Hey guys. I need some help here. I am in a dilemma here. I own a Z28 with 5,7 Fuel Injection which have a refurbished engine and 350 autom. transm. but I never used the car and never got to finish it.

I decided to get another Camaro next week and I already saw a couple ones. I nailed it down to two but I REALLY can't decide.

The thing is I REALLY want standard transmission, I cant stand driving the fun car with automatic. I want to drive the car and not the other way around.

Here is the "Problem" I have. One of the Camaros I found is luckily standard but its "only" the 5.0 engine but is really in really good shape, also interior looks almost new. I drove it, feels good and seems a good car. But it doesnt have the T Top neither.

Here a pic:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...54980976_o.jpg

The other one I didnt drove yet but got to see some pics. Its the 5,7 (would like to have the bigger engine) and also seems in really good condition and the owner told me it only needs some paint on the bumpers. This one is also $200 cheaper than the standard 5.0l but sadly automatic.

Here a pic:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...98905999_o.jpg

From the pure feeling I would go for the 5,7 automatic but I just really badly want a standard Camaro.

So I found a standard transmission for 600 on the junker, almost new condition with clutch which is good and I got an offer for the swap for only 200 bucks. But I bet I need some more parts to make that happen.

What would you guys recommend? Is the difference between both engines big in performance? Would it be easier to swap a 5,7 engine in the 5,0 Camaro or a standard transmission in the 5,7?

I absolutely dont know what to do and I maybe somebody comes up with an argument I didnt think about yet.

Oh and thats my "old" Z28 that I still have here.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...11360495_n.jpg

Thank you very much!

 

Swapping an engine is easier than converting from auto to manual tranny.

Having two Camaros with LS1's, one with T56 and the other with 4L60E, I tend to migrate to the 4L60E. It'll kill the T56 across the intersection.

 

OK and how about the cables? Lets say I want to use my tuned port inj. engine in the standard Camaro with a carburator, will I be able to use the cables in the standard Camaro or do I need to exchange the whole cables too for additional cables and the electronics that probably control the injection? I used to swap and build engines but only 4cyl Turbos. I have not much experience with V8's. So you would recommend to get the Standard and swap the engine later on?

 

By "cables", if you mean "electrical harnesses", yes, they need to be transferred with the engine and computer. I'm a little sketchy on details because I haven't had a 3rd gen manual, but I believe some of the tranny harness goes with the engine harness. There are other details like speedometer type, VSS buffer, etc., that will depend on the year of the cars involved.

 

Yes, sorry english is not my first language. Some words I still dont know. So if I have to get out the whole electrical harnesses behind the cockpit, and eerywhere else, it seems to me that the transmission swap is the easier swap after all. I know the swap of the engine itself is relatively quick, but what really makes it a pain in the *** are all the cables and hoses. I will just go with the 5,7 because that one have the T Top too, the RS spoiler and A/C is installed and its cheaper anyways.

 

the trans vss wires will be in the engine wiring harness if its a 90-92. the reverse light switch for the trans goes to the driver side firewall connection and doesnt get mixed in with the engine wiring.

if its pre 90, the the trans should just have a speedo cable that drives the speedo directly plus the reverse light switch.

 

Well I decided to get the 5,7 automatic. I am going to try to find a manual transm from a 4th gen or Corbvette because I am planning to get a twin turbo kit later on and want to be prepared and the 5 speed is probably too weak to handle it.