It looks as if I am finally going to get my engine swap....I have a 305 TBI that i am going to replace with a low-mile 90' TPI 350...The 350 is totally complete down to the wiring harness.I am still an "amateur" here and will pay to have this done.Therefore, I need to have an idea of how much this would cost....Is this a difficult job for a motor-swap savvy person?My dad says that i should not go with the TPI and just put my TBI on the 350...What do you guys think? Oh...Im getting the engine complete for $850.all opinions are greatly appreciated...If anyone has done this swap...please e-mail me and give some info..darbster88815844@cs.com
thanks

 

Hi,

As it happens I've begun this very ordeal. I purchased a complete 350 TPI engine to swap into my 1992 Firebird Formula with a 305 TBI.

The first thing to do is to make sure you can find a shop to do it. I live on the Northern Neck of Virginia and I called 8 shops to see if they'd do the swap. NONE would. I went to the MAFBA homepage and found a reference to a shop in Stafford (2 hours from me). They will do it and they quoted me $1,600. They've done this many times, so at least I feel good about their experience. They came highly recommended.

Frankly, I think the swap could be done easily by yourself with a Helms manual and some friends to help with the actual removal and installation of engines. In my case I can't do that, I have a 10 month old baby daughter that I take care of while my wife goes to college.

I know this is long, but I'll be starting this project pretty soon and if you need any more help or advice, just post.

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1997 Chevrolet Camaro SS # 379
1992 Pontiac Firebird Formula (just purchased 350 TPI!)
1973 Chevrolet Camaro RS/Z28
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 350

I miss seeing the sun shine down on the black #3 car.

I'm old enough to know better, but still too young to care!--Wade Hayes

 

I am almost complete trading out the 305 to 350 swap. I would stick with the TPI they aren't in high demand for nothing. I'm not sure if the intakes are interchagable to put the tbi on a 350. Any way if you have the TIME and some mechanical sence you could do it. It will take a while and if you plan before you act then it should go relativley smooth. Don't forget you will need the 350 computer and SFC's are nice insurance anytime you beef up the HP especally if you have T tops.

 

A 350 computer and sfc's huh?...how much would i be looking at for those?and what are sfc's?

 

SFC's, Sub Frame Connectors. I won't recommend a brand as I am not using any, *YET*.

Definitely go with the TPI, though, It's well worth it.

 

so a 350 computer...is that like the ECM? or is that something totally different?where could i get this computer also?

 

The ECM is the computer. If you don't have the ECM, you will need to get it, and if the ECM doesn't have the PROM, you will have to get that, too. You will need to get the Speed Density version which is part # 1227730. The ECM is between $100-150 new, if I remember correctly. You can get it from a dealer, some parts stores and EBAY.

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1997 Chevrolet Camaro SS # 379
1992 Pontiac Firebird Formula (just purchased 350 TPI!)
1973 Chevrolet Camaro RS/Z28
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 350

I miss seeing the sun shine down on the black #3 car.

I'm old enough to know better, but still too young to care!--Wade Hayes

 

Thanks for the help....my ECM is already in need of a replacement....the electric fan doesnt cut on when its hot.....so i need a new ECM anyways...but do you think i could use the ECM i already have for the time being?

 

Just cause your fan doesnt cut on when its hot doesnt mean that its your ecm. Check the fan motor first.

 

The fan and motor is brand new...just replaced....apparently the ECM isnt reading when the car is hot to turn the fan on....right now i have a wire "rigged" to keep the fan on whenever i put the key in so the car doesnt overheat.

 

Check your fan relay. There is a backup switch in one of the heads too, so if the computer doesn't turn it on that switch will, I don't think your computer would selectivly loose the ability to turn on the fan. Maybe the sensor that tells the computer how hot it is isn't working.

I would keep the TBI for a while and then if you wanted to switch to the tpi. All you need to keep the TBI is to get a chip for an '89 caprice with a 350, get the injectors and knock sensor for the same car. You can get that chip at a dealer, I've heard they are like $50. A set of headers if exhaust manifolds don't already come with the 350 would be good too.

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1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula LO3/700R4
-180 degree stat, Hooker Cat-Back, Wonder Bar
Waiting for install: Open element 14x3, 95 vette LT1 cam
**Coming Sometime**
4th gen seats, 3.42/torsen(posi), Edlebrock Performer TBI intake, headers, y-pipe and cat, afpr
http://www.geocities.com/krt80/

 

The computer that you think needs replacing, is that your TBI computer? If so, when you convert to TPI, you'd need the SD TPI one anyway (the one I gave you the part number for earlier). I, too, don't think it's a computer problem that is causing your fan not to go on, though.

On a side note, I would restate my vote for converting to the 350 TPI. Just my $.02.

 

darbster,

also, when you do convert it's generally a pretty good idea to covert to dual fans.

 

Something in the cooling fan circut is bad,most of the time its the colling fan switch in the head, as the gent has stated.I retrofit old t\a's and muscle cars w/ eletric fans for more power.Not one uses a computer either.I could do the swap for less than $1600 but I doubt you have the means to bring it to missouri.I just converted my lg4 formula to a 400 tpi.Actually I'm a tech at a good shop and my boss said he'd charge $3000 for labor "if" he did custom work.He does'nt do custom but I do. It's alot of work,you could'nt do it over the weekend.I can answer any questions about the swap.I have just finished a graphics package for my 6.6 liter.I wish I had my own shop though.No matter what put that tpi in your car,every time you hit the gas pedal you'll thank yourself.

 

Thanks guys...I'll go with the TPI on the 350. The man that I am buying the motor from does side jobs on cars so he's going to give me a good deal since I'm buying the motor from him.But about that ECM...my dad was told that I can use the same one that I already have.And converting to dual fans does sound like a good idea, but its something I'll have to do a lil later...When I'm not quite as broke. I just can't wait till I can lift up my hood and see that pretty polished TPI sittin there Hopefully all goes well. And while he's installing the engine...I think I might pay him to install a new heater core too...So I dont have to..heh heh.Thanks for the help guys.

 

darbster,

Good luck, if you have any questions just post. I'm going through basically the exact same swap.

 

Well heres the news:
I'm buying the engine tomorrow.The engine is a "one owner" with 25k miles. I'm purchasing it complete with TPI and wiring harness for $850.And get this I'm getting the motor installed for $300....and as an add on his gunna install my heater core for $75 more...this is just because im buying the engine from his friend and I'm in need of a break so hes gunna give me one.Damn I am one happy boy....but I'll be even happier when I see this all happen.

~jason~
305 TBI
88 camaro SC

 

good luck!

 

I think I hate you.

Congrats, you're gonna love that TPI.

 

Yeah I really hope everything goes well...I'm expecting everything to cost a little more so I'm gathering a few extra hundred dollars just in case.

 

He was told wrong. Absolutely, positively no way a TBI computer will run a TPI. If you get the ECM from the same car from which the engine came, you aren't going to have any problems.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).