Hi there. I've got me a 1982 Chevy camaro with a carburated 305 that i want to swap out for the 400 out of my 1977 chevy 1/2 ton 4x4. Would the 400 swap basically be the same as a 350 swap? Will i need to change the oil pan? Anything else i should know would be greatly appreciated...

 

If you are not running headers now, plan on it when you do the swap. I am not sure of the difference in 350 and 400, but I do know the dip stick is in the way of manifolds. I started to put a 77 truck 350 in my 83 Z and found it would be cheaper for me to install a later model 350 ( got it for $150) out of 90 truck. Make sure your flywheel/flexplate will fit in trans bell housing. I believe you will need to use the one for a 400.

 

I have noticed that the 305 dipstick is on the left and the 400 is on the right. Are you saying that even if i use the stock 400 manifolds it wont work? Anybody know for sure what i need to do to get this motor to bolt up to the 700r4? Thanks for the info

 

If you're looking at the engine from the front, yes, that's the sides the dipsticks are on.

Stock 400 exhaust manifolds won't fit in the 3rd gen chassis.

The only thing of concern is the bolt patterns of the flexplate and torque converter. Some 400 flexplates have the large torque converter bolt pattern only, and TH700 uses the smaller pattern. The other issue is the 400's 168-tooth starter may sit out far enough to get in the way of headers (but may not be a problem).

You could get a 153-tooth flexplate, use a balance plate like this http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SES-3-60-11-026/ , and use a 3rd gen starter. But, you need to make sure your block has the starter mount bolt holes for a 3rd gen starter.

By the way, the TH700 automatic transmission wasn't available in 1982. Are you sure that's what it is?

 

I was just assuming that it was the 7004 for some reason, I havent actually looked underneath. If that is the case and it is a th350 in the camaro, would it be easier to hook up with either flexplate bolt pattern? A th350 is also what the 400 is hooked up to now.

 

The only automatic transmission offered in 1982 was the TH200C. 3 speed auto with lock-up torque converter, no overdrive. It is the same external dimensions (bell housing pattern, length, mount location, etc.) as the TH350, but since your 400/TH350 came out of a truck, the TH350 might be the "long" tail version - the output shaft housing being 9" long instead of 6" long. The TH350 also will not have the provision to mount the torque arm like the TH200C does. That can be handled with a conversion crossmember and torque arm, but that will involve more $'s. The 9" TH350 just happens to be the same length as the TH700, so you can use the driveshaft from a later car that had a TH700 (or T5 for that matter) if that's what it is.

The torque converter mount issues would be the same with the TH200C as with the TH700. Except the TH200C is not nearly as strong as the TH350, and also weaker than the TH700.

 

What about the t-5? Wouldnt that be a straight bolt up?