My friend picked up an 82 camaro with a 3 yr old 305 crossfire injection motor. He would like to have something bigger and more powerful in there, and I offered to build the motor for him seeing as he doesn't know anything about workin on cars really.

For starters I have a 80's 350 in my barn that I was thinking we could use but theres a few things I'm not sure of.

#1- I know nothing about this whole crossfire injection. Can I swap a different motor in and still use that FI setup or will I have to run carb or what?

Is there any other motor that would be better for still around the same price?

Lookin to try to get like 350-400hp.

Also this car is a 4spd auto, I'm guessing that's the 4L60E? 700r4?

Thanks.

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

You can swap other engines under that crossfire, but doing so will be a study in frustration. That set-up was pretty much maxed out on a 305, and although the Vettes got a 350 crossfire, it is very power limited. The aftermarket never got on the bandwagon (hmmm, wonder why. . .), although there was a different intake available - still pretty lame.

If emissions inspection/testing isn't an issue, the simplest way to get 350-400 HP is with a carb. If emissions inspection/testing is an issue, the simplest way is to put in an LS1 and do emissions-legal mods to it. That doesn't meet the "around the same price" criteria, but for emissions-legal, there is a price to pay. You can do 350-375 horse emissions-legal computer controlled carb - assuming you're talking gross flywheel horsepower.

The 4-speed auto TH700-R4 wasn't available in 1982, so it must have been installed later. It is basically the same as the 4L60, although there were many mods/improvements over the years. The 4L60E is the electronically controlled version of that transmission. The TH700 has a lock-up torque converter that was controlled by the ECM, but otherwise wasn't electronic control. The TH200C was the automatic in 1982, which also used the lock up torque converter, and the ECM will properly function the TH700 as well. 4L60E requires different controls.

 

is the TH200c a good tranny? Will it hold up to 400hp? Is there good aftermarket support for that tranny?

Dumb question, I'll need a diff. Fuel pump if we switch to carb correct?

What do you guys that have switched to carb do with all the old sections of the wiring harness that are efi related? Or is the harness setup in such a way that the EFI stuff can be removed and still leave all the necessary wiring for everything else?

 

No, no, and no.

Not so dumb, but the answer is out there. You can either continue to use the in-tank electric pump and use a return-style regulator such as the Mallory 4309, or remove the electric pump and use an engine-mounted mechanical only.

I'm not one of "those guys", but you can remove all that is EFI related and leave what you need.