Hey everyone! So, the 305 in my 84 Berlinetta is tired, and I want to swap in the BluePrint 383/410hp motor. BP says their heads are .500 (1/2 inch) taller exhaust port placement than stock Chevy heads, and I'll need shorty headers when I do the swap.

Has anyone else used their engines and used the shorty headers versus long tube headers? Sanderson doesn't make them, although BP referred me to them. Hedman might (closed for Christmas), but I'd like to get my parts dialed in before I get the Camaro back in April.

Let me know if you have some solution to the shorty header / BP heads issue, ok?

TIA!

Jim aka Bearhead

 

I read a recent post indicating that DynoDon is back making headers for third gen again. Contact him with your question. Maybe he has a set of headers for that. I too am considering a Blueprint 383 for my TPI swapped 87 Monte Carlo SS. But I would pick one of their 383 short blocks and use AFR 195 heads. AFR 195 heads have the exhaust port raised about .100 inches from stock. I think I can deal with that. Blueprint's .500" raised exhaust ports is a bit too much. But it probably would work with shorty headers and a custom dual exhaust. That way all is needed is to bend the exhaust pipe to fit the header outlet location. But can third gen camaro accept true dual exhaust?

Good Luck,
Fred

 

I don't think there was a true dual exhaust option on 3rd Gens, from what I've researched. Just the Y pipe and whatever large diameter pipe you can use to the 2 in 1 out muffler setup. I live in AZ, and since it's now a "Historical Vehicle" (anything over 25 years old) I'm smog and exhaust exempt and can do whatever I want.

Not a fan of long tube headers anymore, shorty headers (like the Ram Air exhausts in my 69 Bird) are much better for ground clearance. I know the shorty headers aren't the best at high rpm hp, but most of my driving is in the 1500-5000 rpm range anyway.

Does Dyno Don have a website?

Thanks for your help, Fred!

Jim

 

@Fred SS BluePrint says these Sanderson headers work with the 383 BP heads.
https://sandersonheaders.com/product...l-block-chevy/

 

The website for Dyno Don headers is "www.top-downsolutions.com"

Surfing thru their website, they have several exhaust systems with the dual cat configuration used on some Firebirds.

Also saw several shorty headers for F-Body. Contact them and ask a question for DynoDon. I have seen posts from him on Thirdgen.

Fred

 

Dons headers will likely fit. I have raised d port fast burn heads and his headers work great. Those Sanderson headers probably aren't the move.

 

Fred,
Thanks for the site link, I'll shoot them an email about fitment. Sanderson said their headers would need to be modified by dimpling the tubes.

 

Just an FYI: Hedman doesn't offer shorty headers for a 3rd Gen, only long tube headers.

 

After a bunch of research it seems the BluePrint SBC heads are going to pose a lot of fitment issues. At this point it looks like a 350/330 hp ATK engine is going to be the best option to do my upgrade. Thanks for all the replies and suggestions, I really appreciate it!

Jim

 

I'm flying to Denver on Thursday to go get my old 84 Berlinetta. Decided on an ATK HP98 350/345HP/400TQ iron head motor.
9.1:1 compression so it will still run on 87 octane. Yes, it has a Z28 front end. 3.08 or 3.23 gears (have to check when I get it).
700r4 auto. Bose sound system on the pod...hope I make it back in one piece! LOL

Some pics...

 

Just curious. Would that 700R4 shift at 5200rpm during WOT? Probably not! It might end-up shifting at 4800rpm and dropping under 3000rpm, not taking advantage of HP curve! A T5 or T56 would most likely be a better match... no?


ATK HP98 350/345HP/400TQ - Dyno

 

SbFormula...the 700r4 is good to about 350hp/375TQ. By the time I get to AZ at 5500 ft elevation, I'll lose another 40 hp due to altitude. The 7.5" rear end ain't going to handle any more than that, so the plan is to make it get out of its own way, and drive it.
This is just going to be a long drive car with the 3.08 gears (maybe 3.23) and run on 87 octane.

I've got a 69 Firebird 400 with 500hp, 200r4, 3.73 posi, a 2004 Vette that's supercharged, and a 98 TA vert. If I really want to go fast, I've got better vehicles for that.
Thanks for your input, though!

 

So I have a check engine light after three minutes. Took her to a local shop up here in Colorado and apparently the wires are frayed on the coolant temperature sensor. But no one has this exact temperature sensor in stock! Apparently, my sensor is round for the electrical connectors and all the other ones are over. Go figure. The shop called me back and said they couldn’t find it so they were going to wrap the frayed wires around the terminals and hopefully that will cure the check engine light as they think it’s shorting after it drives so far. If not, I’ll be paying $600 for airfare to fly back to Arizona.

