Need Help with first time engine swap
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Joined: Feb 2015
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Need Help with first time engine swap
Hello Everyone
Let me start off by just saying this is my first time posting on this forum. i did do a search but just couldn't seem to find exactly what i was looking for.
So i just bought a 1983 camaro z28 with 700R4 trans and LU5 engine car starts up and runs just fine, but i want more power. So i am buying a L98 with complete wire harness and ECU. What all is involved with doing this swap? Will i have enough fuel pressure? Will my stall converter still lock up? Do i have to change the ignition setup? Just trying to get a good idea of what i am getting into for this project.
Let me start off by just saying this is my first time posting on this forum. i did do a search but just couldn't seem to find exactly what i was looking for.
So i just bought a 1983 camaro z28 with 700R4 trans and LU5 engine car starts up and runs just fine, but i want more power. So i am buying a L98 with complete wire harness and ECU. What all is involved with doing this swap? Will i have enough fuel pressure? Will my stall converter still lock up? Do i have to change the ignition setup? Just trying to get a good idea of what i am getting into for this project.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.
You won't have enough fuel pressure. Drop the tank, pull the pickup assembly, replace the electric pump with a TPI pump (or, upgrade to something like the Walbro 255, a popular 3rd gen replacement pump).
The TPI ECM will lock up the TH700R-4 converter just fine. Assuming you wire everything up correctly.
What year is the TPI system? Only the '85 & '86 TPI used the same distributor as the '83 crossfire. If you are getting the complete TPI harness, the distributor connectors will only work with the type of distributor that year had. If the L98 includes the distributor, just use it. If '87-later, you'll have to do a few wiring changes like to the coil and tach. Not a big deal, but they aren't part of the TPI harness. And, the ECM harness is different between the two types, and it would be much more involved to convert an '87-later TPI ECM to the earlier distributor than it would be to wire up the '87-later coil and tach to the car.
Although you could probably use the L98 accessories (alternator, water pump, AC compressor, PS pump, if they're included), it would probably be easier to swap over those parts from your current engine - just to minimize what needs to be modified (wiring, hoses, etc.).
You won't have enough fuel pressure. Drop the tank, pull the pickup assembly, replace the electric pump with a TPI pump (or, upgrade to something like the Walbro 255, a popular 3rd gen replacement pump).
The TPI ECM will lock up the TH700R-4 converter just fine. Assuming you wire everything up correctly.
What year is the TPI system? Only the '85 & '86 TPI used the same distributor as the '83 crossfire. If you are getting the complete TPI harness, the distributor connectors will only work with the type of distributor that year had. If the L98 includes the distributor, just use it. If '87-later, you'll have to do a few wiring changes like to the coil and tach. Not a big deal, but they aren't part of the TPI harness. And, the ECM harness is different between the two types, and it would be much more involved to convert an '87-later TPI ECM to the earlier distributor than it would be to wire up the '87-later coil and tach to the car.
Although you could probably use the L98 accessories (alternator, water pump, AC compressor, PS pump, if they're included), it would probably be easier to swap over those parts from your current engine - just to minimize what needs to be modified (wiring, hoses, etc.).
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
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Re: Need Help with first time engine swap
thanks got the reply this actually clears up a lot of the questions i had about it. I am not sure what year the L98 is going to be i am buying it from hawksthirdgen.com here is the link if you want to check it out. says it comes with all accessory's
http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/ca...ing-accessory/
http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/ca...ing-accessory/
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