I was thinking about getting a newer TA or GTA with a 350 TPI. The reason why is because of the fact that it might cost me too much to figure out the electrical problems on my '83. The '83 is my first car, and I havent gotten my lisence as of yet. My car has a swapped engine in it as of now, I was told it is a 350 4 bolt main. My '83 has the front end and ground effects of an '86. I was wondering which engine is better. Is my 350 4 bolt main or a 350 TPI better? If I got a newer TA should I swap the engines? Should I just keep my car or should I just get a 350 TPI? I might end up keeping my TA and just put the money into the electrical which might not even cost that much. Please somebody let me know, I am 16 and do not know that much about engines. I know to a certain extent but I am seeking advice from some experts. Thanks.

 

What kind of electrical problems? I can't imagine how it would be cheaper to swap engines than replace an alternator or fix a wire or something.

It makes very little difference, if any, that your 350 has 4-bolt mains. However, you will learn as you gain more real-world experience that people will tell you absolutely anything they think you want to hear when they are selling you a used car, especially things like that which you have no way whatsoever of verifying. My personal favorite line of bull droppings is that some part or other "is off a Vette" or "came from a Vette" or even is "a Vette" whatever it is. As if a piece of cast iron or other part acquires some mystical aura by the owner making the claim. Even if it is "from a Vette", there's no magic left in it just because it had fiberglass around it for a while instead of steel.

I'd strongly recommend finding the problem with your existing car. Even if you do swap motors eventually, you'll have to chase down gremlins in every car you'll ever have, so you should get comfortable with the idea that you are capable of doing it.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by RB83L69 (edited April 13, 2001).]

 

Thanks. I didnt buy the car because of the fact that it had a "vette engine". I really could care less. The reason why I bought it is because I have always loved third gens since I was little. My dad had an '87 and I loved it, then he ended up getting rid of it. So I decided to get my '83. I was just asking because some of my friends suggested getting a newer car and just selling mine. I like how mine is sorta customized with the newer front end and nose along with the new hatch and spoiler. My problem with electrical is that I have no back left brake, my front right passenger signal and back left driver side signal doesnt work. My brake drivers side back brake light also doesnt work. When I put my four ways on my right front passenger and left back drivers side doesnt work. I thought that it was just the wiring harness. I went to a junk yard and bought a tail light wiring harness and it was from an '88. I swapped my old style tail lights with the grid type and swapped the wiring harness. The problem was that the wiring harnesses had different connectors so I had to splice the '88 wiring harness. It didnt have the gas sensor on the newer wiring harness. So now I have the same problem with the tail lights and now my gas gauge doesnt read. I now need to buy a new harness for my '83 Tail lights. I hope they still are made in GM. My interior is also shot. But I already bought perfect condition black interior plastics from a '91 TA with t-tops. I am in the middle of buying a set of black leather seats from a 4th gen. TA as well. I really like my car and wasnt really thinking about getting rid of it. I was just seeing what others thought. I like my carburated 350 any ways. I like my car since it is sort of a project car. It is good experience and I hope I learn alot from it.

Sorry it was so long.

 

I think you would be better off to get your witing problems straightened out than to try to change engines. The problem with going to tpi is that your going to need a high pressure electric fuel pump in the tank, and
a fuel return line added to the tank. If you want tpi, you're better off to buy a tpi car. If you are going to replace the interior anyway, strip it out. That will get a lot of stuff out of the way, so you can check out the electrical problems more easily.