Hi. This is going to be kind of a long-one.

Well, My first car was a 1986 Camaro Z28. It had a 4bbl 350 that was dropped in by an owner before my time. I bought this car for $900 to realize soon afterward that it had a tweaked frame. The chassis was straight enough so that it could be driven easily from school and back, and even on the trips home (College student ).
Well, the tranny went out (700R-4) and I have decided that I am not going to spend a significant amount of money on a lost cause.

My plans are to buy a 1987 or 1988 Iroc with whatever engine occurs naturally in these beasts and make it a formidable street car.

My question is that of (Eh hmm) building an engine. There are a few different considerations that need to be taken, as will be described later on. First of all, these are the limitations. 1) Living in California. As beutiful as it is, our emission laws are crazyharsh. I need to know if it is a moot point to build a performing engine here. My thoughts were to construct an MPFI 383.

Is there anyway to, with a MPFI-based 383, pass smog laws? I don't know how far I will be able to take this project as legality, and the necesity for current registration will be taken into consideration. In short- Is there a way to build an engine with a "Split Personality" so to speak? By asking this I mean, is it possible to make some alterations (even larger things, as this will only be needed every 2 years) a performance engine run mildly enough to get by these smog checks if not for 1 day out of 730?

So, if you have any experiance with this, let me know. I sure am interested. I have loved camaros (1st and 3rd gen) since the day I got my first one, and would love to make a 3rd gen that can outclass these college trust-fund kids running GT's with flowmasters.

The build that I am planning will be based on the 350 block that I plan on removing from my '86. This project's outcome is pretty significant to me, as it will be something to sit down and do with my dad. We haven't really done a whole lot together, and seeing as it's getting a bit further down the road for both of us, I'd like to have a project that we can persue together. I figure that as much time as my dad spends reminescing of his pit days, that he'd love to embark on something like this.

I have used enough to know that asking "HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST?!1one" is rather pointless and counts directly on the parts choses for the build. My question to you is, do you think that this will be worth my time?

Depending on your ideas, there are a few more detailed engine building questions that I have on the back burner.

Thanks in advance,
Rob

 

Get a 4th gen LT1, stroke it to 383.

 

Sounds like something to look into. There are plenty enough posts on here that I can gather a fairly adequate parts list.
Im going to head over to the Power Adders section, I need to find a good mix of compression ratio to spray, or perhaps even centrifugal Supercharger.
LT1, ebay time

 

Any experiance from perhaps a prior builder as far as being able to tone-down for state testing? That is my main concern at the moment.

 

If you swap in all of the LT1 equipment and controls, no "toning down" would be required.

LT1 swaps are discussed at length in the Engine Swap forum. Take a look at the "Important/Useful Information" stickies on the topic at the top of that forum.

 

I pass here in Sacramento running an internally stock zz4 crate motor....even have had visits to the referee concerning the slp headers having no c.a.r.b. number on them

 

Five7kid,
I've been all over the Engine swap forum and never even saw that sticky, im fscking retarded.

that thread does answer pretty much all my emissions Q's.
thx