Ok, I am new to this and new to buicks. So if I do or say something wrong please correct me. I am good with cars and motors, but sometimes need guidiance on what to look for. Here goes. I have a 83 Buick Regal originally had a v6, but now is empty. I have recently came accross a 88 Chevy 305 fuel injected motor and would like to use it. The mounting and install is striaght forward, but what do I need to do to get the fuel injection to work??? I know I need a higher pressure fuel pump to start, but the ECM/PCM is where I need the help. DO I need it for the injection or can I by pass it? Has anyone installed a newer motor into an older car? So if anyone could provide me with answers, links, or just a good book that would be great.
You might have trouble getting help performing that swap. Since, it's not taken to kindly to swap a Chevy into a Buick.
That sounds like a perfect application for an aftermarket EFI controller. I bet you could get a GM ECM and make it work, but I think you'll be happier with an aftermarket tunable unit. I have a Speed-Pro unit (now called FAST, see www.fuelairspark.com) on my 455 and love it. Other people have been happy with the Accel DFI Gen 7, and there are others as well. If you don't want to put a computer on, well I guess then you'll have to figure out how to put a carb on and a distributor... -Bob Cunningham bobc@gnttype.org
Yeah, I was thinking I could get a aftermarkey ECU or just button down read a few manuals on how to use the one that came with the engine... By the way the engine is out of a 88 Chevy van. I do emphise with JTY, but buick and chevy are all under GM, or so I thought. I just want a motor I can get HP out of in the future, but have the fuel economy for now. IF anyone else has some suggestions I would love to hear them. Or a good site for pin outs on the ECM that goes with these engines. Also, I am under the belief that Buicks are G body cars and the enigine I have is a TBI... can some one give me a deffinate on that? Again, Sorry for my stupidity, but until now I have been tweaking Honda motors, this is my first attempt into a true hot rod/custom of an older car.
GM owns Buick, but for many years, Buick built and designed it's own engines. As did Olds/Pontiac/Cadillac, however in various years engines were switched back and forth between brands. For instance the 3.8L V6 was a Buick designed engine, which in turbocharged form, produces sick amounts of horsepower. If you want to stick with EFI, you may want to check out an aftermarket setup, like a Holley ProJection. However, I'd recommend just switching to a carb setup, much more flexibility when it comes to making mods down the road.
305+TBI<hp Pardon me for stepping into this without ideas for your 305, but for horsepower the Buick turbo 3.8 is the way to go. If you want economy now, the Buick 2bbl 3.8 is the way to go. If you want an easy install in an '84 Regal, the Buick 3.8 is the way to go. The turbo 3.8 in the Regal GNX was faster than the same model year Corvettes, and 3.8's have been built to produce 900 hp in a street car. There are a lot of parts for the 3.8, and websites devoted to building them. The 305 is known as a sickly sibling to the ubiquitous 350 SBC. It's usually considered a dog until it's made a "good" engine by being made a 350. Don't bother with that. Get the 231/3.8, it's the right engine, and the "correct" engine, and will reward you with more power and efficiency today and in the future. If you've been playing with imports, you know what a turbo does for a car!
My Friend had a Turbo 3.8 GN, and I do have to say that it is F'n fast. He has yet to lose to anyone on a street race, It has not been track raced, so I am not sure what it will do in the 1/4. The only problem is that All the engines I have seen is why more than I have or want to invest at this time. I do realize that there are probably tons of options to use, but my concern is money! This is what I have to work with or trade it off for a 350 and go with it. The Chevy/Gm SB engines seem to be plentyful and cheap to build and add onto in the future. I am not here to step on toes, just looking for help to install this particular motor into the car I have. Lastly, I am greatful that I am getting any replies to this. I appreciate and respect everyones help, suggestions, or bashings. I reallize I am doing something outside the norm or the accepted, but the truth is I can't afford to do the "right application at this time". I am $100 into the car and $275 for the complete van with 40,000 on a new 305 engine with a 700R4. SO as you can see I am trying to keep cost to a minimum even if it take me a little more work to figure out what it take to get this to work or trade it to a friend for a 350 or non-turbo 3.8.
Problem Solved Ok, Thanks for the suggestions. I have solved the mystery and it took less than an hour. It turns out the donor vehicle (88 Van) the ECU wiring is seperated from the rest of the Wiring. It is all self contained and runs under the floor pan and up under the driver seat where the ECU is housed. On the front of the van all the wiring runs across the top of the engine compartment and connects directly to the battery. I ripped out the dash to see what was under there and all the wiring under there is usless...Heater, Turn signals, Ignition, dash wiring, wiper, lights and stereo... Usless crap. The only thing I need from under the dash was the ECU code reading connector, which turns out to be a seperate four lead wire that runs down the fire wall and along the driver floor to the ECU. So in short I would recommend to anyone that wants to swap/convert their car to TBI fuel injection to find a donor van or purchase the many adapters/harnesses out there like The one mentioned above or Painless Performance's harnesses. I will post pictures of the harness when I have access to my other system. Thanks again!!!
And this is The other end... Which is just a altenator, battery connection for the ECU and a starter wire.
