How hard would a brand new GM Performance parts Ram Jet 350 crate engine be to swap in to a 1988 GTA Trans Am? Its currently an L98. It says that the new engine comes with the wiring harness. So what would this install entail? what would I do with my ECM? Will my 700R4 Bolt up? I will be installing a shift kit. It says the engine makes 350HP and 400Tq and I'm looking for at least 300RWHP.

 

GM did this, it was a '91 Camaro, they painted it bright yellow. Your ECM may be necessary for your speedometer, but that's about it. The ramjet 350 isn't at all emissions legal (partly because of no EGR)even if you did use your ECM, so better to just use the ramjet ECM, it's all calibrated. Speaking of which, what it's calibrated for is headers, not exhaust manifolds. Your 700R-4 will bolt right up, but using it means that the 350 crankshaft HP will result in about 273 rwhp, if you put synthetic lube in your rear axle. Using a manual trans would get you to approx 304.5 rwhp, by the standard correction factor, again, assuming synthetic lubes in the trans and axle. By the way, if you install a power steering pump, or an alternator, or anything else, you'll lose more HP, as the ramjet was rated based on testing with no accessories on the front of the engine. If you do this swap as you proposed, you can expect mid 13s in the quarter mile, on drag radials, at sea level in decent air(temps). You can reuse your current motor mounts, torque converter, flexplate, accessories, fuel pump and lines. It's a rather expensive engine, and for less money you could swap in a good used LSx, and have more HP, slightly better MPG, and make it emissions legal. If you use an aluminum block version of the LS, you can even improve handling.