You have changed my mind - please take a look at Plan B.

[Loves302Chevy]

Hi Grumpy and everybody -
So I am taking your advice and I'm not going to install the 302 Chevy in my '84 TransAm.
The many modifications I would have to make to the car just to try this engine is too much.

Instead, with the price of gas at over $4.00/gal, and my job probably moving further away, I'm
thinking that I should use the completely rebuilt 267 Chevy that I've had sitting in the basement
for about 25 years - God where does the time go?
Anyway, I was messing around with CamQuest and was thinking that I could put a range 2 usage
(high torque, fuel economy, mild performance gain) camshaft in there. I was very surprised and happy
when the program listed cams nearly identical to the Edelbrock Performer copy that I already have in
there! So here are all the details:
ENGINE
.030 over 267 Chevy 3.530 bore, 3.480 stroke 8-8.25 compression
new #14034806 (267) heads with 1.72/1.4 valves
FelPro #8670PT head gaskets 1.6 ratio long slot rockers (gives .448/.471)
Edel Performer copy camshaft 204/214 .420/.442 112 LSA
Weiand Action Plus #8004 intake
Carter AFB #9504 500 cfm elec choke carb

CAR
'84 TransAm T-Top fully loaded 3800-4000#
Turbo700R4 Trans - according to the transmission shop that did the performance rebuild it has the same converter that the turbo GrandNationals use, around 2200 rpm stall, I think. Lockup type.
4.10 posi gears - not the best for ultimate mileage, but they're staying. Besides, with the 28" tall tires and
the 30% overdrive of the Turbo700R4, it's not that bad.
Complete SLP stainless exhaust system: 1 5/8 headers, 2.5 down pipes Y'ed to 3", single 3" cat converter,
3" intermediate pipe, transverse muffler with (2) 2.5" tailpipes.

I know this combo is not going to break any land speed records or beat John Force, but I will be able to
get the car back on the road so that I can repair the 334 (stroked 305) and get it back in there - yeah - go ahead and laugh, but it ran GREAT! And computer controlled too!

Is there a better choice for an intake. I have practically every SBC manifold made in the 70s & 80s including
a Streetmaster X type, Crossfire TBI (with 2/3 sized ports) that I can fabricate a single 4bbl top for, and I'm sure I can come up with a Edelbrock SP2P/Weiand 3000 on eBay, if necessary.

Should I keep it computer controlled or not? The stock computer with a JET chip worked great with the 29 extra cubes of the 334. But I'm thinking I could get better mileage from the Carter 500 AFB vs. the computer controlled 750 cfm Quadrajet. If non-computer, then I would have to add a torque converter lockup circuit and get a Throttle Valve geometry corrector for the AFB. Also, a non-computer distributor.

Please give your good opinions and recommendations. Thanks again, Mike.

 

[grumpyvette]

ok Ive read thru this and the first thought that comes to mind here is, that finding a salvage yard 350sbc is going to be a good deal less work and cheaper to build, too buy parts for, and your much likely to have better results that any engine with those restrictive small valve heads, especially on a 3800 lb car
if you build a 9:1 compression 350 and shift at 2500rpm you will get fairly consistent and reasonably decent mileage, but obviously swapping to 3.07:1 rear gears would significantly improve mileage potential.
yes theres no doubt that you could re-build and install a 267 sbc and have a bit better mileage IN THEORY , but in reality you'll be rpm-ing the engine significantly more often to get any where near the same acceleration out of the smaller displacement, and those smaller valves and displacement will need to work a great deal harder to keep up.
if you do choose to install the 267 sbc youll have few real problems, but your also very unlikely to like the result in the long term

 

[Loves302Chevy]

Thanks. The 267 is already completely rebuilt and has been sitting in the basement
for about 25 years. The car has been parked for over 10 years. It's time to put these
2 pieces together and get my car on the road again, before all that I have done is to store
scrap metal for more than half of my life. The money is already spent. I originally was
going to put the 267 in a Monza (got totaled), and then a Jeep (never happened). The 267 is only
going to be temporary, as the 334 will definitely be going back in there, unless it's completely
trashed. I parked it when all other troubleshooting pointed to fried pistons. Sure, I expect the 267
to be underwhelming, but it will serve the purpose for now. It powered the 79-82 G-bodies (Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, El Camino, and Malibu Classic) and also B-body cars (Impala and Caprice models).
If I'm lucky, it might even measure up to the stock LG4 305 that came in the T/A.

So, I still would like your opinion on intakes and whether or not to hook up the CCC computer and QJet.
Mike.

 

[grumpyvette]

if I was going to do this I'd think ,if you have all the required harness and computer connections the throttle body type injection is much more likely to provide decent mileage and drive-ability on that 267 SBC , I would not be changing the intake as its more than likely not going to provide meaningful increases in power compared to the work required and the potential for screwing up the system, id just install it as stock as I could and drive it as long as required.
I'd look at this as just doing whats required to get the car up and running for transportation, and dependability would take precedent over any performance considerations
please understand IM only too familiar with being low on cash and needing to get the most value out of every dollar spent, but I also know from experience that building something your less than happy with is never a good idea unless its just a temporary requirement to get to work for a few months or years while you save up and build what you really want.
yes Im only too familiar,with being low on disposable cash flow,I started out accumulating parts to do a personal big block c4 swap over 8 years ago, and I have about 70% of the parts and 100% of the experience and knowledge as Ive helped 6 other guys do that BBC swap on their cars during that time frame.