Hey everyone, I am new here and this looks like the perfect place to be for some questions. I am not a mechanic but am trying to read alot and understand a bit. I have recently bought a 1988 Chevy stepside (my first chevy truck) 5 spd. with 305 TBI. I think it's gutless, it has over 300,000 km and I just want a more peppier truck...

My friend who is kinda more of a backyard mechanic that i have recently met has a 1971 Camaro with a 383 stroker engine in it...305 heads, accel distributor, which i bought off him and am paying him to put it in my truck.

Now me, being a worrier and have already spent about 8 grand in performance parts sitting on my kitchen table (starting to sagg) am worried about spending all this money and something not working out right.

My friend says he can rip out my 305 and put this 383 in; in a weekend.
Now I have a few other people telling me way different and now I am starting to get worried...and figured i will go ask someone who knows about something like this...so here i am...

I am trying to read and understand as much about this process as i can.

305 tbi to 383 carb. I was just wondering if anyone could forsee any problems that...say a backyard mechanic could maybe oversee before he started this engine swap...I am going to have to rent a vehicle to get around during this as well and hope it is not for two weeks while my truck is getting worked on. I have read out here that I should just use the pulley system (serpentine) on this new block...correct?? what about wiring??? just need to rewire to distributor?? I will be there while this is happening and i was just thinking if a problem arises I might be able to even help him out with some knowledge...if anyone could help me out with a little list of things i might need or not have purchased to make this job go a little easier, it would be greatly appreciated...

(some noob in Canada) Hus

 

This is a site for thirdgen Camaros and Firebirds, so you may or may not get any responses. I'd suggest a

JamesC

 

It has slight relevance due to TBI similarities. I'll move from Engine Swap to TBI and let the mods there decide.

 

The power and tach wires will need the plug changed to fit into the big cap dissy.

You'll also need to pull the stock in-tank electric fuel pump and replace it with a piece of tubing as well as get a mechanical pump. You could also get a bypass style regulator designed for carbs and use the stock TBI pump, although it might not keep up with the fuel demands of your 383. DON'T use a dead head type of regulator, you'll quickly burn up the pump.

We converted my buddies RS from TBI to Carb in an afternoon after doing our research. We're now in the process of converting it back to FI with a stealth ram setup.