Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Hey everybody, I am a new poster but have been lurking for a while. Time to introduce myself. I have owned 4 f-bodys. An 88 firebird v8, 86 trans am, 82 z28, and my current project: 86 IROC-Z.

For the past 5 years, I have been saving money and investing in parts for a 383 engine. I have had several cars that I was going to put it in until recently when the t5 tranny went out in my 86 IROC (completely stock car). The engine was a warn out 305.

During the time I had the stock IROC, I had been humiliated in street races by other cars. Some of these were 1.8 hondas, a mitsubishi galant, and a full size dodge truck. In early 2007 when my tranny went out, I decided it was time to do what was ment to be done. Swap out my beat up 305/t5 for a built 383/th350.

Here is the work in progress. Feel free to comment. All advice welcome! :)

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Here is the swap process.

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Here are some of the parts.

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Here is the car.

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Welcome to TGO. Very pretty car.

JamesC

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Thanks JamesC :-)

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Well, we got it to crank and fire today but 10 minutes into breaking it in, the radiator blew and coolant ran everywhere. Time to find a replacement radiator.

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Welcome you are in the right spot . Car looks great and I am so jealous to see you in a t-shirt in January .

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

The car is beautiful.That cant be the original paint.I have the same car but mine came with the lb9 tpi.Plus mine needs paint.:goodjob:What specs you got on the 383?

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Thanks! I try to wear the t-shirt when I can LOL. GA weather is flip flop.

Thanks man! I had the car painted in May of 2007. GM Bright Red. A guy I know did it for $1000 at his home shop. It's starting to show its imperfections now, wish I would have spent a little more money on it.

The major stuff: Engine was built from a '72 350 block that was machined .030 over. The crank and pistons are from an eagle kit. I have 5.7" rods I think. Heads are pro topline SR-T's. Cam is a crane cam with a .480 lift. Not sure of the duration. Intake is a holly "street dominator". The carb I got from my dad. It's a holly 600cfm.

The TH350 tranny has been "built like a brick", but unsure of the gears. My buddy has been keeping the paperwork for all this stuff since I started it when I was 17 at his house. I need to get the reciepts back.

As you can see, it's not anything extreme. Hopefully enough to get me some decent horsepower. Hopefully ~400. I was on a fast food employee's budget most of the time but managed to save a few thousand dollars for this project over the years.

I originally was going to put this engine/tranny in an 82 z28 I have that had 4.56 gears and chopped springs but I decided that the engine was too nice to put in a trashy $200 drag car. Also I didn't want to be spinning at 5 grand @ 60mph LOL.

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Here's my 82 z28 with the 4.56 gears. As you can see, it's not as pretty as the IROC-Z. LOL

Oh year, I'm running 9.5-10:1 compression on that 383.

Re: Elano's 383 IROC Swap!
 

Heres a vid of us tuning it today. Sounds mean!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYOxHfEv7Eg