Your thoughts on engine swap?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 948
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From: Green Bay, WI
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
IMO, it depends on who's buying and how original the car is. If it's a low mile, original car it hurts the value tremendously as the majority of your buyers would be collectors that like originality & will pay more for a well preserved car right down to the valve stem caps. If the car has high miles, wear & tear & maybe other mods already, it's not as big of a deal. You could always remove & save the original parts too, but I wouldn't touch it if its a car of the first scenario. 
Have any picts & details on your car you could share?
Have any picts & details on your car you could share?
Supreme Member
iTrader: (9)
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,984
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From: North Central Indiana
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 383
Transmission: TKO 600
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 IRS
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
You're destroying the value on it, don't do it. There is never a good reason to convert to a carb like that. Converting to carb is often seen as a half-assed hack job thing to do because it is, and that's one of the myriad of reasons it hurts value, especially on a convertible that is somewhat rare. If you're worried about soiling your investment, sell the convertible and buy a rolling chassis with no engine or trans or something of that nature. It will not be wise use of your invested capital to carb swap an 87 GTA convertible....
Supreme Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,528
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From: Henrietta NY
Car: 1984 Trans Am L69
Engine: Sniper EFI Powered 355
Transmission: WC T5 w/ Steel Support Plate
Axle/Gears: 3.42 10 Bolt Posi
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
Quite a bit even if the car is not that original. A downgrade from EFI to some hacked in carb with cut wires around the engine bay is a non starter for most people. Usually indicates the person could not figure out EFI and decided to go carb. Although it is my experience that people that go this route cant do much more than turn the idle screws and call it tuned.
Now a 350 EFI / TPI that will be a good move.
Now a 350 EFI / TPI that will be a good move.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,220
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From: Atlanta
Car: '02 T/A WS6, '91 T/A, '91 Camaro RS
Engine: LS1, LB9, L03
Transmission: T56, 700R4, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 4.10 10 bolt, 2.73 10 bolts
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
It'd likely be a deal breaker for any car I'd consider, that's for sure. I'd say probably 30% deduct personally. Carbs aren't even reliable when they're factory installed, much less a conversion that's likely to use non-GM parts, and do away with a lot of the underhood factory stuff that's also missing on every other cheap third gen.
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 98
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From: Detroit mi
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
Odometer has stopped working it reads 123k I got hosed on car seller lou battaglia lied about everything anyhow I had to put fenders from a different car on it as they were damaged pretty bad the suspension is rusted up pretty bad so I was going to out in new sway bars tie rods and shocks aftermarket I think brand in book was BMR radio is broken was going to put in aftermarket body still needs some work will have to bondo some areas I think once it complete it should be worth at least 8or 9
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,553
Likes: 806
From: South Ms
Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
You got a nice car there. Leave it TPI. I swapped a TPI 305 to a very nice well built carbed Vortec 350 and when I went to sell it most people didn't want it because it was "hopped up". It was a clean job too not a hack job but keeping it original to a point is key. I should have just built a 350 and kept it TPI. Its just easier to go carb so ive done it to several nice cars in the past. I'm going to keep my FI this time around even if it cost me some headache and HP.
Last edited by dmccain; Jun 1, 2018 at 02:07 PM.
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
If the car is as rough as it's been described and shown in other threads, I doubt it's ever going to have enough collector value for anyone to really care. If you're really worried about it, stuff the original number matching engine under the bench or in the shed for that rainy day.
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Posts: 472
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From: pa
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 350
Transmission: auto
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
I've done TPI to carb on 2 cars, but I'll never do it again, lol! If you decide to go that route it needs to be done right, not half a**ed like I did. Not only removing all factory TPI and ecm harness, but also converting the tank and fuel system. Just my .02 based on personal experience.
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iTrader: (9)
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,984
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From: North Central Indiana
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 383
Transmission: TKO 600
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44 IRS
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
what problem is being solved by converting to carb? If the injection has issues, then work on that and don't molest the car further than it appears to already have been. I've started with some pretty crummy running TPI cars over the years. It's usually as simple as having no vacuum leaks, proper ignition timing, and correctly functioning coolant temp sensor and a good MAF sensor. Start with the basics and get it ironed out.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,937
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From: Chicagoland
Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
Engine: LB9. Dual Cats. Big Cam
Transmission: World Class T-5
Axle/Gears: BW 3.45
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
List of things which kill the value of a GTA convertible.
