Thanks for looking at this, new guys need all the help they can get. I've just got a handle on about every aspect of my Blazer and now get a Camaro and am knocked down to nothing. Well I give my little story here, if you wanna by-pass it, just drop down to the next paragraph. Basically my neighbor had an '86 Camaro with 2.8 EFI with 119k that he beat on and took a rod out in it. He was going to junk the thing and I stepped in bought it for a $100. Its a very clean car and only has rust on the rocker and on the door line, after restoring my Blazer (notorious rust machines), this is cake.

I want to pull out the 2.8 and swap in a good old 5.7 TPI. The only problem is that I dont have a clue. Can I run Vortec heads, what kind of cam can I run, do I need to change the fuel pump, will the transmission bolt up. All I've dealt with is carbs and have no clue how to perform a swap like this. I was wonering if someone could kind of give me a little help on doing this

 

Okay, let me see if I can answer some of your questions. Yes you can use Vortec heads but you will have to have them drilled for your Intake on the TPI. Or you can have your intake drilled to match the vortec heads (They have different bolt patterns. The inside 4 are at a steeper angle). You can run pretty much any cam you want as long as it pulls enough vacuum for the computer. I don't believe you need to change the fuel pump but if you run an inline pump you should be fine. The originaly transmission won't bolt up because they have a different bolt pattern and I beleive the V-8's have more of an angle. Other than that you'll need a complete wiring harness and cpu from a TPI camaro. Preferably, if you can find one, a 5.7 although a 5.0 will work. the motor mounts will need to be mounted back farther on the frame (There's already holes for the V-8's) The fuel lines on the 6's are on the drivers side and on the 8's are on the pass side so you'll have to replumb it. Uhh.. that's all I can think of. Shoot me an email if you have more questions. drizzt2k1@home.com

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1987 IROC-Z T-Tops No mods yet

 

Lol, if you could only see how fast my head is spinning. I have to know every little on everything. Everything sounds half way fun outside of the tranny swap and the fuel line swap. Oh well, all this work sounds worth it to get rid of the gutless 2.8 wonder.

 

haha, yeah it's not all that difficult though. ALthough the Fuel line movement and the installation of a new wiring harness might be. The tranny swap isnt that big a deal since your yanking the 2.8 might as well pull the tranny with it. Is it a T-5 or a 700R-4? (Manual or Auto) Of course you could always go with the 3.1 Turbo...

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1987 IROC-Z T-Tops No mods yet... Oh wait !MAF!

 

The fuel lines are on the driver side for the v8.My IROC and my GTA are both on driver side. The trans will have to be out of anything that was a V8 (truck Blazer ect) AS LONG AS there 2wd. and no newer than 92 to be safe. DON'T get anything older that 87 they are JUNK. Also check to see if the fuel feed line is 3/8 of a inch. if so and the return line is 5/16 your fuel lines are ready to go. You will need a sending unit for the tank out of a TPI car and a TPI pump. Where are you getting your engine? if the wiring harness is still there then get that also. depending on what you got for fans you might be better off to get the factory dual fan setup. I have aftermarket fans on my GTA and I have overheating problems. Other than that also what was said before that should get you started for a long while.

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89 Iroc 350 TPI,
Forged pistions
Comp roller Cam .510 lift 230dur
Flowmaster exhaust
Dart Iron Eagle heads 200cc runners 64cc chambers
MINI RAM SOON!!!!!
stock TPI for now 24# inj
87 Trans Am GTA 350 TPI
had engine fire
SHE NOW RUNS!!!! GREAT!!
Flowmaster exhaust
LT1 Injectors

 

Thanks Aaron. If the V-8's are in the driver then the V-6's fuel lines will be on passenger. They're exact opposite I just didn't remember which was which. either way it'll need to be changed otherwise it'll get in the way with the 8. fans are a good thing yank those from wherever you get the engine and wiring harness from. Don't forget all the mountings.

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1987 IROC-Z T-Tops No mods yet... Oh wait !MAF!

 

Probably your easiest and best method to do the swap would be to get a whole car. I have stated this many times, but at least you do not need to go back and forth to the salvage yard scrounging in the dirt for parts.

The Fuel lines on a Firebird are on the left (drivers side) when you have TPI. Camaros are on the Right (passenger) apparently. You can install a Firebird TPI setup in a camaro no problem, the Camaro intake duct will not fit under the firebird hood.

Hope this helps.

John

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87 Formula Yellow/Black

5.1 TPI Automatic
Baer 12" brakes 4 wheels, KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks & struts, Custom Leather interior, WAAAY TOO MANY MODS TO LIST

87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray STOCK

1967 Buick Riviera 430hp Turns high 14's (Not bad for 4300 lbs)

83 Camaro (Parts)
83 T/A (parts)

http://www.3rdgenformula.com

 

Most definatly the easiest way would be just to get a car with TPI already and V-8. I paid 1800 bucks for my IROC-Z that I got a couple weeks ago. I was gunna fix my 84 and swap it to tpi but this is much easier. If you don't wanna go that route will be glad to help you with what we can.

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1987 IROC-Z T-Tops No mods yet... Oh wait !MAF!