I am looking into buying a 1980 rs. It has a 305 and manual 4 speed tranmission and I am wondering if this year's model has a computer controlled carburator. I want to know because I will not buy it if it is. Do not want to deal with the computer. Iwas planning on swapping a 350 in place of the 305. Please anyone let me know so I will not make the mistake and buy it. Thanks in advance.

should not be, possible Rochester if its stock.

I thought it started in 1981 but I was looking at the chilton's manual and it shows the 1980 engine schematic shows that it is computer controlled. Hopefully it is a misprint cause I really want this car.

i would double check, just as easy to put a Holley or Edelbrock on it to get by the computer controlled stuff if your worried.

I've never seen a factory computer in an 80 Camaro.
(But some of them had a non-computer lock-up converter.)

I beleive computers were used in 82 and up Camaros, not 81.

I've only seen the Computer Controlled 1980 Camaro's originally sold in California with an automatic trans.

The easiest two clues to check is the carburator will have the electronic connector on the top front of the Quadrajet for the mixture solenoid.

The other clue is inside where the console is. If the pocket under the dash is blocked off, that is where the ECM is. If it is open, then it should be without the electronics.

Hey thanks for the info I will check out the car again tomorrow. Like I said only reason I questioned myself was cause of the chilton manual. Hopefully it was a misprint afterall. Thanks again.

Kamikaze may be correct on the 80 CA model.

The computer managed carbs looked like this:

http://www.hotrodders.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Q_Jet_Top.jpg

See the blue electrical plug on top?

Hey thanks for the picture. Very helpful. I will look at it again tomorrow.

shouldn't be computer controlled. If it were an 81 car with the computer control you'd need an older distributor (with the vacuum advance) as well as the standard (older) quadrajet carb.

Don't forget about the round black circle in the middle of the instrument cluster which is the check engine light which should light up when key is turned on.

Just found an '80 here in Stockton p-n-p with a computer. Weird! Must be a Cali thing.

My `80 Berlinetta originally sold in Caifornia had a computer.

Hey all. I just bought an 81 sport coupe and i did alot of research on the CCC. It was only on the 80s in California due to the higher emission laws. Even here in Ontario Canada, they started in 81.
Mine has had a 350 replant already so its not an issue for me. When I first saw the car, I noticed a computer on the firewall and i almost cried. On my second look, it was The MSD StreetFire ignition. Made me smile alot....LOL
The Whole dash was changed out to A pre 79 (thanx to the great people here for that info) so i dont have to worry about the idiot light.
http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o596/twoodw/IMG-20111217-00115.jpg

in 1980 only the California cars had computers(maybe not all of them but most), in 1981 they all had computers. The computer system was very basic, all you really have to do is replace the carb and distributor to run without it. The only real issue would be if you live in an area where you are required to have the original computer to pass inspection.

if you look at twood's photo you will notice the access flap at the front side of the console, for the computer. and there was no map pocket on the 81 consoles

Pretty sure it started in '80 in California and '81 in all other states. My '81 had the ECM in it under the front of the console and had the check engine circle in the gauge bezel as mentioned before. And it would have the mixture control solenoid with the blue connector as shown in the picture.

wouldn't the console be different ? by 80 OR 81 , they all had consoles and the ECU cars had no pocket in front .

The Gauge cluster out of my "1980" has a blue AC plug coming out of it. I'll check out the carb and post pics of the cluster, computer and carb.
i can replace all this with a painless wiring harness right? I just want simple.

I don't believe there was any " Advanced Computer Controlled" engines in 1980 Camaros. It doesn't mention such in the Camaro White Book or in the 1980 Camaro sales brochure that's available here on Nastyz28.

John