I'm currently driving an '86 Trans Am with a port fuel injected 305. The motor has a severe tick and oil is fouling up my spark plugs and causing them to misfire. I'm in school to become an automotive technician and this Fall we have our class on Engine Repair. Here is my question: Once that class comes around, what should I do/what can I do?

My '86 has a stock digital dash which, from what I've researched, is very rare for 1986. If I switch to a carb, will it "upset" the computer and cause my dash to quit working properly?

If I can successfully keep my digital dash and convert to a carb, then I can upgrade my engine to a 350 or my buddy even has a 383 pulled and unused. If I have to stick with fuel injection, is there a way to get a bigger motor in the car and still have everything function properly?

Basically, I want a bigger engine, but not at the price of my digital dash. Should I get a larger motor or is the headache too much and should I stick with the 305?

(Disclaimer: I haven't learned every little detail or spec and their significance yet, but I have a decent grasp on basic engine principals.)

Any and all help will be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

I would suggest rebuild. This appears to be your first rebuild, so I would stick to basics. Check syllabus for engine repair course and make sure this is within the scope of the class, obviously.

The TPIs do great on gas compared to carb. I got over 20 hwy w/TPI and around 12 hwy with carb ...both 350s. The difference to me is driving the car (20+mpg) vs. not driving it at all (12mpg).

I think you can go 350 (long block) with injectors and a chip. If I am not mistaken the 5.0TPI vs. 5.7TPI is only a few HP and the main difference being torque.


As far as the digital dash, I would think all the sensors could be readily adapted to any other engine.

 

You can build big HP with a 350 TPI if done right, not so much with the 305. You can get away with more mods in TN than in CA. Smog laws in CA are killer.