I'm looking at a 90 RS that was converted to a 350. What problems do I need to look out for? What are the main driveline and suspension differences? Thanks.

 

If it was done correctly, you couldn't tell it from a factory V8 car except for the VIN.

Did they try to convert it like factory, or just drop the engine in and get it running? If the latter, I'd say run away - don't look back. If the former, again, you shouldn't be able to tell the difference. But, you shouldn't pay factory V8 price for it, either (upgrades could be a differnent story).

Any evidence of spliced wires - run away, don't look back.

Front springs and sway bar are different; all harnesses, accessories, radiator, basically whatever attaches to the engine is different. Tach different. The drivetrains from the driveshaft yoke back are identical (although gears could be different). Brakes, struts - no difference.

Think about this, too: A bunch of sweat (and probably blood) was expended on this project. Why do they want to sell it now?

 

They probably want to join the SUV crowd. The people I used to know with Camaros now all have trucks. How can you go from a sports car's speed/handling to a truck?

Take some snapshots of the car's motor and put it up here.

I was going to talk about emissions, and how you need to have a motor/intake of the same car's year or newer- but your name shows you from Florida- they don't have emissions, right? What if you moved out of state and went somewhere that did emissions checks?

They should've taken the whole computer, and main engine wiring harness (the one that comes from the passenger side of the car, by the fender, and goes across the top & side of the motor, to do the swap. They would've needed to put a V8 trans in, if the car is an automatic. If it's a manual, I hear you can bolt the weaker V6 trans up to the V8- and if they did That, the trans is probably close to death. If it's a manual, they should've put a V8 manual trans under it.

If in doubt, pay a garage $50 to check it out.

 

a lot of guys would just bolt the 350 engine in, put a carb on top, change out the exhaust and call it quits.

is rare to find someone that does a 350 conversion and goes through all the trouble of adding an EFI system to the engine.

 

I would say that if the car was done very well, you are a very good mechanic, and the price is an absolute steal the do it. If any of the above criteria is not met then run away. far far away.

 

If your unsure of anything run away. No fun buying junk to try to correct the crap that was or may have been done inproperly

 

No doubt... And if anything, say the TPS or the M/C solenoid, or anything else at all, isn't hooked up, also run far away I bought a $750 Camaro with a problem I asumed was carbeurator oriented, and months later I'm pretty sure I'm faced with taking it to the shop!

The spliced wires comment above is also very true- take a look at the relays (along the firewall for instance) - if anything's cut... even if it's been rewired- I just hope for your sake they knew EXACTLy what they were doing.

James

 

That's why bringing it to a mechanic (that the seller doesn't know!) and paying $50 would be a great help. The mechanic's getting his $50 no matter if he says "good car" or "bad car", so he'll be impartial.