Hi everyone,
My name is Travis, I am in the USAF, stationed at Travis AFB, deployed right now. From so cal, lived in cali for 21 years.

I own a 1988 convertable camaro, Going to be working on her when i get back to the states in june. Light Blue, 305 with over 250,000 miles. In the process of putting new 350 ho crate engine it her, or having the 305 rebuilt. Flowmaster will be put on, going to have the body work done an repainted.
Love to hang out and become apart of a family in a hobby/ life style I love.


Take care,
I shall make it home.

 

nice to meet you. Glad to hear that your in the service, how is the usaf treatin you. How long you been in? Im in the coast guard im stationed in san francisco. Any how good luck where ever your at hope you make it home ok

 

welcome to the boards.
Now let the confusion begin!

oh and put a 350 in it over the 305.
is it TBI or TPI?

 

I have been in the service for year and 2 months. Nice to meet ya, It as been good, taken me away from my car but she will survive while i am out here. My friend is trying to sell me his 1988 hard op camaro, for 500 dallors.
----------
I believe it is a TBI. I was surprised that the engine survived for as long as it as. I am still learning about these beautiful third gen babies.

 

TBI's are friggin' swiss watch-type reliable. Mine has started and ran every time (except when my starter flaked). It's hard to complain about the car -- at least until I hit the track.

Welcome to the forum.

 

Hopefully when i get back to the states in june, I can come hang out and see what you guys have done with your cars. And maybe get some ideas from ya. Right now i am trying to get my parents to take the car into a guy that builds racecar engines, going to have him either rebuild my 305 or build me a 350. shooting for a 350.

 

Welcome to the board from the Central Coast of CA. Good to see another car saved from the crusher. Go 350 if you have a choice. I'm sure we'll see you at a gtg. P.S. my TPI 350 has well over 200k on it. My fuel pump just went out, but other than burning oil, she still goes. Good to meet you.

 

Welcome to our forum - Enjoy your stay and check back often for future GTGs.

- Del

 

I will be there as long as i have the day off and not in the middle east of desert land. Cant wait to attend a gtg.

 

TBI looks like a carb, with a large round air cleaner on top. TPI has 8 individual aluminum runners in a horseshoe shape with a throttle body in the front.

Be careful when your guy builds your engine. The TBI computer is very tempermental and doesnt like large camshafts. You cant build a wild 500 horsepower engine. You have to stick with a mild 300 horsepower engine. Or your can convert it to TPI and get 400 horsepower like we do. But you cant convert it to carb and still pass the CA smog check, so dont even try that.

 

O ok. Yea its TBI. I am looking for something around 330 hp and 380 or s0 torque I wish i was home to talk to the guy. I am hoping that when I get to meet up with you guys when i get back, I can get a few ideas through you guys. But the engine will be done before i get back to the states. I hope.

 

With getting a 350 I am better off cahnging the fuel pump at the same time?
I was reading about the 305 to 350 swap. At the same time I am not doing it myself, wish i had time to do so. My project on my car right now is the engine, fix damages that are on body on driver side, and putting a flow master exhuast. Anyone have any ideas or advice or let me if i am missing anything that i should do to it?

 

Yes change the fuel pump. The one you have in there is 20 years old and could fail any time. We use one designed for the LT1. Its a little higher pressure and more fuel than the TPI replacement pump. You can use one on a TBI with no problem, and you'll have enough fuel when you convert to TPI later.

I dont like the sound of Flowmasters and prefer Magnaflow exhaust, but its your car.

 

I never heard what the other muffler brands sound like. I will look into magnaflow. Is there a type of cat you use? I have to replace mine. It is causing the engine to back fire an over heat. Thank there is to much back pressure caused by the cat to be clogged.

 

Here's a shot of my tubular cat, lol:

 

Cant see it. I see a red X

 

We use Magnaflow cats, as well.

 

picked up right away on the red X . make sure all is cali. legal before any mods. . good luck young man , been there , done that for 20+ years .

 

Verts a a bit different animal mostly because they flex so much more. If you decide to go big, you may want to think some frame aftermarket items, subframed connectors etc. If you need some help with the vert, let me know, parts are hard to come by. If you need to replace fenders, for example, you can use a standard third gen, but there is a bit of cutting that needs to be done, pretty simple stuff. Look forward to seeing another convertible.

 

i am keeping the 305 in the vert. I am going to pick up another thirdgen thats a hard top. I havent been able to find a new motor or wiring for the truck release. Mine is sitting there not plugged in an wires every were. And was told it doesnt work. Also need a new driver mirror **** to adjust it.

 

If you have a cat we all use Magnaflow cats. My 82 does not need a cat. My BAR stickers say's it exempt for a cat.

 

lol thats cool, yea I need a new one. So i will look into getting one. i was looking up magnaflow muffler systems an didnt see anything that would work with a 88 camaro.

 

Magnaflow is coming out with their thirdgen system in about a month, so keep an eye out. I have the prototype system on my Formula 350, and I can tell you it's awesome!

Welcome to the board, and thank you for serving our country!

 

Thats cool, that means when i get back they should have it out. Sound alot better then the flowmaster 80 seriers?

 

My parents are takin my car in on friday to have the engine rebuilt an magnaflow cat put on an have the leaks on the tranny fixed for me. I also have around 50 days left. I would love to be able to cruize an meet up with some of you guys when i get back will need to have the fun of driving my baby with her new engine.

 

If you go through the central coast on your way from nor. Cal to so. Cal, I'm in the 805 and would like to check out your 88 (as my IROC is the same year). I can show you what I've done to mine and maybe give you some ideas. Stop by and take a break on the way home.

 

Sounds good, When I get back to the states i will get the info from you so I can do that. First i have to find a way down to my parents house once I get back to nor cal from the deployment. I will fly into sac an then inprocess and then find a way to go pick up my car.