well this is the quick low down.My nephew Jason is in Iraq.he came home on leave this past January and saw my Trans Am for the first time and he liked it alot.seeing that car put the bug in him to build a nice fast to0y to have when he comes home on leave from time to time.we both scoured the net and found a really clean practically rust free 83 Camaro.he sent me money to go get it and now the car sits in my driveway.I am very excited about this project.I am doing a bunch of work on the car even though he is not in the states right now.this week myself and another guy are going to pick up a 454 big block.things are def moving along.I have the engine bay almost completely stripped of parts.I just need to remove the brake lines,one heater wiring harness and 2 fuel lines and the bay is stripped.the entire front suspension will be painted using POR15.the car itself will be getting repainted a metalic red thus the name I gave the project, Red Riding Hood And The Big Bad Wolf, the Wolf of course if the big block. I will keep pics and also post any obsticles I have along the way. below are pics of the car.

 

here are 2 before and 1 after pics of the engine bay.when we bought the car it had no motor or trans which was great, less work !!

 

Is this gonna be a street or track car?

Big Blocks in 3rd gen aren't legal for street cars.

If you have a friend that does inspections...Or you know of a shop that won't care, you'll pass. Otherwise, you may find it a bit hard to get it street legal.

Just a heads up, before you put too much money into it, only to find out it can't be put on the street.

 

plans have changed this motor sold before I could go pic it up. still on the hunt for a power plant.

 

we used to have inspections in Minnesota but we don't have them anymore.this car is mainly going to be a show car or toy,not a daily driver.

 

Really? At the risk of sounding like a newb, thats the first time i've heard that. Where is more info on this?

Best of luck on the rebuild guys! Always exciting to get into a new vehicle from scratch.

 

I don't know what Canadian laws bare like, but in the USA....You can only install an engine class (SBC/BBC) that ever originally came in a chassis.

Since big blocks never came new in a 3rd gen chassis, they aren't considered a legal swap.....In the USA.

 

I think you are a bit wrong on that one. I think some states have emissions requirements that would prevent a car that has a swap from passing, in Oregon they do a tailpipe test. If your car passes the tailpipe test you pass.

 

Well, I KNOW I am right....FEDERAL law prevents swaps. State law is overidden by Federal law.

While they SHOULDN'T care what's under the hood, if the true goal is to get clean air, they do.

 

Thanks, was just curious. And I especially didn't want to hijack / start a law war over my little question hehe! Hopefully it'll get back on topic

 

Well here in Florida we don't have any emission laws so you would be fine with the switch here.... Good luck on that bbc swap and keep us posted with lots of pics...

 

It's the same as not running a catalytic converter or a smog pump.

 

last thing I need is to get into trouble over some dumb little thing like this. maybe a 383 is in order.

 

That's not quite correct. The engine has to be one that was certified for passenger car use the same year or newer than the chassis, and have all of the equipment used to certify it installed and operating. No BBC's were certified for passenger cars in or after the 3rd gen years, so that is why you can't legally install a BBC in a street 3rd gen.

Technically, a 383 isn't legal, either. But, that's a little easier to justify with SBC emissions controls (certainly easier to get through emissions inspection and testing - doesn't sound warning bells when the hood is opened). However, you can put in a 350, because they were available in Vettes, Caprices, etc.

And, this is Federal law. States are responsible for enforcement, but just because they may not inspect or test your car, that doesn't mean it's legal.

Is your nephew staying in the military? If so, hard to say where he'll be sent (unless he's reserve). So, it would be a good idea to keep emissions in mind as you go through this process.

It's good to see a project like this going for a very worthy cause. Kudos to ya.

 

well no matter what not the big block is gone.I just got the money traqnsfer today and I called the guy to set up a time to come pic up the motor and the nguy said someone picked it up yesterday.this would have been a fun project b/c the guyy had $3000+ in the motor and we were going to get it for $1100.what pisses me off is I had emailed the guy to tell him over the wkend that I was planning on driving (2 hours one way) up to get the motor on friday to pic it up.today I called to confirm plans and he trold me it was gone.really would be nice if people could get bac to people if they have more than 1 interested person in a part.I def would have been really pissed had I gone all the way to Forest lake and spent 2+ hours only to go home empty handed.the big blocks are hard to find that are not a fortune.anyone with any reasonable small blocs?? they are def dime a dozen.

 

y not just build up a good ole 383 with some decent flowing heads, roller cam and a th350? build it to run on premium pump gas. along with supporting bolt ons. invest your $ in some decent flowing heads, and intake.

 

throw that $1,1oo.oo into a 6.0L and feel like a proud American... i have seen six oh on the ebays go from a grand up, and a 4L60E or what ever trans u want. but after he comes home he might need that little extra cubic inch!

b

good luck!

 

Check salvage yard for a 90 or so 454SS truck and rob all the smog stuff. It's has a tbi, I'm sure someone could burn the chip.

 

i agree. TBI 454 would be a simple setup and very powerful when gone through.

 

It still wouldn't be legal. Truck engines don't legally swap into passenger cars.