hello all. back in october last year, i bought myself a 1984 trans am. ive been working on the car in my spare time since. the car is all original with the 305 carbed motor and 700r4 transmission. however, i have changed the transmission to a newer 1989 model as the old one was shot. when i did this, i converted the transmission to work with the mechanical speedometer. by the sounds of it, the car i have is somewhat scarce as it has no ecm for the carburator. it was actually like that from the factory. the car is basically as oldschool as they come.

i am wanting to swap in a 5.3 vortec from a truck. as far as i know, this should simply bolt in place of my old motor as the blocks are basically the same? i am also wanting to retain my a/c so would the compressor mount to the new motor in the same location along with the power steering pump? what all would be needed to use the cars original guages (oil pressure, temperature, tach)?

some of you may be wondering why i am wanting to swap to a vortec and not an lsx engine. my reason is that i simply want this car to be a fun, reliable summer vehicle with a little more pep than stock. not a road rocket, but something fun and easy to drive with all the modern conveniences. i want to use the vortec efi instead of carbing it so i can simply jump in the car and turn the key. i think the vortec 5.3 would be the simplest modern engine swap, but i would really appreciate any input from anyone with some experience on a swap similar to this one. thanks very much.

 

Nope, not even close to the same, except the bellhousing pattern. It's an LSx swap.

 

hmmm....learn something every day i guess....