Swaping TBI for Carb - Need Advice
 

Replacing the factory 4cyl TBI engine in my '82 Camaro with a 350 carbureated. I know I cant just pull the TBI & drop in a carb engine, but I'm sure there's gotta be somethings I'm not thinking of.

Are there any sensors that TBI uses that a carb engine wouldn't? Can I just unhook them or is there more to it?

Fuel Pump: Has an in-tank pump/sending unit, planning to replace the pump portion with a piece of hose & put a mechanical pump on the block. What if I go with an electric pump, any difference?

What else is there that I'm not thinking of?

Building the engine is the easy part, but I'm still a novice when it comes to the details. You guys have always given me great advice in the past and I appreciate all the help! Thanks!

Just a couple thoughts:

As long as smog inspection isn't a consideration, you will need the motor mounts for a V8, as well as a V8-spec tranny to replace the 4 cyl. unit you now have- one from a 3'rd. gen F-body w/the torque are unless you're going to replace the rear end- which should be considered because the 7.5" diff is weak-kneed.

The radiator and shroud from a V8 car is needed. I'd also plan on an auxiliary tranny cooler while I was at it.

You may be able to use the TBI fuel pump, if you regulate the pressure down from the ~15 psi it now has to around 6 psi or so, for a carb.

AFA the sensors, etc, you'll not be able to use the PCM so about all that would be reused from the TPI set-up would be the gages for oil, temp, and charging system. The rest will be unused.

The front springs (at least) will need to be replaced most likely. If it was a V6, you might have gotten away w/o replacing them, but I'm fairly sure the 4 cyl. springs/struts will be wrong.

If i go through with my trade for a K5 (I'll miss my Cherokee), I'll likely be doing this as well.

It has a 4-speed manual tranny, that should handle the 350 shouldn't it?

I'll have to look how big the rear-end is, was thinking about going posi anyway.

Hadn't though about springs though, thanks!

At least it's a Saginaw in '82, GM used the T-5 after it, IIRC. I don't know how it will hold up, the T-5 wouldn't have done well at all.

It's a 7.5". The only "good" part is it's a 3.42:1 ratio, which would be good, if not for the strength being lacking.

You can use the stock TBI fuel pump and use a Holley Bypass Regulator to regulate down to carb pressure.

I just did this swap in my C1500. Went from a 4.3L TBI to a Carb 350.

Im using a HEI Distributor, Demon carb, and i bypassed the oil psi unit wiring, since mine broke and if the fuel pump doesn't get a signal, it wont run.

We did this swap way back in 89. You`ll need to find a V8 parts car, as you will need the V8 crossmember. If memory serves the four cylinders bell housing doesn`t match the V8`s, I know the 6 cylinders didn`t. If it won`t swap and you want to go with a automatic you`ll need a TH350 short tail, and the adapter that lets the torque arm bolt up to the transmission, If I remember correctly, B&M makes these. Or if you want to go the 5 speed route get one out of a firebird or camaro that came with one from the factory. As mentioned, you`ll need a V8 radiator and you`ll need to change the front coil springs otherwise the front end will sit low by about 3 inches and make it not very safe to drive. I have the codes for factory posi rear ends that came in the Camaro Z28 and Firebird Trans Am cars from 82-87. Let me know if you want them. Why I advise getting a donor car as when we did it, we wished we would have had a donor car, it would have saved us many trips from the junk yard. The mount ears that mount on the side of the block, make sure you get them off a chevy pickup and remove the spacer, this will make the engine sit fully down in the engine bay. I`m not sure what fan you plan to use but If I remember you`ll need the V8 upper radiator cradle and the V8 fan shroud if you plan to run a clutch fan. The holes for the V8 mounts will already be present in the frame so that makes it a bolt on, this is a 2 man job unless you`ve did it enough times you`ve gotten used to it. There`s likely more things I can`t remember off the top of my head that will have to be swapped as well. But all things aside, if you can get a V8 Donor car, you`ll be money ahead, if you do it without a donor car, you`ll end up spending well over 3 to 4 grand. In the past that was way I told others unless you have a V8 donor car be prepared to spend some money, but first, look at the car and ask yourself is it worth it.

Go here and order this manual. It will come very close to explaining in detail what you need to do. Getting the engine and tranny in is just the start of what you will have to accomplish. The technology conversion from an 82 model to a TBI can be a pretty large leap involving a lot of stuff not necessarily associated with the engine and transmission. you need to appricate this going in.

Chevrolet TPI & TBI
V8 Engine Swapping
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Che...I_TBI_V-8.html

Bogie

I would appreciate those rear end codes if you could send them. Thanks!

Sure, here they are.
1982 2JR 3.42:1
1982 2JY 3.08:1
1982 2JZ 3.23:1
1982 2PZ 3.23:1
1982 2PY 3.08:1
1983 4JQ/5JQ 3.73:1
1983 4JR/5JR 3.42:1
1983 4JY/5JY 3.08:1
1983 4JZ/5JZ 3.23:1
1983 4PQ/5PQ 3.73:1
1983 4PY/5PY 3.08:1
1983 4PZ/5PZ 3.23:1
1984 6EF 3.42:1
1984 6EP 3.42:1
1984 6JQ 3.73:1
1984 6JR 3.42:1
1984 6JY 3.08:1
1984 6JZ 3.23:1
1984 6PQ 3.73:1
1984 6PY 3.08:1
1984 6PZ 3.23:1
1985 8JP 3.08:1
1985 8JQ 3.23:1
1985 8PP 3.08:1
1985 8PQ 3.23:1
1985 8PR 3.42:1
1985 8PS 3.73:1
1986 2H5 3.73:1
1986 2HT 2.73:1
1986 2HV 2.73:1
1986 2HY 3.23:1
1987 2HQ 3.23:1
1987 4HF 3.08:1
1987 4HY 3.23:1

Are these codes located on the rear end itself, or where would I find them? Thanks!

I think the above codes DV posted are on the front-facing axle tube, right side.

You can also use the RPO sticker from inside the console, hatch or glovebox to determine what came in it, ratio-wise. The sticker looks like:

http://www.vibratesoftware.com/image...0-%20Small.jpg

Of course, this doesn't mean that is what is now in it. Dropping the cover is the surest way to know.

Some RPO codes from HERE:

41 : 15 = 2.73 (RPO GU2)
41 : 14 = 2.93 (RPO GU3)
40 : 13 = 3.08 (RPO GU4)
42 : 13 = 3.23 (RPO GU5) / Approx. RPM’s at 70 mph--2133
41 : 12 = 3.42 (RPO GU6) / Approx. RPM’s at 70 mph--2255
41 : 11 = 3.73 (RPO GT4) / Approx. RPM’s at 70 mph--2463