Engine swap for 82
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
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Engine swap for 82
I'm assisting a friend in getting his 82 to perform better and he has said he wants to upgrade to a different engine. He doesn't want to go with an LSx series so I was thinking a crate motor possibly a 383 stroker. My concerns are:
1. How well is this set up with the 700R4 trans? Trans will be rebuilt.
2. What type of fuel injection system should be used? He does not want to go carb.
3. How much effort is there to get the ECM to recognize the changes?
4. Which header/exhaust is recommended? No emissions testing here.
5. If a 383 stroker won't work, what else is available? Would a later L98 with TPI work better or perhaps an LT1 from the C4 era?
I had an 82 CE for seven years but I kept it all stock for resale. I've done engine swaps on earlier C3's but never jumped into a motor swap on a computer controlled C3.
Thanks in advance for any and all help, opinions, etc.
1. How well is this set up with the 700R4 trans? Trans will be rebuilt.
2. What type of fuel injection system should be used? He does not want to go carb.
3. How much effort is there to get the ECM to recognize the changes?
4. Which header/exhaust is recommended? No emissions testing here.
5. If a 383 stroker won't work, what else is available? Would a later L98 with TPI work better or perhaps an LT1 from the C4 era?
I had an 82 CE for seven years but I kept it all stock for resale. I've done engine swaps on earlier C3's but never jumped into a motor swap on a computer controlled C3.
Thanks in advance for any and all help, opinions, etc.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
There is a good bit of info if you do a search. Might look on the Crossfire forum and on the C4 side as well since it is the same engine in an 84. Perhaps he would be satisfied with more power from the CFI. If not, I TPI is the next logical iteration, but it runs out of air in larger displacements and at higher rpms. TPI would bolt onto the stock bottom end, was available with 700R4 so brackets and TV cable are out there and easy. You would need a different harness and fuel pump. If you want the same basic engine but more powerful, you could go LT1. No problems with 700R4 there. You have to use LT1 specific brackets. MAF sensor mounting (if used) can be cumbersome.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
From: The Villages FL
Look at the Corvette Fever Magazine's Project Shark Attack. Although it used the L98 block and heads, you could stroke your block to 383 and put the Holley throttle body fuel injection unit on it affordably. After putting 10-12 thousand miles on it myself, it ran very well, lots of torque, and fuel mileage got up to 25-26 mpg using the Keisler TKO 5-speed with 3.36 rear gears. It was a great driver combination.
Spike
Spike