 

Right: that old stuuupid "coaxial" kind of thing that ALWAYS fails, is NLA. Thank Bozhye.

Good news is, the oval kind bolts right in and works perfect. All you gotta do is put the right pigtail on your harness. You used to be able to get a new sensor with the pigtail included; if not, the pigtail is readily available by itself.

https://www.autozone.com/engine-mana...254/342421_0_0

Doesn't matter which wire goes to which color in the harness. Use solder with electronic type flux (rosin) and heat shrink tubing; NOT Scotchlocks or crimp butt splices.

Not sure about this "shop" thing... isn't that what women do when they want more shoes? What does THAT have to do with repairing an ANTIQUE CAR?

 

Change the governor out in your transmission.. Weights in the governor is what controls the shift point. A corvette governor would be perfect.

 

Since I was 914 miles from home, I had to have a shop do the work. I was on a tight schedule. Thanks for the links to the new electrical connector. I'll put that in when I do the engine swap. Right now it's working fine.

 

The ATK HP94 is at the shop doing the engine swap. I took a look at it today (through plastic wrap and wood crate) and it seems pretty decent. Won't get the swap done until late August, so maybe in September I can start heading out shows & meet ups.

I did find a nice YT video on the engine...glad I waited for the 383/415hp/460 TQ to get back in stock at Summit.

 

The ATK 383 sounds good. Please keep posting your progress. I am interested in learning how you like the ATK. I too want to go with a 383, but not sure if I will get my motor locally done or go with one of the aftermarket companies.

Good Luck,
Fred

 

Fred, I got the ATK 94 383, it should be pretty stout. I just checked on my spoiler at the body shop, they have that ready to put on next week. After that it's off to Hollemon Hotrods in Prescott, AZ for the engine swap, reseal the 700r4, and fix the AC. After that it should be ready for cruising...quick cruising! I'll post some pics after I get it back.

 

Post a video once it's in!!! Want to hear the beast

Here's mine with hooker exhaust on cold idle, open loop

 

Well, the engine swap starts on Monday. The new rear spoiler is being put on at Prescott Auto Body right now, then they take it to Hollemon's Hot Rods.

I should have it back the 1st week of September after I get back from vacation. Going to be fun!

 

Still waiting on the engine swap completion, supposed to be Friday. The spoiler install required new rear hatch hinges and bolts...so it goes back to the body shop after the engine swap is done. Good thing I'm not in a hurry!

 

What hinges did you get?...

 

 

AirMaro is still in the shop getting the 383 swap done, new exhaust, etc. Then it goes back to the body shop to install the spoiler. This is taking a long time, I'm ready! LOL

 

I got to hear the ATK 383 crate engine earlier this week. It's a pretty lopey beast! Loud AF with just the headers on. Exhaust goes on next week, AC gets fixed, too. Going to be a fun one!

 

Well, well, I put the quietest exhaust system I could on AirMaro...seriously! This is a cold start of the ATK HP94 383 415/460 mill.

http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/84camaro/ATK383.MOV

 

I'm afraid the old 700r4 isn't up to the challenge of the new 383 stroker. Took it to a shop and I have the weaker 27 spline version that doesn't have enough pump pressure to let the engine kick in the 4 barrels when I punch it...as in it won't downshift to a lower gear.

So, new 700r4 tranny, 30 spline, built for 500hp going in. I imagine I'll have it back in a couple of weeks. The shop has to find a core, then build it.

 

Oh wow! I just now realized you are the Scumback speakers guy! COOL! I had no idea you were a thirdgen owner...

 

Yup, I'm that guy! My 84 Camaro has been in the family since February of 1984. I'm just making it a whole lot better.
Jim

 

That's awesome. I had a '84 Z-28 parts-car 20 years ago. Many parts from that are now in my '83 Firebird.
I don't have any Scumback speakers (only Celestions), but I wouldn't mind having some...

 

@T.L. I've got sound clips on my site for the speakers if you want to hear them.

And here's the final pics of the 84 Camaro. Couldn't put on the spoiler due to warping issues on two of them in a row.


Just got it detailed, ceramic coated, etc.




Star Wars Dash right

Star Wars Dash left

 

Great-looking car. Love the color...

 

That is a beautiful car.

Fred