Hello everyone.

I'm brand new here. I just bought a 91 Firebird. It has Trans Am trim but everything else about it says Formula (esp. the TBI 305 under the hood.)

Anyway, I bought it with a bad engine. It starts and runs but has a LOUD, OBNOXIOUS knocking sound.

So, the seller told me he has a 305 out of a 92 Camaro, with 90K on it. But, it's TPI.

I went ahead and bought it because I got a really good price on it. It doesn't have the intake manifold or any of the fuel delivery parts on it.

My question: How much of a headache, if at all possible, am I going to run into when I attempt to put the TBI intake manifold, et. al., onto the new engine?

Some people tell me it's a direct swap, others tell me I'm better off finding another unmolested TBI engine to drop in.

What's the skinny here?

Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

 

I would expect a very direct swap, their near identical longblocks.

 

Loud knocking sound = rod bearing. Blocks are the same, heads have the same bolt pattern. You may want to look into upgrading cam shaft while you have engine out, before swapping in.

//RF

 

Thanks for the replies

I need to get the engine dropped in and running before the crappy weather hits so I'm not so much concerned about swapping cams.

This means I need to get the original engine out. LoL it's free of the tranny and motor mount bolts are out but it won't move for some reason...