Would it ruin my car if I....
 

As I think about the best ways to attack the many hurdles on my '82, I was wondering... Since the car runs a little rough and a carb rebuild was probably going to be in order, how much sacrilege would I be committing if I swapped the complete carb and intake with a early four barrel car. I was thinking that it would make it a little more fun to drive, but if it would completely ruin my presentation down the road, I should skip it. I was offered a complete engine from an 84 for not a lot of money and I was thinking I could keep the intake related equipment and move the rest on.

It all depends on if you plan a hardcore restoration or not. Simply switching and intake and carb, IMO, won't ruin the car, but by all means save every old part. I would not switch engines, just to do it. I don't think that there are many differences between the 82 and 84 engines, other than the 4 bbl. If your 82 engine is original to the car, your vin should be stamped in the block. You have a nice and very rare car, so be cautious as to what you change.

Personally, I don't see a problem with the swap, but I'd just rebuild the carb that's on the car. I think the routing of the vacuum lines changed a little for '83, and the air cleaner for the 4 barrel cars is definitely different. I'm not sure what else is different (other than the choke stuff, which you could just swap over).

your 1982 is one of what??? 5 or six known survivors???

I would rebuild the carb and make the car 100% bone stock original. The cars run just fine the way they were set up anyway.

The more I think about it, the worse it feels, so I don't think that I'll be doing it. Two bbl's have fewer parts than four:)

Post up a few more pics of the car if you get a chance. :)

what he said...

If you want a 4 eye to play with I have one for sale... The only bad thing about it is that you live in EVIL LAND WEST!Won't pass even the 1984 emissions testing...

Matt

Evil land west? I'm in the midwest.

For some reason I thought you were in California...