85 Trans am With a 355, what has changed, should be chnaged?

[Akodo]

So I bought this 85 Trans Am with a 355. Not being someone who swaps engines alot, I'm trying to find out what has been changed, or should have been changed, to make sure its going to run allright. For example, the radiator. Does it need to be upgraded for the new engine? (Car had a 305). How can I tell if it has been upgraded already? Will the standard 9 bolt rear hold up to the engine?

Then theres the tranny. It appears to be the stock tranny after doing some checking. Is this 355 going to tear it in half?

For that matter, I'm not positive the engine IS a 355, thats just what the previous owner told me. How do you tell? And when I go to buy parts, how do I have them looked up? What came with a 355 stock?

[blown85z28]

The radiator, trans and rear end should be fine. As long as there in good shape. IF it's a 700r4 trans make sure the cable is set up correctly.

[SoulTerror]

For that matter, I'm not positive the engine IS a 355, thats just what the previous owner told me. How do you tell? And when I go to buy parts, how do I have them looked up? What came with a 355 stock?

355's are built, nothing stock about them.

[Akodo]

355's are built, nothing stock about them.

Oh, wow. Didn't know that. So I would assume that this was a bored out 350? Very interesting. So the only way to verify would be to check the pistons, I would assume?

[Akodo]

The radiator, trans and rear end should be fine. As long as there in good shape. IF it's a 700r4 trans make sure the cable is set up correctly.

It seems to shift allright, just very, very hard. Idling down the street, when it shifts to second, it barks the tires, it slams so hard. I have found that the vacuum advance was jammed, the timing was off, and the carb was out of tune, but had to order the advance, so havent tried it since.

[shawnc16]

Holy cluster F! Must of been a TPI car before cuz theres wires everywhere! Pull out all those extra wires if you plan on sticking with what you got.

A 355 is not necessarily "built" Its just a .030 over 350.. Could be stock as hell or someone could have swapped the cam out. Looks like you have a stock carb, Intake, and heads. I would say its just a stock rebuild. Nothing fancy.

Start with that wiring mess!

[Akodo]

Holy cluster F! Must of been a TPI car before cuz theres wires everywhere! Pull out all those extra wires if you plan on sticking with what you got.

A 355 is not necessarily "built" Its just a .030 over 350.. Could be stock as hell or someone could have swapped the cam out. Looks like you have a stock carb, Intake, and heads. I would say its just a stock rebuild. Nothing fancy.

Start with that wiring mess!

LOL. Yeah, the wiring harness is completely intact, and it WAS a TPI car. Even the injector harnesses are coiled up on the firewall. Whoever put it in was careful not to cut anything. I could probably put a TPI intake back on it with minimal work.

[Fbomb]

Oh god it's a Q-jet...I'd definitely try to put a TPI back on it. Just remember this: if it's hesitating on takeoff it's probably your choke pulloff. Yes, the choke pulloff controls your A/F mixture on the primary side of the carb because the jets are permanently built into the carb. Though the idle jets can be drilled out they are still way too small even after they are. I had an 86 firebird with a 305 and spent the whole summer and a $55 carb. rebuild kit just to find out I had to have my choke plate slightly shut. That thing was a piece of crap compared to the LS1. The 355 should be really nice though.

ps. my 305 had 124k on it and was as tired as a 60 year old prostitute. I really like having more than twice the power and getting 5mpg more though.