Ok guys i bought my first muscle car without doing any research. I bought a 92 camaro with the 305 and im tired of gettin outran by v6 mustangs. Ive did some reasearch and dont think that building the 305 is the way i want to go. But my uncle has a built 327 small block in his garage that came out of a impala. How hard and expensive would it be to drop that sucker down in there and should i keep my 700r4 or go with the 350 turbo sittin in the garage. Any info would be greatly appreciated

 

Well, the 327 will slide right in with very little effort. However, the induction and distributer will be the decider. Can you pass emissions if you ditch the computer controlled stuff?

 

Brad, welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

While a 327 might bolt right into the engine compartment, there are a lot of details that will need to be sorted out.

First, what heads are on the 327? 3rd gen accessories bolt to the heads, and most 327 heads did not have the bolt holes in the end of the heads (and you can't just drill and tap holes into older heads). In addition to that, no 327 head was made with hardened exhaust valves and seats, so unleaded fuel will eventually allow unhardened valves and seats to erode. So, figure out what heads are on it, and what has been done to them while being "built".

Next, 327's were built before other changes were made to small blocks. The rear main seal is 2-piece, and your '92 engine is 1-piece, so the flexplate is different between the two. You probably won't be able to use the 327 flexplate (although it might work), but the good news is the '82-'85 3rd gen f-body V8 flexplate will fit both the engine and your current torque converter. The dipstick is also on the driver side on the 327, but on the passenger side in your car. This probably won't be an issue if the oil pan on the 327 isn't a kick-out style pan, and if you put headers on when you install the 327.

As has been hinted, this would not be an emissions-legal swap. You will probably say, "I don't have to pass emissions where I live", but that doesn't change the fact that it is against Federal law to put a 327 in a '92 car that is driven on the street.

If you decide to go ahead anyway, I would assume you would keep a carb on the 327. I would imagine this is going to be a street car, so the TH700 would be the better choice for transmission. You will most likely need an adapter link to mount on the carb throttle arm for the TV cable on the TH700. You'll also need to provide some means to lock up the torque converter clutch (there is a tech article linked from the thirdgen.org homepage on the topic, and it if often discussed on the Transmission and Drivetrain forum, so search there).

It would also be good to know what cam is in the 327 so you can get a proper torque converter for the TH700.

The '92 has an in-tank electric fuel pump. It will need a by-pass or return-style fuel pressure regulator to keep the line pressure carb-friendly. The TBI pump doesn't have enough capacity for a really healthy 327, though, so plan on dropping the fuel tank to put in a better pump. The Walbro 255 pump and Mallory 4309 regulator is a popular combination here.

Plan on changing the entire exhaust system, starting with headers. Parts made for the '86-'90 TPI single-cat application will give you sufficient flow to handle all but the wildest 327.

That's a start on the list of things you're going to be facing.

 

The 327 is a nice engine, but the 350 (or 383) would be much easier to switch to. Five7Kid was right. There's no question about it. The 327 would be a project. You can usually get a nice 350 at the Junkyard for Cheap. Here in Shreveport, LA, You can get an entire engine no matter what it is at the U-Pull-It yard for $188 (+$10 Lift Rental). With the right equipment, you could be reasonably sure that what you're pulling is a good engine. You might even be able to start the engine if you bring a battery, a gas can, and a few feet of fuel line.

 

an LS1 will solve all your problems

 

Thank you guys for all your help it looks like i might just be looking for a 350 to drop in. And as for the ls1 yea right i wish i had that kind of money. I actually have a fuel injected 350 out of a 91 silverado. Would this be something i might wanna drop in?

 

That would be a lot easier than the 327. Are you getting the TBI (injection) unit as well? Computer?

 

Yea the whole motor and everything is sitting in the truck as we speak. Im just not sure id be able to do that extensive of a swap it seems like a little too much to jump into

 

Isn't your car fuel injected already?

 

Depending on what state you live in and who you know, getting a carbed motor through private inspection prior to OBD 2 isn't hard; I can do it in NJ so I'm sure you can do it as well!

The easiest swap will be carbed. It's a strait forward swap and all you have to add is a fuel pressure regulator. But then again I'm the ******* who has always stuck with carbs because I can tune one decently and hate wiring.

 

Like I said, that would be a LOT easier than installing the 327. Unbolt the 305, bolt in the 350. You should verify this on the TBI forum, but I believe you can put the 350 computer in place of the 305 computer. If not, then swapping out the harness is still a lot easier than what you would have to do to get the 327 installed.

 

Five7, are you talking about putting the truck computer in the car? If so I don't think thats possible, and truck wiring design was changed damn near year to year(don't ask how I know )

And 1991 in trucks was a year all its own, I changed a diesel one to a TBI 350 and it took me forever and about 5 harnesses to figure that out.

 

I'm almost positive the computers are interchangeable from 305-350 though... at least in the trucks they are.

 

At the very worst, you'd have to reprogram the 305 computer for the 350.

 

Truck computer will go in just like it was born there.

 

No it wont. B-body LO5 ECM will work. PROM is all you need to switch over though for a 305 to 350 conversion

LO5 trucks have a very early PCM to control the first 4L60E's. B-bodys were still using the same ECM as TBI F-bodys, they just got the 350 option where we didnt