Hi guys I have a few questions. I have both an 82 TA and an 89 350 Formula. The Formula has a salvage title and I bought it for the engine and other drive train goodies to swap into my 82. I have found someone willing to the swap for a reasonable price and my question is what bumps might I encounter and what are a few things I might want to do and get for the swap? I figure it might be a good idea to get perhaps a new fuel pump and I know I’ll be changing fluids and hoses and such, but what else should I get now while the engine and tranny etc are out? Both cars have been sitting for nearly 2 years, but they both will start with a little coaxing. Oh and I am aware I’ll need a new cross member for the 200C to 700R4 swap.

My other question is that since we’re here in California I’d have to take my car in to a referee as well. In that regard what problems might I run in to? As far as I’m aware this is a legal swap. As always any help is appreciated and thanks in advance.

 

there is no bolting location for a 700r4 crossmember .... better to just modify your original crossmember like I did.

for it to pass smog you need every possible things related to the emmisions system from the host vehicle

 

I figured I would just get the cross member that Spohn sells

 

Are you rewiring the car completely or just trying to make the tpi harness work with your existing harness?

Was your car a 4 barrel or crossfire?

 

Your best bet is to use the engine harness from the 350 to power the tpi. If your 82 was a carburetor car, you may need to install the lines from the T/A to get a fuel return. You will also need to have an in tank high pressure fuel pump. As far as smog is concerned, you will need to take the car to a referee to have it signed off. Make sure all of the original smog equipment from the 89 is installed in the 82 and remember to say "yes sir" to the referee. "Copping an attitude" with the referee will pretty much guarantee many headaches when trying to get it signed off.

 

Thanks for the replies so far.

My 82 was and is originally a carbed car. Since I have the complete 89 car I figured I would just swap everything I could from one car to the other, so harness and all. Although I do believe the 89 has a short because the car won't hold a charge and from what the previous owner told me the ECM had stopped working and he never pinpointed the problem, I figured those things would show up doing the swap. My main concern is just changing everything I can over because I cannot house 2 cars for much longer and I just need to get rid of one. So I figure if I can get the big things done I will take care of any loose ends that might pop up afterwards. Since the 89 has a salvage title and some body damage and other mismatched panels, not to mention I nearly got it for free I plan on just getting it hauled off after the swap. I just cannot keep the two cars and having one car is a lot more manageable.

Will I need to swap the fuel tank as well or just get the new pump and the lines? Isn't an 89's tank larger than the 82s, if so I think I'd just swap it for that.

 

my 82 has all 1990 electronics and efi stystem so its nearly the same as what your doing.

you'll need this stuff

89

sending unit
all fuel lines
tanks are the same
driveshaft
torque arm
shifter
exhaust system since LG-4 would choke the TPI motor
radiator (because of the heater core return line)


major problems you will encounter
wiring for fuel pump
VATS
ignition feeds from fusebox for injectors
major wiring hassles to integrate TPI harness to any of the 82 wiring
to put the ecm bulkhead conector in you have to enlarge the hole a bit
VSS verses you mechanical speedo
vacumn lines from heater control valve from a/c control thing
if you choose to retain cruise control you'll have to upgrade to the 89 stuff


Now if you swap the entire electrical harness into your car here is some other issues that come up.

89 fuel pump harness goes through near the transmission tunnel. (you have to cut a hole but it's easy)

your 82 steering column will not accepts vats tumbler and wiper and cruise will not work with the 89 harness.

if you decided to use 89 wiper motor it will not mount to the 82 at all

a few others come to mind but cant remember them.


Either way your in for alot of work. But well worth the hassles I don't miss my quadrajunk at all & the LG-4 resides outside by my garage

Aside from the wiper motor everything went into my car pretty simply. Buthen every possible thing right down to the headlight motors were upgraded on mine. Here is a picture of my L-98 with TBI in my 82