hp and decent gas mileage.

THANKS A BUNCH GUYS!

(Also, to those who've done the LS1 swap, did you have to modify the crossmember like the guys at fbodymotorsports, or with new engine mounts, is it possible to bypass this step)

 

ZZ4 is a popular GM crate... might be worth looking at.

 

TV cable a.k.a. kick down cable

GM used to sell a 50 state emissions legal ZZ4 swap for all 82-87 carb'd thirdgens even came with the duel snorkel air cleaner, but I don't think they sell it anymore

 

Simply put, what is a kick-down cable?

 

when you step on the gas, your auto trans "kicks-down" a gear. How far do you have to step on the gas before it kicks down, well that's where the adjustment lies.

You won't need to worry about that with a T56

You car doesn't need a restoration, it's freakin' sexy. Keep that beast looking exactly that way. That's my dream car, yet sadly I got stuck with my '82 TA

28-30MPG and powerful just don't go together. With a carbed motor that's just plain not possible. Even with brand new port injection, a really fast car doesn't get that kind of mileage. Lets say 22MPG highway, with your T-56, and high 12 second quarter mile. That's within reason.

There's goobers of crate engines to pick from, start searching!

 

Well, an LS1 can hit high 12s and 28+mpg, but no carb'd car ever will (or at least not an F-Body). The LS1 swap is popular b/c you can basically have your cake and eat it too. You get 300+hp, high 20s mpg, and way better drivability.

The cross-member notch is only needed if you keep your stock 3rd gen x-member and keep the LS1 A/C compressor in the stock location. I've seen relocation brackets for the compressor, any tubular x-member will the compressor, or just ditch the a/c completely.