Register now to get rid of these ads!

IS a 92 Camaro drivetrain worth using in an old car?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by SwitchBlade327, Jul 20, 2006.

  1. SwitchBlade327
    Joined: Dec 15, 2002
    Posts: 2,911

    SwitchBlade327
    Member

    I have a buddy with a wrecker service who's offering me a really good deal on a 92 camro for me to yank the drivetrain out of to use in my new project. I've enver tackled using a computerized car's drivetrain in an old vehicle so i'm looking for what it would take to convert it to carburation and make the TH700R4 transmission work properly in my shoebox. The car was involved in a police chase and is just sitting in my buddy's lot, the owners won't pay the storage since the car was damaged and with the price of storage along with fixing the car they said for him to just keep it. I can pick it up for $500 when the paperwork is all done. That is IF i can use it without having a bunch of computerized***** undermy hood!

    I'm hoping someone here can tell me what I need to know!
     
  2. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,756

    squirrel
    Member

    you maybe could uncomputer it, not too difficult on the TBI engines.

    That's the last year that the 700 would work without a computer.
     
  3. Deuce Roadster
    Joined: Sep 8, 2002
    Posts: 9,519

    Deuce Roadster
    Member Emeritus

    Edelbrock makes a aluminum intake to fit ... that uses a carb. Then just get a 70's HEI and you are riding. :)

    Or ... use everything from the Camaro ... computer and all ... you would have everything needed ...
     
  4. SwitchBlade327
    Joined: Dec 15, 2002
    Posts: 2,911

    SwitchBlade327
    Member

    So the******* will work without the computer eh? That's music to my ears! I figured swapping out the engine to a caburator setup would be fairly easy it was just the transmission I wasn't sure about. I've never owned a chevy before so I know nothing about this*****.....I would consider using everything from the camero, even though I hate the looks of all that clutter in an engine compartment. I kinda thought it would be easier to change it over than to try to figure out how to swap it all into the shoebox....
     
  5. hippie6
    Joined: Mar 26, 2006
    Posts: 229

    hippie6
    Member

    Why not just use everything from the camaro?? You've got the whole car. I'm putting a '89 5.0 from a mark VII in to my '54 lincoln.
     
  6. Pooch
    Joined: Apr 11, 2006
    Posts: 869

    Pooch
    Member
    from Oklahoma

    Edelbrock makes an intake that will fit. Switch the dist out for an HEI and the engine is ready to go. The trans question will have to be answered by someone else
     
  7. LongT
    Joined: May 11, 2005
    Posts: 980

    LongT
    Member

  8. raffman
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 658

    raffman
    Member

    If that was a 93 it would be an LT1....def. worth it... but a standard tbi 350...I'd pass.
     
  9. Primer Gray
    Joined: May 19, 2006
    Posts: 51

    Primer Gray
    Member


    Yeah...do you have room to store the whole car? You'll want the wiring harness...the Painless wiring harness for TPI will just put the computer in limp home mode...just get a Helms for the Camaro, and use all the wiring/etc. Sure, old school FI is cool, a friend of my dad's has 62 Vette FI in his yellow 58 Chevy 4x4, but if you have the car, you'll have all the little bits and pieces you'll need.

    Helms book for the Camaro will tell you all you need to do to make it work, and any missing info will be filled in by the Jags That Run folks.
     
  10. mustangsix
    Joined: Mar 7, 2005
    Posts: 1,534

    mustangsix
    Member

    Those TPI engines are pretty nice running engines and make great transplants into older cars. Starts on the first crank, makes decent power, good gas mileage, easy to service, easy to increase power.

    Unless looks are really important (like and open hood trad-style roadster), you could just use the whole thing as is. There is a ton of info on how to re-use the wiring harness and computer without too much work.
     
  11. 38Chevy454
    Joined: Oct 19, 2001
    Posts: 6,771

    38Chevy454
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    92 is TPI (tuned port injection), not TBI (throttle body injection). Easiest swap in the world is to just put carb manifold and older self-contained HEI, then wire the lock-up on the trans with the simple kit. That is a great donor car, you can probably sell off what you don't want/need and get back most all of your $500 if not even make some money. Items such as the TPI intake, computer, interior pieces, any good sheetmetal, wheels, etc.

