CrossFire Swap

[pleiku10]

I have an 84 350 Crossfire engine that I want to swap into an 87 Camaro. Is the cam in the Vette engine compatible with the TPI?, I know I have to put 350 injectors and ecm and prom for the TPI.-Mike:ugh

 

[aklim]

I have an 84 350 Crossfire engine that I want to swap into an 87 Camaro. Is the cam in the Vette engine compatible with the TPI?, I know I have to put 350 injectors and ecm and prom for the TPI.-Mike:ugh

I would think harness as well. Not sure how the gauges would read but I think that will be fine.

 

[Hib Halverson]

The 84 Vette engine is a flat-tappet motor and the 87 Camaro engine is a roller cam engine. The flat-tappet cam in the 84 motor will be compatible with the 87 TPI with the exception of calibration. You will need to change the calibration and just the 350 PROM may not do it because the flat-tappet and roller tappet 350 cams are different. To get the engine to run best, you'll need a custom calibration or a roller cam with the same profile as stock 87 with lifters to retrofit a roller cam to a non-roller cam block.

You may not need the 350 injectors depending on how much less cam is in an 84 350 vs an 87 350.

 

[pleiku10]

The 84 Vette engine is a flat-tappet motor and the 87 Camaro engine is a roller cam engine. The flat-tappet cam in the 84 motor will be compatible with the 87 TPI with the exception of calibration. You will need to change the calibration and just the 350 PROM may not do it because the flat-tappet and roller tappet 350 cams are different. To get the engine to run best, you'll need a custom calibration or a roller cam with the same profile as stock 87 with lifters to retrofit a roller cam to a non-roller cam block.

You may not need the 350 injectors depending on how much less cam is in an 84 350 vs an 87 350.

Thanks for the info, I was hopeing not to swap out the cam, and thought the vette motor was a roller cam. Its about $800 from Comp Cams for the complete kit. Original motor in the Camaro is a 305 with a spun bearing [BOAT ANCHOR]:bash and am trying to put some costs on the swap-Thanks -Mike

 

[Hib Halverson]

Corvette and Camaro got roller cam engines starting in 1987.

 

[WhalePirot]

T trying to put some costs on the swap-Thanks -Mike

Won't the intake, etc. from the Camaro fit the Vette engine; do the long block thing?

 

[philbillyvette]

If i recall correctly the TPI intake base for the 87 Camaro is not going to bolt up to the heads of the 84 Vette engine. GM changed the angle of the bolts for the 2 sets in the center.
The only exception to the rule were the aluminum Vette heads after the switch in 86 or 87 from cast iron, most of them still retained the older bolt angle. All other GM (chevy) cast iron heads had the new angle for the bolts.
An 87 Camaro LB9 (305 TPI) should have cast iron heads with the newer angle. You may need to find you a TPI base from an earlier engine (85-86). But sometimes there are leftover parts at the factory, so each application may be different, set the 87 TPI base on top of the 84 heads and look at the the 4 center bolts, they prolly won't line up correctly.

I personally just had the same issue with an 85 LB9 (305 TPI) from an IROC-Z, wanted to put the block and heads into my truck, the 1989 L03 (305 TBI) intake in the truck will not work without modifying the 4 center holes.

 

[KANE]

Like Hib said, lots of folks can supply you with recalibrated PROM chips. For custom applications like yours, PCM For Less would be where I'd start. They've burned chips for my TPI swaps.


Phil brings up some great info about the center bolt angles. As for those two center bolts on each side of the manifold- yes, those will need to be taken into consideration. You could get a new intake from Ebay for around $100... and then list the one that won't fit and come out even (minus shipping).

You may also want to think about getting an adjustable fuel pressure regulator since you're already considering new injectors.


Good luck!

 

[aklim]

IIRC, ACCEL and the HSR comes with the center bolt holes already slotted out so why can't you bring it to a machine shop that can slot it for you instead of buying a whole new intake?

 

[philbillyvette]

IIRC, ACCEL and the HSR comes with the center bolt holes already slotted out so why can't you bring it to a machine shop that can slot it for you instead of buying a whole new intake?

I'm slotting the L03 intake myself to make it work, just a time consuming process using drill bits and burr bits to slot the holes out.

 

[vetteoz]

Won't the intake, etc. from the Camaro fit the Vette engine; do the long block thing?

87 uses the same ECM ('165 ) that 86 did so tune for 86E with iron heads and flat tappet cam should be ballpark for CFI long block

I'm slotting the L03 intake myself to make it work, just a time consuming process using drill bits and burr bits to slot the holes out.

15 minutes tops by hand with a round file