Thread: LS1 in 82 Camaro or 77 T/A

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Just for conversion sake, what would you do? I got the 77 T/A with the original 400 and four speed, and the 82 Z28 with a numbers matching HO 305( ) I would like one of them to have an LS based motor in it for a nice streetable 400 hp at the wheels. The thing is I have Vortec 350 that I can build with 700r4 trans that could be a cheap upgrade for the Camaro, but not quite the HP i'm after. However even with 325 ish at the wheels, it would still be a ball. I was thinking today the T/A would be sweet with a LS1/T56 combo, but would it be sinful to take out the original engine? Otherwise the 82 could be fun as heck with the LS1 in it , and no problem of guilt will pulling the 305.If both were in your garage who who get the upgrade. Just thinkin outloud. I'm not sure I should ask this here because I know how fond all you are of the gen 3 camaros

Don't befowl the TA!

Yea, I just came back to delete this thread. The more I thought about it, I would be crazy to hack up the T/A, not going to happen.

I would do the TA in a heartbeat! It is much better looking than the Camaro and I would put as much late model horsepower in it as I could afford and still make it a driver. Spank all the old TA stock stogies with pure power... That is what Hot Rodding is all about.

LS in the TA. Save the original motor and trans. You could most likely do it without hurting any future collector value. Keep a manual trans. A 5-speed would most likely fit without hurting anything. The question is, do you really want a "collector car" that you're not inclined to drive for fear of hurting it's value or do you want a hot rod? Those 70's era engines were not known for big HP numbers. Is that what you would be happy with? What would give you the most day to day enjoyment?

Vortec in the Camaro. The 400HP you want should be doable with it condidering how good the Vortec heads are.

FWIW - I sold a nice straight 55 2-door post because it was original and I decided I didn't want to take it apart. That was a decision that I have regretted ever since. I'll never find another one that was that straight and rust free for the kind of money that I paid for it, but it was a 6 cylinder/OD car that I would never have driven much.

Just to go out of the box of choices you gave. You could scare up a 455 and throw some typical go fast stuff at it. Heads, ignition, cam (not a lot) and compression. It should bolt in with no or few mods and would give the fun quotient of the TA a huge boost. You could keep the 4 speed and maybe add a touch of gear to the rear. You wouldn't need much gear because the 455 makes monster torque. Probably wouldn't be much of a fuel miser, but it would be a ton of fun and keep the car all Pontiac.

I'd sell the 83 and LS swap the T/A in a heart beat too! There should be nothing you couldn't easily undo to put it back to original if you save all your old stuff. Your old 71 is getting a 5.3, turbo, and a Super T-10. LS's are the best bang for the buck hands down. Even if everyone is doing it.

I'll leave the T/A alone, possibly put Holley EFI on it with the timing controlled dist, and a set of Ram Air manifolds to finally get rid of my choked up exhaust with the cam I have. I tried putting headers on it one time but couldn't get the clutch linkage to clear. I keep thinking of putting a 5.3 in the Z28 but I just don't know if it's worth it when I have Vortec 350 and a 700r4 sitting right there.

Leaving the TA all pontiac is the right choice in my opinion. As mentioned above you can easily get 400 HP out of the 400 or go 455. You won't match the fuel economy of the LS but with the right gearing, cam and carb tuning, or EFI, good mileage can be had. Just don't use the lead foot too often. Needless to say, I'm a Pontiac fan. I even have Pontiac power in my 34 Ford.


Jack.