I just bought a 92 camaro with a TBI 305, and am mulling over putting a LT1 I have laying around in it. I'm not going to keep the opti spark no matter what, I'm considering building it carburated and figure my parts list will put me around $1200 or so with a gasket and bearing rebuild kit.

Now the reason for this post is I'm also considering keeping the TBI by drilling a new bolt pattern, and basically my question is do I have to do anything with the coolant ports on the gen1 intake manifold? Or is simply filling and drilling the manifold bolt pattern? I could have this done for just the cost of a rebuild kit.

I'm sure I'll get some negative responses to this plan, but from a cost and ease perspective, I like it. I have my 89 that is basically restored with a few modern amenities and I kind of just want to do this one as cheaply as possible with little regard to opinions.

my drivetrain plans include just what I have laying around which includes the LT1, 90 C4 700 trans, and a rear from an 02 Z28 though I may just take the carrier and gears and put them in my stock 10 bolt.

so what has to be done for the gen1 manifold to bolt to the LT1 long block besides bolt pattern?

Thanks, Ken.

 

Good luck on only spending only 1200 mostly if u want to carberate it and rebuild the engine I spent 3500 on my basic lt1 swap yes I put a t56 in too but that was the cheap side of the build I also did not rebuild my engine just threw it into my car and I bought my donor car for 900 so I spent 2600 to get it in. its all the little **** that really adds up and quickly when your doing something like this. And just think u have to change ALL fluids and if your smart u would do motor mounts and all bushing on the rear since your there exhaust will probably need to be changed you'll need a new fuel pump to feed the lt1 any sensors that don't work will get replaced and deleting the opti isn't cheap usually and really I would steer clear of wanting to stay tbi. Carbed will be much easier that way u don't have to worry about new fuel injectors and tuning it I think u need a little more research in it I think that parts list will quickly rise but good luck looking forward to some progress

 

That being said for cost if u have the lt1 computer and harness go fuel injected I built my own swap harness for maybe 30 bucks and it ended up to be easy and I could even help u if need be

 

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Thanks for the response and input. At some point I'm going to go with an in-line fuel pump in my 89 so that fuel pump would make its way into the 92, if I stayed TBI that pump would feed it with a 30 psi regulator and some #68 fuel injectors. Which would be plenty for up to 350 FWHP.

I am checking with TBIchips.com to see if and how much a stock LT1 tune would cost, really can't see it costing more than $100 bucks...IDK?

I think 1200 is realistic for the carb swap, now I'm figuring also because I have a lot of parts just laying around, like manifolds from a 90 C4 that are D-port and I could probably re-use my stock Y-pipe, which isn't smart from a performance stand point, but from a price stand point is cost effective. The engine is already bought so I'm not figuring that into the cost, the trans and rear are already sitting here also so that's not figured into the price either. The 1200 price is also on the high side from the parts list, to get it done without freshening up the block would put it somewhere around 900 of course there are always unexpected costs that are not on my parts list, like you said I didn't price in new mounts or fluids, but that is more engine swap stuff that would have to be done anyhow, the basic carburated parts list would not need to include that. I'll have to look at total price both ways since I haven't doen that yet, thank you for bringing that to my attention

As for the engine rebuild I can get a basic rebuild kit from summit for around $350, now this is without pistons, and is basically just to freshen up the block. I can do the work myself at my shop so there is no labor cost, and while not necessary would still be done just for peace of mind.

 

Dont waste your time trying to put the TBI on the LT1. It will not flow enough & kill the HP the LT1 is capable of.

Same with the stock exhaust. You need to let it breathe, otherwise you will have a lot of work in something that still makes only 200hp.

Going carb is easy & will allow you to use a standard distributor.

Personally I like EFI, & you can find a used LT1 harness & computer relatively cheap.
New GM optisparks are under $200 now in summit.

 

I hear ya man, but cost and quickness are my main concerns.

My main question here is if I need to do anything with the coolant ports? I shouldn't, but thought maybe someone here had converted a gen1 intake manifold for the LT1, and would have some advice in that arena.

I haven't looked, but what is the flow rate of a stock 305 TBI? I would think it to be in the 4-500CFM range, LT1 seems to be around 800CFM and a 454 TBI is in the 650 range. If I went carb I really wouldn't go bigger than a 650. A friend of mine is talking about going long tube on his 94 and said I could have is hookers and Y-pipe so maybe that will pan out.

If I stayed TBI there wouldn't really be any down time maybe a week or 2, same with going carb...we'll see I'll, do some more research on which will be more cost effective.

Thanks for your input

 

i would either swap all the LT1 stuff in there or put a carb on it. as stated, thats a ton of trouble just to wind up with 200hp again.
coolant flow is alot different from the sbc. you would probably be better off putting an LT1 radiator/hoses in there along with the entire LT1 engine/harness/pcm. then you would have a combo that would put down around 270rwhp if its all stock.
not sure 4th gen headers would fit a thirdgen....?

 

here's a goofy idea.

set up the LT1 intake for a distributor, then wire up the injectors for bank fire and use all the sensors from the TBI setup. Wouldn't that work in theory? But if you already have the PCM and everything else, might as well use it