1987 Pontiac GTA

GCrites80s wrote: There's also 3.27 for the 9-bolt which came stock on 350 IROCs. Other Camaros with G92 also had 3.27s in their 9 bolts. But I'm not sure how it works with the Pontiacs. Did WS6 9-bolts get 3.27s?

Hey OP if you take a picture of the Service Parts Identification Label in the console it will answer a lot these questions. A GTA (Y84) was a fully loaded version of the regular 3rd Gen TA. It came standard with all the performance options including the bigger L98 350 (B2L) and the performance suspension (WS6). But the thing was that GM let you delete some stuff so there are actually 305 (LB9) GTA's out there.

I'm more familiar with 2nd gen TA's, but it seems logical that the WS6 package would include a more performance oriented rear axle ratio. WS6 did include rear discs, so I'm pretty sure you have the stronger 9-bolt BW rear axle.

In reply to SEADave:

Oh right, I was going to go check that label last night (probably should have before I bought it but I forgot where it was. I know it's not in the console, I've heard it could also be found in the "rear glove box" I will say that 1 of the 2 3rd gens I owned before this didn't have that label anywhere. It's definitely a 9 bolt car because that don't look like any 10 bolt I ever saw.

I still haven't touched this but I decided to save myself some work and use the short block I have on hand that I already know is usable. Going to try to clean up the L98 heads that came with the car because I believe they flow better than the untouched smog heads that are on this engine currently. They do sort of look like they went down with the Edmund Fitzgerald though, so no idea if I have the required technology.

I don't know if your '87 had GM's VATS theft system, I joined 3rd gen.org just to learn to how to burn a new chip to disable it. While I was "in there" I enabled the lean burn mode for no perceptible change.

I really like this generation of automotive electronics for DIY stuff. I never burned a "performance chip," however I did drive around (my L98) with the spark knock disabled and the ignition advance locked (through accidental ignorance). It felt significantly faster, but once I discovered my mistake I chickened out and got the stock safety measures back in place. With a little knowledge and good fuel easy gains are in that computer. Also, bosch fuel injectors are a drop in swap, just run some flow/pressure conversions to find the right size. I believe the modular ford v8's are appropriately sized and common in junk yards. The grey GM (multec) injectors die with age.

The 3rd gen forum still sends me an email every year wishing me a happy birthday

Enjoy your awesome car!

Look forward to seeing some burnouts from this car! The 350 is no slouch, and it has tons of mod potential. Put it all back together with a moderate cam and intake and you'll have a sweet car.

Thanks guys. I'm looking forward to it too. I'll say that progress has been made towards making a work space ready for this thing. The previously mentioned green truck is gone. The new issue is I might be moving and changing jobs, so this thing is way back burner right now. The car definitely isn't going anywhere but it'll take longer than even I originally thought to have it driving.

I took a closer look at the engine. It's not nearly as bad as I thought. It looks like I should be able to clean it up easy enough and put the heads back on it. I'll order gaskets soon and start reassembly. Upon closer inspection, this block has been bored 0.020" over with flat top pistons in it. (I think I said that the previous owner said that at one point but whatever). The heads are the stock iron castings with gasket matched ports. As previously mentioned I was told the cam isn't stock and was believed to be the reason the car had drivability issues for the previous owner. I was considering swapping it out for a stock cam and going back to TPI, but I've done figuring and decided I'm perfectly ok with leaving the cam, putting a decent dual plane on top of this engine and running it with carb. The next problem with that after wiring and plumbing is of course going to be the search for the least bad hood clearance solution. I'm fully ready to attack this rusty trans am hood with cutting implements as a temporary solution though.

Parts are coming in the mail. I need to look through my inventory again to see if I'm forgetting anything. I've got fall break next week so instead of being in class I have those extra hours to start putting this thing together. Once I get the heads on I'm taking the intake off of the spare 350 and seeing rather or not I need to modify the bolt holes in the middle to make it fit on these 1987 heads. Edlebrock's website says the 2101 fits these heads so I might get lucky, but I'm going to plan on having to oval some holes.  