1) Rustoleum applied with a brush.
2) Hacked hatch for fuel pump.
3) 4th gen interior or rear end.
4) Replacing your TPI with a random carbed 350.
Now if you wanted to do all of these things, that's all cool. But your question is what will it do to the value of your car.
1) Rustoleum applied with a brush.
2) Hacked hatch for fuel pump.
3) 4th gen interior or rear end.
4) Replacing your TPI with a random carbed 350.
Now if you wanted to do all of these things, that's all cool. But your question is what will it do to the value of your car.
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
Nobody deal with this guy he is a fraud. He sold me a car saying it had only 77k has 123 k and is more than that since odometer stopped doesn't work. I asked a few major questions. What kind of shape is the overall body in any Major rust since he lives in des plaines ok. He said no rust fla car he's had it short time been covered in storage winter time. How is engine and trans . He said trans is perfect engine just needs a really good full tune up but nothing major wrong with it . So I tell him if I'm understanding the car right no rust no body damage engine needs just tune up trans is fine and it only has 77k he said yes.so we set up a day for car to be picked up and shipped on the day ar is picked up he text me not happy about how he has to send car that I rushed him he had over a week to get it ready. He tells me things are missing from car compressor convertible top parts ground effects he's putting all that inside car . I have car picked up and shipped to me. If I could have I would have died when I saw it. First thing driver side fender is completely damaged . But wasn't like that in pics. Car has so much rust under hood floor pans are shot convertible mounting area on winshueld is destroyed with rust. No compressor sent no ground effects no convertible top parts . When I tell about all this he says I. Ought a project and he didn't have time to put parts in car yet I bought let's say on a Monday and didn't ship till next Monday. Talked with him since purchase numerous times keeps promising parts when he can get to them. And will refund me 200 from purchase price if 3k 3k for a project lol. Over 1 month monoarts all I hear is he's busy cuz he has he's money. Please no. Indy deal with this guy I've seen other post about him ripping people off back in 2015 2016 hrs a scammer not a man of his word. He sells parts on this site don't trust him. Karma will get him I was a man if my word put 3k in his bank without even having title or car and he can't even follow they and give what is mine .
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,937
Likes: 636
From: Chicagoland
Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
Engine: LB9. Dual Cats. Big Cam
Transmission: World Class T-5
Axle/Gears: BW 3.45
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 10
From: Clarksville,TN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 5.7 w/Paxton
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
Just can't let those cars sit out in the weather.... 
Convertibles are one of the cars to preserve though.
Convertibles are one of the cars to preserve though. Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 472
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From: pa
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 350
Transmission: auto
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,937
Likes: 636
From: Chicagoland
Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
Engine: LB9. Dual Cats. Big Cam
Transmission: World Class T-5
Axle/Gears: BW 3.45
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
Odometer has stopped working it reads 123k I got hosed on car seller lou battaglia lied about everything anyhow I had to put fenders from a different car on it as they were damaged pretty bad the suspension is rusted up pretty bad so I was going to out in new sway bars tie rods and shocks aftermarket I think brand in book was BMR radio is broken was going to put in aftermarket body still needs some work will have to bondo some areas I think once it complete it should be worth at least 8or 9
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,419
Likes: 2,083
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
Personally, I don't think in terms of value. I think of my car as a fun hobby. Decisions are "fun based" and their is always something in the works. If a different engine will make the car more enjoyable, and you're willing to spend the money, then for gosh sakes do it to make the car more fun. If the car ceases to be fun then stop.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Detroit mi
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
Qwk trip good point she's looking pretty bad right now but the few times I have driven it it's been enjoyable. Just want it to look and after I'm done enjoying maybe still be able to recoup something when I sell it
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 10
From: Clarksville,TN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 5.7 w/Paxton
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Detroit mi
Supreme Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 286
From: Florida
Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3:42 Auburn
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 10
From: Clarksville,TN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 5.7 w/Paxton
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Your thoughts on engine swap?
Have you considered a compression test? Had a loose connection to a fuel injector connector once...could be numerous reasons.
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