It seems that the 87 GTA i just bought was pretty much Frankenstein'd together. It has a 85 chevy pickup carb 350 hooked up to a very poorly rebuilt 700r4...none of the parts are ment to fit together and the transmission shop the mechanic took it too said they knew the car well and wont touch it again.

They did have a few ideas to fix it thou

1. New trans for the 85 engine (but with the carb it wont pass emissions...so thats pretty much out unless i can find a guy who knows a guy)

2. Snagged a wrecked 87 GTA or Formula with the original 350 or 305 TPI and stick that back in there and rebuild the transmission.

And then I had an idea...Hook up a LS1 out of a 4th gen and rebuild the 700 (or throw in a t56 if i can swing it). I mean that is possible right? Id much rather have the LS1 than the L98...

Either way its gonna cost me an arm and a leg...but its running right now so i have a bit of time. Valuable lesson learned.

 

Computer controlled carb was available in '87, so that would be a legal option. Of course, it wasn't available on a 350, so that's a nit you'll have to get past (wasn't a problem here in Colorado for me).

LT1 or LS1 are completely viable approaches. There are stickies at the top of this forum that discuss those swaps. There's a sub-forum at the top of this forum dedicated to those who have done either swap. Using the TH700-R4 behind either of them will raise issues that you will have to address (less of a problem behind an LT1). A 4L60E that came on the engine you're putting in would be a better choice.

There is a 2000 SS LS1/T56 sitting in my garage waiting to go in my Camaro.

 

So what your saying is if im going to swap in an LS1 or LT1 be sure to get the trans that came with it and it should be fine?

 

Pretty much. You'll have mounting/wiring issues to overcome, but if the transmission comes with the engine you get, you're miles ahead.

 

Sounds like a winner...LS1 and T56 it is...and while im at it rip out the interior and redo mine with the donor. Its what i wanted to do eventually it just looks like ill have to do it sooner. Appreciate the input.

 

Be aware you're looking at somewhere between $5000-$8000 for the job, assuming you do all the work yourself.