I work at a dealership were we have all the domestic brands. A few months ago I saw an old 88 Firebird. I told them I was interested in it. I didn't even go out and look at it.

Next thing I know, I ask about the Firebird and was told that it was at the junkyard getting ready to get crushed. Long story short, I bought the car for $300.00.

I drove it home. Ran good. It's going to need some work though. Popped the hood. Freshly rebuilt L03 305 TBI, and a freshly rebuild 700-R4 4L60. I know that this isn't the engine I wanted, but I figured that I would just run the 305 until it blew or I found something else.

I've been working on it from time to time, but with work and graduate school, I just had no extra time. Well I graduated a couple of weeks ago. I have redone most of the hard panels on the interior, got the rear pull down motor up and going, and replaced the A.C control.

Today I ran upon a guy that really needed the money. He offered a LT1 to me for $800. Long story short again, I paid $650 for it and he is delivering it. I have not seen the engine, but it came out of a 1996 Camaro. I want this LT1 in my Bird. I want to keep the 700-R4 4L60 also. (for some reason I am a huge fan of the 700-R4)

I'm trying to get some ideas on what I need to be looking for to shove this beast into my 88. I know I do not have the computer. I couldn't quite understand him, but I don't think it has the TPI unit on the intake. It does have an intake though. Last he knew it was putting out over 400hp.

This weekend I hope to get most of the weatherstripping replaced. The person before me actually hot glued the T-tops in.

Here's the first day of owning her.



This is going to be a long work in process. I've finished school, but I still work 60 hours a week. I'm on a tight budget, so I'm doing everything I can on my own.

I'm not sure yet on where I'm going to go on the LT1, but I want some good sound, and even better power. Also, any help would be appreciated. It's been a lot of years since I've worked on an engine, inside and out.

I'm not quite sure on what I'm going to need to make this work, but I know it's all going to happen within time. I just couldn't pass up the LT1 for the price.

 

Sweet deal on that car! I saved mine from a scrap yard 15 years ago and have been pouring the love and funds into it for the past 3 to get it to a respectable car again. Never enough money or time for these type of projects, but looks like you have a decent platform for a resto.

 

This is my first car. A 1987 Firebird.

[IMG]https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/<a href=http://s261.photobucket.com/user/rgrking/media/Pics/Firebird/19741_1226707900532_2573541_n.jpg.html target=_blank>

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...formation.html




Have you read the obvious ?


https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...questions.html

 

I think all of the questions I'm needing to answer are answered.

"I'm suggesting that instead of leaving your profile almost completely anonymous, you take a minute to provide others with some info. While it's not necessary to give a bio, your interests, or your exact location, at the very least, you should display your car's year, model and engine size & type."

I'm pretty sure I covered that, and yes I read the obvious. I hope this isn't how you treat every new member. Kinda sad.

I was coming to the experts on thirdgen.org to help me, and keep a record of my build. If that's to much to ask, then please tell me.

 

But you still haven't filled in your profile which is what most look at 1st when answering questions

 

I kind of cringe when I hear someone has gotten an LT1 or LS1 engine without the computer and/or harness. To do a swap, you're going to need both, and you probably could have gotten an LT1 with harness and computer for what you paid for just the engine. But, water under the bridge.

You need a complete harness and computer. The least expensive way to get them is probably to find a used factory harness and computer that haven't been molested.

One of the reasons profile information is important is knowing where you live, which you didn't mention. If you're in California or the Denver metro area, for instance, you're going to have to do this swap in an emissions-legal manner. For that reason alone, the 4L60 may not be the right choice for you - the 1996 LT1 was OBD II and electronic controlled transmission (if automatic), and California requires the transmission that was designed for the engine/emissions system to be used in the swap. It can be converted back to OBD I, like the 1993 version, which is compatible with the non-electronic 4L60. Personally, I think OBD II is superior, for many reasons - for you, the fact that your engine was originally OBD II is one of them. At any rate, doing an emissions-legal swap is a good bit different than just doing a functioning swap, so that's one reason to provide the missing information.

By the way, LO3 has TBI, not TPI. Not that it makes much difference for an LT1 swap.

 

Thank you for that reply. I'll get this information filled in. At least you were tactful about it. I've abandoned this engine in favor of building my own. The guy didn't know what he was talking about and it was a 5.0L TPI. Probably better than what I have, but not what I want. If you want to delete this thread I will start another when I decide on what to do.

 

Ah, the old engine type "confusion". Not surprising. Many a TBI engine has been advertised as "Vortec" because it has center bolt valve covers.

And a 305 TPI is probably not worth $650...

Rather than delete, I'll just close it.

Let us know what you will be doing. Always interesting to watch build threads.