1979 Chevy Camaro Camaro engine swap

Tiny
JEFFREYDAWOOD
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  • 1979 CHEVROLET CAMARO
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 161,000 MILES
I'm thinking about buying an 89 Camaro z28 with the engine already out of it and putting a 350 engine from a 91 Caprice into it. Basically, I was wondering what problems, parts, and labor should I expect from doing this? I want to know if drilling to the engine might be done or things in that fashion.
Sunday, January 10th, 2010 AT 7:29 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
PEAR69
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Is it a 79 or 89 Camero? Your post subject says 79 and you posted 89. And What do you mean by "drilling to the engine"?
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Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 AT 12:40 AM
Tiny
JEFFREYDAWOOD
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Sorry, it's a 79 and by drilling I mean would new places for the motor to hold need to be made? Also, I understand I could have the engine carburated but I was wondering what the price difference would be if I chose to just have the car carburated or to keep it fuel injected?
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Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 AT 9:56 PM
Tiny
PEAR69
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The motor mounts are exactly the same. If you retain the fuel injection you will have to also consider this. Fuel injection is computer controlled. The computer must come with the caprices' engine - then you have to wire the engine - you will have to add oxygen sensors and catalytic converters to the exhaust and a few other emission parts that the 79 camaro wasn't intended to have. The work involved installing the stock fuel injection is not worth it. The cost I honestly don't know, but I do know if it was me, It would be too much. Here is what I would do. I would put the caprice block in the car. Then I would put on a set of Vortec aluminium heads - a Vortec raised intake - with a Holley 4 barrel carburator. Put a MSD ignition system in and you will be cookin.
The reason for the Vortec heads is because they are cheap hosepower. Try to stay away from as much pollution control devices as possible -like- EGR valves, O2 sensors, air pumps and catalytic converters stuff like that.
Work yourself up a budget and look at what you can afford. To be honest the sky is the limit, but if you want, give me your budget and I will suggest some things. In your budget put some dollars in for labor that may have to be done outside your capacity.
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Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 AT 10:38 PM
Tiny
ERNEST CLARK
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Another option that is cheap, and more reliable, is to buy the caprice engine with the computer and wiring harness intact.

You won't have to wire anything other than O2 sensors.
And as for the emissions related devices, because your car is 30 years old (depending on what state you're in), you don't have to EPA certify your car every year.

Don't worry about cats, egr, air-pumps, etc.
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Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 AT 9:13 AM
Tiny
PEAR69
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Thats kinda what I meant in the beginning of my reply. If you do keep the caprices' engine stock, it is not that simple. You will also have to reprogram the computer to 'shut off' all of the sensors associated with the emmissions and the transmission - unless you install them.
The stock computer of the 91 caprice has several emmission, as well as other inputs that (if not reprogrammed and removed) will cause your engine to run rough - and maybe not even at all. The computer adjusts the fuel injection, as well as the timing advance and shift points to the transmission, to give the best fuel efficancy possible. IMO - a 79 Camaros' engine was not intended be 'squeezed' by computers.
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Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 AT 1:27 PM

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