    I would jump on that and if you are good you end up with a nice drivetrain for free.
     
  12. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,756

    squirrel
    Member

    Are you sure the car he's looking at is TPI, not TBI? they made both in 92....
     
  13. SwitchBlade327
    Joined: Dec 15, 2002
    Posts: 2,911

    SwitchBlade327
    Member

    I don't know if it's TPI or TBI, and I'm really leaning towards getting rid of all that***** anyway. I don't think I would be able to stand staring at all that stuff everytime I popped the hood. I looked into those lock up kits for the transmission and they seem simple enough. Guess I'll just need to look into intake & carb setups for the engine and figure out changing stuff for the gauges and what not from there. Is it just as simple as putting on an intake, carb, and a new electric fuel pump?
     
  14. 38Chevy454
    Joined: Oct 19, 2001
    Posts: 6,771

    38Chevy454
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    For mullet Camaro's? I thought they were all TPI in 92, at least the small block ones. Trucks had TBI, but even if it is TBI, the conversion to carb is so easy either way.

     
  15. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,756

    squirrel
    Member

    and if it's TPI, he can sell off the computer***** for more $$$
     
  16. raffman
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 658

    raffman
    Member

    TPI would be better than TB but do your research ,depending on what your putting it in it could add up in cost. I've found that you can drop some serious $ in just constructing a safe fuel sys. for a EFI. they run high pressures and a return you can't screw around with a cobbed up sys.
     
  17. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,756

    squirrel
    Member

    I worked on a guys LTI powered 57 chevy, he spent close to a grand on a gas tank for it.

    carburetors are wonderful
     
  18. tomslik
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,161

    tomslik
    Member



    and by the same token, i modified a stock gas tank for EFI.
    it ain't tough....

    carbs*****...
     
  19. flamedolds
    Joined: Feb 19, 2005
    Posts: 293

    flamedolds
    Member

    1992 Camaros had TBI and TPI -- I believe the 305's were TBI and the 350's were TPI so whether its a 305 or a 350 might sway your decision as well.
     
  20. scottybaccus
    Joined: Mar 13, 2006
    Posts: 4,109

    scottybaccus
    Member

    Can you say roller cam? The Tuned Port motor is awesome. The throttle body is good. With the TPI it will have a roller cam for way less friction. Slap on a manifold and HEI and go. Swap in some flat top pistons for about 9.5:1 compression and go fast. Snag it, then use it or sell it. I'll bet careful dealing on the stuff you don't want will more than pay for the stuff you do want.
     
  21. dmarv
    Joined: Oct 10, 2005
    Posts: 977

    dmarv
    Alliance Vendor
    from Exeter, CA

    1992 Camaro's had 305 TBI, 305 TPI, and 350 TPI. The VIN code will tell you. If the 8th digit of the VIN is E, then it's a 305 TBI. If the 8th digit is an F than it's a 305 TPI. If the 8th digit is an 8, than it a 350 TPI.

    Dan Marvin, Owner
    Exeter Auto Supply
     
  22. tomslik
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,161

    tomslik
    Member

    here's a thought, open the hood!
    tbi looks like a carb kinda, tpi don't!
    jeez.....
     
  23. SwitchBlade327
    Joined: Dec 15, 2002
    Posts: 2,911

    SwitchBlade327
    Member

    I'm going to be going to see the car next week, getting ready to head out the door for a little vacation until wednesday. I'll be sure to take pictures when i go see & drive the car in question.
     
  24. Aman
    Joined: Dec 28, 2005
    Posts: 2,522

    Aman
    Member
    from Texas

    Hey switchblade, if it's a TPI and you decide to***** can all the unsightly wiring, hoses, and injection system, and that ugly manifold and intake.....you give me a PM...OK...we can be best freinds:D . And remember to say before bedtime...........

    Get the carb!
    Get the carb!
    Get the carb!

    TPIs are not good!
    TPIs are not good!
    TPIs are not good!
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.