bpestilence
04-05-2002, 08:50:00 AM
I set out a while ago to see if I could retrofit a 1979 Camaro with EFI and an overdrive automatic.
I heard countless replies of this idea that it would be too much troub;e for it's worth, I would have to seriously modify the car to do it, etc, so I was ready for anything. But I was surprised just how easy the retrofit was!
First, the tranny. The TH-700R4 is 3" longer than the TH-350 my car came with. So, I sent the driveline in to be cut. And that was the only modifcation I had to make. The crossmember needed to move back, but all I did was unbolt it, and bolt it in place so that the two bolt holes towards the front were bolted into the rear two holes. So, there are only two bolts holding the crossmember to the frame, but it is still quite secure. Besides that, I just needed a new shifter, which I was getting anyway, the proper speedo gears for my setup, and a simple wiring kit from Painless to retrofit the lockup capability of the tranny. I must say, having an overdrive is a great benefit! I have the accelleration of the Z/28 with the highway cruising of a Berlinetta. The tranny is a TCI Street Fighter transmission with a manual/auto valvebody, and a 4-3 kickdown kit from B&M, that allows me to stay in fourth gear at speeds up to 115. (Not that I've tried ;-Þ )
As for the EFI, I purchased an Edelbrock Pro-Flo RPM system, and installation was a snap. No holes to cut, the only thing I had to do was replace the fuel line from the pump to the manifold, the hose being supplied with the kit. I didn't even have to run a return line; I simply used the return line that came stock in late second gen cars as part of the C.A.R.B. emmissions equipment. Even the harness was easy to route. Since my car originally had A/C, there was a 3" hole in the firewall anyway. I killed two birds with one stone, by installing the ECU harness and covering the hole.
If you want to see picstures, and more specific information, visit my website, http://www.bpestilence.com/project_camaro.htm
I heard countless replies of this idea that it would be too much troub;e for it's worth, I would have to seriously modify the car to do it, etc, so I was ready for anything. But I was surprised just how easy the retrofit was!
First, the tranny. The TH-700R4 is 3" longer than the TH-350 my car came with. So, I sent the driveline in to be cut. And that was the only modifcation I had to make. The crossmember needed to move back, but all I did was unbolt it, and bolt it in place so that the two bolt holes towards the front were bolted into the rear two holes. So, there are only two bolts holding the crossmember to the frame, but it is still quite secure. Besides that, I just needed a new shifter, which I was getting anyway, the proper speedo gears for my setup, and a simple wiring kit from Painless to retrofit the lockup capability of the tranny. I must say, having an overdrive is a great benefit! I have the accelleration of the Z/28 with the highway cruising of a Berlinetta. The tranny is a TCI Street Fighter transmission with a manual/auto valvebody, and a 4-3 kickdown kit from B&M, that allows me to stay in fourth gear at speeds up to 115. (Not that I've tried ;-Þ )
As for the EFI, I purchased an Edelbrock Pro-Flo RPM system, and installation was a snap. No holes to cut, the only thing I had to do was replace the fuel line from the pump to the manifold, the hose being supplied with the kit. I didn't even have to run a return line; I simply used the return line that came stock in late second gen cars as part of the C.A.R.B. emmissions equipment. Even the harness was easy to route. Since my car originally had A/C, there was a 3" hole in the firewall anyway. I killed two birds with one stone, by installing the ECU harness and covering the hole.
If you want to see picstures, and more specific information, visit my website, http://www.bpestilence.com/project_camaro.htm