body swap

[Michels]

I have a 85 Chevy Caprice 2 door that currently has the stock 305 in it. I recently bought a 90 caprice 9C1 police car with a LO5 350. I was going to do an engine swap between the two, but it seemed as if I was going to have to end up swapping everything but the body and frame which seemed like a lot of work.

So I was thinking it may be easier to just swap the bodies between the two cars. Does anyone know how much work is involved in this?
Also does anyone know any HP improvement tricks that can be done to the L05 5.7L?

[lt1s10]

Originally posted by Michels
I have a 85 Chevy Caprice 2 door that currently has the stock 305 in it. I recently bought a 90 caprice 9C1 police car with a LO5 350. I was going to do an engine swap between the two, but it seemed as if I was going to have to end up swapping everything but the body and frame which seemed like a lot of work.

So I was thinking it may be easier to just swap the bodies between the two cars. Does anyone know how much work is involved in this?
Also does anyone know any HP improvement tricks that can be done to the L05 5.7L?

you didnt give us much info. michels but if all you wont to do is put the 1990 350 in the 1985 all you need to do is change all of the elec. from the 305 to the 350. may have to do something with the fuel pump. then put the 350 stuff back on the the 305. may have to change the intake, but anything would be better than changing the body. it wouldnt be worth that much work. if the 1985 has a carb and you wonted to keep the efi then you would have to use the wiring off of the 1990. and thats done every day now, but you would have to know something about wiring a car. i dont know! if you dont know what youer doing anything you do here is going to be a job. let me know what fuel system is on ea. motor thats the biggest problem that i see.

[Dave Severson]

If the body mounts are the same on both years, it wouldn't be that big a deal to change the bodies, as long as you have something strong enough to suspend the entire body while you roll the newer chassis under the body. Take the front sheet metal off as a unit, put all the wiring and components from the cop engine on top of the motor before you pull the chassis out, reposition them on the old body when the body swap is complete.

[Don Meyer]

I agree with Dave. Changing bodies is the easy out. I'[ve done it w/one other person in a day......Don

[54Belvedere]

the body sounds like the easiest way and also you gotta think the police car might have gears, suspension and more as far as upgrades.