Jameslt1TA

Edit: stupid phone messed up my title. When I was in hs, my Grandpa gave me a 79 grand prix and I absolutely loved that car. Then I t-boned a s10, bending the frame up on my gp. It would cost more to fix it than to just buy a new one, but I got a 95 ta instead, and so began the never ending quest of wanting to go fast! Long story short, 9 years later I've finally found a gp in decent shape for 1500 bucks. It has 131k and is completely original except the top front end piece and passenger fender. I've got a buddy who will paint it for 1k plus paint/supplies. The interior is in great shape other than a tear in the drivers seat, the dash pad isn't even cracked! The old 305 runs great, but it is too slow and thirsty for my liking.

On to the options. I've narrowed it down to swapping in a 5.3 and finally joining the ls crowd or putting the Turbo lt1 from my camaro into it. The camaro dyno's 537hp to the wheels on 15 degrees of timing and 14I psi, I've been told I can up go to 26 degrees, so I know there is a lot left in the motor. I can't decide if I would then sell the 9in, t56(gp has a th350) and camaro or just keep it around.

I could try to sell the camaro if I would could get a bit over 10k for it, but with the crappy economy I don't know. Any idea what a camaro with 86k and in pretty good shape is worth, its got lots of the usual go fast stuff on it? The sale of the camaro would be a great way to fund a Turbo kit for the 5.3.

Jameslt1TA

Lets see if my sig will show now.

futureuser

iTrader: (1)

Offer the guy 1000 for it and drive it til you figure out what to do. I wouldn't repaint it either. That patina will give it more of the sleeper look. If you bought it already and you own the camaro, it will be less expensive and easier to use what you already have. A turbo 5.3 probably won't do much better if you've already built the other motor. When you blow up the lt-1, then switch to the LS.

Jameslt1TA

Yea I've already bought it. He wanted 1800, I offered him 1400 and he wouldn't take it. Figured 1500 was fine since I've been looking so long for one that didn't have hydraulics or a silly paint job.

How much horsepower does the base 5.3 have, the 305 is 160 or 180. And I like the sleeper factor of not painting it.

futureuser

iTrader: (1)

If it's rust free, you did great. 5.3 is 270-305 hp. Your 305 is probably rated at 150hp. So you could easily double the power going with a 5.3. Could probably be done with a 4.8.

85GPLEf41

iTrader: (4)

looks like my old 81 GP.. Good luck on the build now i'm workjing on my 85 GP...

Jameslt1TA

The only rust I have found so far, is a tiny little bit of surface rust on both rear quarters right behind the mud flaps. I still haven't decided what to do with it, the main roadblock is if I want to sell my Camaro or not. If I ever get my taxes done, my return should be enough to atleast swap in a 5.3.

85GP, they do share a resemblance. I see your in Denver, I found this car just outside of Denver in Mead, Im about 40 miles outside Cheyenne. For now I guess that I just love driving the car around even if it is slow.

85GPLEf41

iTrader: (4)

no doubt!! I decided to do the Ls1 swap after doing the targetmaster 350 swap and getting my *** kicked by a newer Caddy!...and getting pulled over by a State Patrol.. doin 98MPH.. I got a free pass on that offense.