I have a 1969 Camaro...tired old 350 with TH350 tranny, stock everything else. As a sidenote, it has original deluxe white houndstooth interior,factory A/C, factory PW,PL,PS...these things are the only special items on the car...it's not an RS,SS or Z28...just a plain Jane 69 Camaro.

I've owned this car for 17 years and would like to modernize the drivetrain...newer engine, tranny, rearend, disc brakes, fuel injection, etc.. I've located a potential donor for parts and was wondering what all I could pull from a 1989 Firebird Formula...supposedly has a SB Chevy 350 with TPI, 12 bolt rearend, 4 speed automatic, A/C, disc brakes...all the things I'd like to put into my 69, but I'm just not sure what I can and can't swap in. I don't want to do any fabrication in order to make things fit.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!

 

You can't do much without some fabrication.

The TPI motor will physically drop in but you'll have to contend with the wiring harness and ECM to run it (drilling a hole in the firewall or somewhere to squeeze it through). Your throttle cable will have to be replaced with something that will work with a TPI-style intake. You will also have to build a high-pressure fuel system with return line to run it (although you can probably reuse most of your stock fuel lines and maybe even the in-tank pickup assembly in this process). There will be other odds and ends to deal with (air cleaner assy. comes to mind).

The trans will fit, but the crossmemeber will have to be relocated (further back, I beleive) and the driveshaft shortened.

The 12 bolt rear is a no-go. You'll need totally different braketry to stick it under a leaf-spring 69 vs. the Firebird's 3-link + torque arm setup.

What are your intentions with the car and some idea of a budget and timeframe to do all this?

 

If the formula has the high performance suspension on it, you could use its steering box, and give yourself fast ratio steering.

I think those disk brakes on the back are a direct bolt on, but am not completely certain.

Jon

[This message has been edited by 67LT1Bird (edited July 09, 2002).]

 

Thanks for the replies. No real budget, no real timeframe. I'm just now starting to look into options...came across the Firebird and thought it might make a good donor for some newer parts.

 

I have a 1991 Z28 with the 350 TPI and 700R4 also and have been contemplating the same project to a First Gen F body. The rear end is not a 12 bold if it is stock in that 89 Formula. It does have the Limited slip and should have 3.23 or so gears. the rear suspension Could be an aftermarket 4-link. but for street that isn't good I think. welding on the Leaf spring parts to the 89 rear might work...check the track width of the two and check with the 89 formula rims on too! the fuel tank would have to be scavenged from the 89, just have to do some major mods to the car...I was thinking of puting in the quarter panel gas door on the first gen. engine and trans taken complete should work. Painless has a wiring harness for this swap. Firewall mods would have to be done. I was thinking of grafting in the 3rd gen one onto the first gen...then I was thinking...hhmmm...what about the whole front suspension?? I dunno yet if that would work. I would definately try and use the 89 braking system if the front suspension doesn't work. I think that if you use the 3rd gen radiator and mounting assembly, you could literally gut the 1st gen one. How far are you thinking of going?? I don't have the 1st gen car yet to get going yet, but the wheels are turning!

 

Not really sure yet...I've owned the 69 since I was 16 and it was my daily driver for about 4 years while I was in the military. It's a great car and in excellent shape...I drove it home to Illinois from California, so it's a rust-free California car. I've just always wanted to gut the drivetrain and make it as reliable as a new Camaro off the showroom floor. I imagine I'll end up spending around $15k or so to get it where I want it...but heck, I only paid $3300 for it back in 1986!