I just recently bought a 83 Camaro z28;

The current engine is a 305 crossfire, I've heard that they lack performance and etc.(Haven't driven it yet, Got it for a good price cause its winter and just put it back in storage)

My plan is to get a small touch up on the paint and a engine swap to the 350:290

Is there anything I would need to buy new to swap it and have it running? And/Or pieces I could take from old one to connect it, etc.

 

if it is not in running condition,could get it running and see if you are satisfied with the performance-if not 350, swap is easy as is swapping a carburetor in place of the CFI injection-I went the other way with my '82;swapped carb TO crossfire-CFI can be modified to perform very well if you are willing to port the CFI manifold and do a few other modificationsTo run a 350 with the CFI,corvette(82-84)injectors and prom are usually used-the rest of the injection system is the same.

 

Well,My dad previously owed 3 Camaros, 2 3rd gens. Both of them had 350s, Really enjoyed riding in them.

The motor I found is better then those even though, So I know I'd like it. As for the car right now, It is not running (Nothing big, Just the coil has to be changed). But I've read from tons of places Crossfire engines are pretty horrible. Also, I've heard if I wanted to swap I'd have to mod the frame of the car and several other pieces,

 

305 to 350 is an easy swap. It will bolt right in to the stock motor mounts no problems. It should also bolt right up to the tranny (unless the motor is a one piece rear main seal and then you would need a new flexplate). The question is gonna be what do plan to replace the crossfire inj with? you can easily throw on a dual plane intake with a carb but you will need a non computer controlled distributor.

 

So the obvious thing would be to get it running ,tune it correctly and see what YOU think , instead on relying on hear say

 

That's a bad engine choice for a swap.

Totally NOT a performance motor. It's a 165 HP 70s smogger turd, part number for part number, with some other cam jammed into it to replace the 929. Same basic mistake hot-rodders have been making with those 165 HP smogger turds since the mid 70s. To put it into perspective, the "260 HP" version of that motor, IS a 165 HP 70s smogger turd, EVERY part identical, complete with the 929 cam.

As said though, get what you've got running and working right, before making any grandiose plans. And keep in mind that Crossfire is nothing but TBI, except it has 2 itty-bitty TBs designed for 2.5L 4-cyls instead of one larger one, like they used later on once they actually created one for a 5L motor; and of course, the computer it came with, is a 1980 design, very slow and limited by modern standards; and worst of all, the intake ports are barely more than half the cross-sectional area of the head ports, creating an even greater limit to power output. But, there are upgrade paths available that overcome each of those limitations, in various forms mostly involving putting a single large TB and a more nearly "modern" computer on it. Just sticking a smogger turd 350 under it is going to be a MASSIVE disappointment. Get it running right first, and understand what you've got and what its strengths and weaknesses are, before going off half-cocked.

 

My usual suggestion..

Install a RamJet 350 crate engine. It's 100% complete.. Supply 12 volts and 45psi fuel pressure. It's already tuned perfectly too.. It's about the only swap that I can see adding real value to a thirdgen. It's an investment and will pay for itself in being very reliable and somewhat fuel efficient and it's PCM is completely tuned. More so than a carbed setup that YOU have to tune.. And readjust for weather.. Etc.. It's a $5000+ investment that will be headache free.

 

This guy built a road track car with that same motor in an 82 Camaro.

http://www.carcraft.com/featuredvehi...o/viewall.html