I am just 17 and I cannot afford a new 350HO deluxe and so i am looking at possible alternates.MY dad owns a body shop and he can get has a friend that owns a junkyard that has alot of old caprice and buicks....Is it easy to buy an old block and repair it and install it in my 88 TA??.....are there any complications that may occur in this process.....will i have to modify anything.......should i just can the whole idea and save up for a 350 tpi from an old gta or iroc

 

"Easy" is a relative term. It would help to know what your TA has in it now: 305 or 350, TBI or TPI, manual or auto, etc.

Late '80's or early '90's Caprice engines would be best, since they would have the roller cam like you do now. It is possible to find used engines in good condition that would only need a cam change (optional, for performance reasons only) and transfer of your parts to it. If you have a manual, you'll want the later engines ('87-up) so your flywheel will work.

Same goes for Buicks assuming you're talking about the later ones (not '70's versions) that have the SBC's in them.

If you want to change from TBI to TPI, or auto to manual, the job becomes more complicated. But, those things aren't coming from Caprices or big Buicks, anyway.

If you do find one that needs rebuilding, it isn't particularly "hard", but good tools, including some specialized pieces, and someone handy to lend advice would be good to have available. You'll probably need to send some parts like the block & heads to a machine shop to get them worked. Some day Vader is going to get his tech article posted on that very topic.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, WP 305 heads ported & polished, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

I just want to thank five7kid for being so patient with us youngins. Every topic that asks about V6-V8/V8-bigger V8 he replies to and doesnt give us a hard time about it being asked so many times. Thanks alot man.

now i probaly got this thread closed for bein non-tech. *sigh*

 

I agree with you on that.....I really have fallen in love with third gen f-bodies and if it werent for patient people that dont critizes our question i think i would just stop my future trans am plans.....

 

i havent actually done the swap before, but I think I have read just about everything posted on this subject. We need to know what engine/transmission you currently have in the car, we all can help with just a little more info.

 

Currently i have a 305 tbi with an automatic transmission.....Thats about all i know for know

 

If you keep it TBI and automatic, you're in good shape. A TBI 350 from a Caprice or like car will bolt in with few/no problems. If you keep it from a '87-later car, that is.

Zero, you sure you've got the right guy? I typically recommend selling your V6 car and buying a factory V8 car to build; and go ahead and build your 305; and say things like, "Have you checked this board for the last 30 days or so for topics on that?"

[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited February 27, 2001).]

 

yeah im sure. And honestly i think that is some of the best advice(sell V6 buy V8 if your wanting SPEED, dont want the V6 board guys getting on me). You give your opinion and let people make their decision, not saying one way is right/wrong. Dont kick a gift horse in the mouth, jus take the compliment. =)