need 5.0 advice

[aajj1987]

ok starting to work on my friends 5.0 camaro its a 91 rs with a TBI setup. everyone says its easier to convert to a carb. if so do i just need the intake and the carburator or what? ive always delt with lt1's so kinda in the dark with this. any help is appreciated.

[Chris 96 WS6]

Yeah, You'll need a distributor with vacuum advance instead of the ECM controls. Then You'll need to swap the TBI out for the carb. The last thing is you'll need a fuel pressure regulator, because the 13-15psi from the TBI fuel pump in the tank will drown the carb, which is expecting to see 5-7 psi.

[five7kid]

If automatic transmission, you will also need to get the torque converter clutch lock-up to function somehow.

The auto transmission throttle valve cable geometry must match exactly what the TBI was. The TV adjusts internal transmission pressure based on throttle opening, and if you just hook it on to the bottom of the carb link, it won't be right and the transmission won't be long for this world. Adapter brackets are available from Summit and Jegs.

If manual transmission, you can ignore Paragraphs 1 & 2.

After all the work swapping to carb, you'll still have the real reasons the LO3 engines were so weak - the miniature exhaust, swirlport heads, and peanut cam, in that order. Put on headers and 3" cat-back, LB9 heads (081 castings), and upgrade the cam, and the TBI will be capable of feeding the engine to handle the increased power potential. Edelbrock also makes an upgraded intake manifold. You will probably have to do chip tuning, but that isn't as bad a deal as it sounds.

And if you're even remotely considering a Performer carb, consider yourself cyberslapped.

[Chris 96 WS6]

I think I've ready before the TBI can support up to 300 HP..that's with a pair of injectors from a 454 TBI unit. After that, you run out of ability to add more fuel, which is pretty much a hard limit on HP.

I agree, the cam is tiny (186/194 duration I think), and the heads are absolute garbage.

[94 Z28 w/issues]

If automatic transmission, you will also need to get the torque converter clutch lock-up to function somehow.

The auto transmission throttle valve cable geometry must match exactly what the TBI was. The TV adjusts internal transmission pressure based on throttle opening, and if you just hook it on to the bottom of the carb link, it won't be right and the transmission won't be long for this world. Adapter brackets are available from Summit and Jegs.

If manual transmission, you can ignore Paragraphs 1 & 2.

After all the work swapping to carb, you'll still have the real reasons the LO3 engines were so weak - the miniature exhaust, swirlport heads, and peanut cam, in that order. Put on headers and 3" cat-back, LB9 heads (081 castings), and upgrade the cam, and the TBI will be capable of feeding the engine to handle the increased power potential. Edelbrock also makes an upgraded intake manifold. You will probably have to do chip tuning, but that isn't as bad a deal as it sounds.

And if you're even remotely considering a Performer carb, consider yourself cyberslapped.

i built a 383 stroker out of a stock 305 TPI setup, but it was the first year TPI so i ditched it for a carb setup, and i ditched the PCM too

[five7kid]

Did you stroke the 305, or put a 383 under the '85 TPI?

Regardless, I wouldn't do either one, and neither have anything to do with the original poster's question.

[94 Z28 w/issues]

Did you stroke the 305, or put a 383 under the '85 TPI?

Regardless, I wouldn't do either one, and neither have anything to do with the original poster's question.

bored honed stroker crank, the whole 9

[ChefDiablo]

i used to have a 91 rs with the 305 tbi and thought of going with a crate zz3 carborated. then i just decided to 86 the whole project. but from what i reasearched.....turbo city makes a jetted/bored TB that will support 600 hp. i never got that far to know if its true or not, but i have heard that swapping over is a REAL PAIN IN THE ASS. the guy that i know did it told me time and again not to do it....and not to run a true dual exhaust cuz of the crazy clearence. he said that the clearence made it not streetable at all. he couldnt even handle the changes in road textures....LOW! like i said...i had a 91 camaro too and loved that car dearly.....but simple fact....thats the body style (91-92) that gm decided to give a half-asses effort in their most popular muscle car......THE CAMARO. My advice....get a LS series powered car. You wont be dissapointed! I did and it was like going from dial up to broadband.....NOW WAY I AM GOING BACK!

[94 Z28 w/issues]

i used to have a 91 rs with the 305 tbi and thought of going with a crate zz3 carborated. then i just decided to 86 the whole project. but from what i reasearched.....turbo city makes a jetted/bored TB that will support 600 hp. i never got that far to know if its true or not, but i have heard that swapping over is a REAL PAIN IN THE ASS. the guy that i know did it told me time and again not to do it....and not to run a true dual exhaust cuz of the crazy clearence. he said that the clearence made it not streetable at all. he couldnt even handle the changes in road textures....LOW! like i said...i had a 91 camaro too and loved that car dearly.....but simple fact....thats the body style (91-92) that gm decided to give a half-asses effort in their most popular muscle car......THE CAMARO. My advice....get a LS series powered car. You wont be dissapointed! I did and it was like going from dial up to broadband.....NOW WAY I AM GOING BACK!

summit makes a trans crossmember for the 700r4 that gives you the clearence to run a true dual exhaust....and its cheap

[five7kid]

summit makes a trans crossmember for the 700r4 that gives you the clearence to run a true dual exhaust....and its cheap
Made for a 3rd gen???

[94 Z28 w/issues]

Made for a 3rd gen???


yup, didn't see it till after i swaped to a TH350 trans, if i did i would have done it, of course now i can't locate them, but they used to have it i know that

[five7kid]

bored honed stroker crank, the whole 9Still don't understand if you did that to a 305 or a 350.

[94 Z28 w/issues]

original motor was a 305, was toasted, got a used 350 block out of an 88 Z28, so i used a 350 block for my build, but it wouldn't have mattered cause i had it bored out