We started the swap today. The old 305 has been out for a while and the 383 is being prepared for transplantation. So far the headaches have been popping up everywhere. First when taking the old motor mounts out to be replaced by the new ES ones, I got a little brutal with the wrench turning; this caused the socket to twist off of the bolt and send my hand careening into a waiting sharp edge on the firewall. The bleeding stopped fairly quickly. After getting all of the sensors out of the old block and inspecting them, we found that the electric fan switch was broken. To top it off, both the new fan switch and the temp. sending unit are to small to fit into the corresponding holes in the new WP sportsman II's. After another trip to the local autozone, pepboys, and O'reilly's; We finally found a 1/2 to 3/8 reducer at Home Depot. That problem solved we moved on. The next thing to pop up was the Fuel Pressure regulator. The stock one, at this time I would like to send out a big **** you to GM for this, is bolted down with torx bit screws that have little pins in the center of them so that a standard torx bit can't be used on them. 30 minutes and another 18 bucks later a nice set of GM torx bits solved that snafu. I am being nickeled and dimed to death. I hope some of you guys doing this same kind of swap can learn from my experience and not have to do through this crap. So far I have added blood and tears to my car. After we muscle the new motor into place tommorow morning, I will have added sweat to the mix. Nothing has been easy so far why should doing that be any different? All that aside I can't wait to drive my car again. Thanks for listening to me rant.
Robert


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1989 GTA TRANS AM
Was a TPI 305 & t-5 car.
Is now 383 stroker w/ the same T-5
World products Sportsman II heads(64cc fast burns). Lunati pistons@10.5:1 and 452/462/112* camshaft. Eagle crank and 6 inch rods. Ported/polished/port matched stock TPI intake. T-5 on a suicide mission.

 

Went through some of the same problems with the senors and then some with the valve covers on the WP heads. Still minor stuff to correct. The hand will heal and engine will run.

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1987 Black Camaro IROC (orginal owner) Replaced LB9 @ 86100 miles.
New 350 Crate engine
Balanced & blueprinted
WP 67cc Heads 9.6:1 C.R.
Cam 450lift,216dur@50,110ls
TPI Induction(from 305)
22# Fuel Injectors
SLP Intake runners , New Computer chip
K&N filters & Air Foil ,
Hothkis STB
SLP 1 3/4 Headers
3" Cat back exhaust
700R4 Auto
SLP Torque Converter (2400 stall)
Limited Slip rear (2:73)
245/45/17ZR Tires
17x8.5 ATP 5 Razze Wheels
EST. 340HP
380#/ft of Torque
NEW TOY!

 

yeah me too. The temp gauge sending unit wouldn't work on the edelbrock heads so I headed to Autozone and I got a sending unit for a 1969 Chevelle SS454 and it went right in.

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I WOULD RATHER PUSH A CAMARO THAN DRIVE AN IMPORT

1983Z28 350w/ edelbrock performer RPM power package with 64cc aluminum heads, dynomax shorty headers, 700R-4 with shift kit, 750cfm carb, edelbrock 3" exhaust system, ASCD SS hood, 16" IROC rims.

future mods:
completely done over suspension, black paint with flames, Hurst shifter, dakota digital gauge package, procharger supercharger.

 

I feel your pain. Right now in the middle of a 305 to 350 swap and for every step forward it seems I take two back. I don't remember the last time being this diffacult. Good luck.

 

I feel your pain. I had the same problems putting my 454 in. No matter how hard you try to plan ahead, SOMETHING is always going to come up. I probably hosed myself out of $300 Canadian just with mad dashes to the local parts store for fittings, bolts, epoxy, a belt (oohhhh......this was a fun one, 5 runs for the belt alone! ) etc. etc. This happens to everybody. Trust me, you'll look back and laugh at all the missing parts, busted knuckles and the priceless look on the cashiers face as you go to the store for the tenth time in one day covered head to toe in grease and dirt. You're not alone...........

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85 Berlinetta Iroc exterior NOW 454 powered, 4.10 gears, and a PILE of other goodies..........YES, it's street driven!

check it out at http://www.bsronline.net/members/rob/rob_specs.html

 

I was pretty lucky on my ZZ4 install. I found my oil cooler would not fit with the 8" damper on the ZZ4. I forgot the TV cable when I snatched the old motor, trip to the dealership for a new one.
Get some Mechanixs gloves, those things are the bomb for big work like pulling engines, exhaust work etc. Not good for detail work but great for big jobs.
Good luck, hang in there!

