I have a '92. it sat unused for a very long time (some significant health and financial issues that made the use and upkeep of my fun car about 100 items down on the list), collected dust, and some sort of rodent made its way into the engine bay and found a very strong appetite for wiring (UGH).

2 moves later, and my '92 has now joined me, and I now have a good garage for wrenching. About a year ago I was going to start project '92 2.0, but said health issues reared their ugly head again, and my wife and I had our second child, and things were once again shelved. Well, things are now looking up, and I really want to get this car back to, and beyond her former glory.

Before the hiatus, I had installed a cam, ported/polished heads, 1.6 RRs, short-tube headers, electric WP, and a double roller timing chain. I was having some brake issues (which was one of the reasons I wasn't driving the car much), and the power steering line broke somewhere as I pulled the car into the garage last year.

So, the way I see it, I need to do the following:

1. Pull the engine as I have no idea how extensive the wiring damage is, and trying to work on it in the engine bay would be... a nightmare.
2. Replace the wiring. This may involve fixing the existing wiring, though a big part of me just wants to be done with it, and replace it with all new.
3. Start having some fun. Since the engine is out of the car... stroke her out to a 383? The heads will support it, but I'd likely need a new cam as well.
4. If I am doing significant engine work, and as I like tuning, I am thinking of going to a Megasquirt 3 ECM + WB O2 setup.
5. LT headers (already have them but not on the car) and a nice exhaust.
6. New wheels to allow for GS or C5 brakes (would need new tires as well).
7. GS or C5 brakes.

So am I insane? Should I just sell this car for parts/as a project car, and move on (I have a certain level of emotional attachment to this car which makes that a tough proposition)? Leave it as a 350 for now? Other?

 

If the rat chewed the engine wiring and that needs to be replaced and you also want to do a 383 that will require tuning. I would in your position go with a minisquirt or megasquirt and the wiring kit for it. that would fix you engine wiring problems.

Or LS swap with a minisquirt.

 

If you do an LS swap, use GM PCM...

The conversion will cost you the ABS/ASR, unless you can trick the ECM into thinking all is still Kosher. Dick Guldstrand has done it...

Is this car worth it? No, not really... but think of it this way... how much would it cost to build and how much would it cost to buy something built? Do the math... toss in insurance and do some more math.

As for brakes, look into the bigger SSBC or other options. C5 isn't worth it, in my opinion... and if you are planning wheels, well, gee, why not do it RIGHT.

 

I think the LS swap would be a bit out of price range for me unfortunately.

The SSBC brakes look pretty nice. That being said, to do fronts and rears looks like it would be quite pricey. It may be that the amount of time it will take me to get all the motor stuff done, will allow me to save up for some better brakes. We'll see.

bogus- I guess another question as to "is it worth it" would be, how much can I get for the car as is? $2k? $4k? One possibility would be to sell the car as is, and turn around a buy a new LT1 or even an LT4 for $8-$12k. I'd likely be giving up horsepower (probably wouldn't buy a modified car), but there is something nice about not worrying about wrenching, but rather getting in and driving. Decisions, decisions...

 

If on a budget just fix replace the wiring.

 

Looking at what things would cost, that may not be far from the truth. I figure I can comfortably put $5500 into the car (would be willing to go a little bit above that for a 383, but not enough to do it right), which doesn't look like it would be enough to 'do it all' at this point. So an alternate:

1) Megasquirt 3 Pro ($1200 with wiring harness, and will give me room to grow, and it would definitely beat the prom burning tuning on the stock ECU)
2) WB O2 + Controller ($250 or so.. unless I need one for each side?)
3) Install LT headers, high flow cats + h-pipe + exhaust work ($1200 or so as I already have the LT headers)
4) Fix the power steering (?)
5) Figure out what is going on with my soft brakes (hopefully just a matter of bleeding them)

That leaves me with more than enough for new tires, and potentially new wheels if I can find something I like at the right price (perhaps repo A-molds or something). And, with what I have listed, I'd be in a position to support a 383 or a supercharger (or both) down the road.

 

you are getting into a hornets nest of wiring issues if you go megasquirt...

but it is a valid option, considering how hard it is to find a good ECU for these cars.

 

I aint fraid of no hornets..you?

 

If the engine is out, repairing the wiring is an easy no-brainier. Is there anyone in your area that can help? Most of the time with wiring it's just the daunting task, the actual work is simple, having another set of ears,eyes,hands, and neurons can go a long way.