Just realized I broke all the pictures in this thread. I'll fix that when I get home tonight. 

In other news. I bought a $300 TBI 305 last night. Now I just need to finish getting parts for my TPI and throw it in. I assume a stock 305 TPI chip should be close enough run it if I can find one. I plan on the 350 getting Vortec heads, a pro flo, and MS2 later, but that's later and right now I want to drive my damn car.

Of course there's a Dodge truck in my work space right now. So be ready to wait a while for another update.

Also forgot to say what happened to plan A. The 350 started going together great until one of the press in rocker  studs pulled out. The 2101 didn't fit because the holes are way off from what I was told. I decided I would rather just run the TPI. So the shopping list is back to including injectors and a throttle body.

Finally, things are doing. Things are doing slowly but they are doing. The Saturn has made the truck something I don't currently "need" so it gets moved to the back burner and the GTA finally gets moved inside. A friend of mine came over, helped me quickly clear out a spot in the garage and move it in. We started poking around, did some testing and found that most of the electrical equipment still works, but all of the mechanisms need some lube after sitting idle for so long. I'll try to start keeping this thread up to date as I start doing things.

Car is in the air. We got the nose off and the engine mounted today.

The 305 from my friend's wrecked '90 RS gets to propel my GTA until a final solution is decided on at a later date.

Also I checked the other day. The RPO sticker is gone. I found evidence of where it used to be in the storage compartment under the hatch. 

Is that a second gen trans am beside it?

And how did suspension work go?

In reply to Dusterbd13 :

The other car is a '79 280ZX, my dad's "no its not for sale I'm going to restore it some day" car.

And the steering box job is still not finished but I had help today so we put the motor in instead. Need to get the steering box off and reseal it because its leaking everywhere. Trying to decide if I'm going to go ahead and do the Astro steering shaft while I'm in there. 

Daylan C said:

Just realized I broke all the pictures in this thread. I'll fix that when I get home tonight. 

In other news. I bought a $300 TBI 305 last night. Now I just need to finish getting parts for my TPI and throw it in. I assume a stock 305 TPI chip should be close enough run it if I can find one. I plan on the 350 getting Vortec heads, a pro flo, and MS2 later, but that's later and right now I want to drive my damn car.

 

Hmmm, no I don't think you're going to be able to use the TPI chip for the TBI. The most glaring issue is going to be the number of injectors drops from 8 to two. Unless you're talking about just the TBI long block with the TPI system bolted on then I think the biggest issue will be the difference in the cam. The car will probably run with the TPI chip then.

In reply to GCrites80s :

I'm using the TPI on the 305. 

Wait, I don't know much about the TBI heads. Do the ports line up?

In reply to GCrites80s :

They look identical to my TPI heads from the outside. The bolt holes all line up, I haven't checked the ports very close other than looking. I'll get the intake gaskets out and check them on both heads next time I'm in the shop.

Yup. Tbi heads had a little less flow, but will interchange with tpi

To run the TPI set up you will need a TPI computer. The TBI will not work as the difference in injectors means a very different pulse width. However on thirdgen.org there are instructions on reworking a TBI harness to work on TPI.

In reply to zordak :

It's a factory tpi car with all the tpi wiring and ecm. Im just using a tbi long block. 

Seriously guys there is no reason to panic.

Steering box is off. Pitman arm was finally removed by putting more tension on the puller while also assaulting it from the top with a hammer. Also made some attempts at cleaning out the fuel lines. Spraying carb cleaner down both ends of each line and then blowing air through them until crud stopped coming out. I plan on running some gas through the supply and return lines with a rigged up pump before I actually hook both ends up.

From what I read the heads do not flow as well and the cam is a little less aggressive other wise it should work just fine.

In reply to zordak :

Oh I don't expect it to be fast with this engine. This just gets it driving. Long term goal is a 375-400hp small block and a T56.

Ellis juan.....

Gas tank is back in the car with a new fuel pump, sending unit, filter, and all new rubber. While I was under there I saw where the last guy snapped one of the trans crossmember bolts off in the frame rail, so that's gonna be fun.