------------------
Rob P
89RSconvtZZ4TPI
Edelbrock Hi-Flow Intake
SLP Dual Cold Air Intake
1 5/8" Headers
Semi-Siamesed Runners
MSD6AL/relocated MAT/ AdjFPR/IROC frnt@rear swaybar/wonderbar/steeringbox/alum drvshaft/ Alston SFC/3:23posi disc rear/MAC LCA/H.Adams Panhard Rod/KYB struts/ shocks/
92Z28convt5spd
71Impala convt 402BB
BETTER DRIVING THRU SUPERIOR HORSEPOWER!

 

Funny, but I just ran into the temp and
fan switch sensor problem just today. Also
have World heads..... Guess I will look for
the reducers.

------------------
Tom K.
84 Z-28 M5 305 L69 HO
pulleys,coil,3:73(stock)
Jet chip, fan switch,
Al dshaft,1.6 rockers,
LCAs and brackets,BFG DRs
14.20 @ 96.74 2.02 60ft

 

The motor is in!! We got the motor bolted up to the tranny and to the mounts today. The headers are in place as well. We kept the trips to the parts store down to just four runs today. Mainly for bolts that came up missing throughout the process. No BIG problems came up today. The real fun begins tommorrow when we start hooking all of the electronics and accessories back up. Thanks Robert

 

I had that same belt problem, Numerous trips. They just gave me the hook and let me pick and choose which belt I needed. Wasted about $10 in gas going back and forth. They thought it was pretty funny though. I went from a V6 2.8 to a 350. The brackets were a nightmare to find. I finally got lucky and found someone parting out a Camaro and I was first one there. Took all the parts I needed. I was happy that day.



------------------
1986 SC Camaro
Mods: Threw 2.8 in garbage, put in rebuilt
350 .060 over, XE268H Comp cam, Edlebrock
Performer Intake and Edlebrock 600 CFM Carb,
Pete Jackson noisy GearDrive (which sounded
cool for about 5 minutes, now I'm sick of it)
Rebuilt TH350, 3.42 Rear Gears. LCA RLB's.

 

You know, its almost funny to come upon this thread. A few years ago, I squeezed a 383 into a 1987 Toyota pickup. When I came time to swap my Firebirds V6 to a V8, I said "How hard can it be." I tell you what, I think the Toyota was easier! Maybe its because, with the 3rd gen, you expect everything to fit and it don't. Oh well, live and learn...

 

I forgot to add that I built/installed the motor in Jan., dead of winter here in an unheated garage! I never knew cement could get so cold when I was doing the torque convertor back up. All those parts runs were also made in my 86 2.2 Charger, with NO heat (head gasket is going). Man am I glad it's spring!

------------------
85 Berlinetta Iroc exterior NOW 454 powered, 4.10 gears, and a PILE of other goodies..........YES, it's street driven!

check it out at http://www.bsronline.net/members/rob/rob_specs.html

 

You too??!!???! I thought I was the only one that has trouble getiing the right belts? You know i tried that wrap a string around the pulleys and measure the string, it didn't work! Man that was the worst power steering pump i ever did!



------------------
I WOULD RATHER PUSH A CAMARO THAN DRIVE AN IMPORT

1983Z28 350w/ edelbrock performer RPM power package with 64cc aluminum heads, dynomax shorty headers, 700R-4 with shift kit, 750cfm carb, edelbrock 3" exhaust system, ASCD SS hood, 16" IROC rims.

future mods:
completely done over suspension, black paint with flames, Hurst shifter, dakota digital gauge package, procharger supercharger.

 

That's the same belt I had probs with and I did the string thing also. A friend suggested it. Idiot

 

mine was the alt./water pump belt. That is the only belt on the car. Now if I actually kept the p/s, I could probably see 4-5 runs for brackets, and then the great belt hunt all over! The best piece of advice I can give is replace all the little things NOW while your doing the swap. I tried to go el cheapo on a few things and ended up spending more money and time later on. I "suddenly" found a bad battery cable the first night I took it out. About a week later I blew a heater hose. I though I was being smart by replacing the rad hoses and dumb me, I presumed that would be good enough until I saw steam pouring out of the hood! No damage, just a BIG mess. So if you think things are a pain the *** right now, just wait............Murphy's Law and the dreaded shoulda coulda woulda Syndrome!!!!

------------------
85 Berlinetta Iroc exterior NOW 454 powered, 4.10 gears, and a PILE of other goodies..........YES, it's street driven!

check it out at http://www.bsronline.net/members/rob/rob_specs.html

[This message has been edited by CrazyRob75 (edited April 25, 2001).]