This project started in 2014 and I thought it might be helpful for someone else if I were to share my journey, failures and successes.
91 Caprice LO3 to L31-R: Which Header?
The above post captures the reason for the swap as well as of my initial plans which, when I read back through them are not too far from where I ended up. I went further than initially thought and had some important learnings along the way.
Here is a high level overview of I ended up doing:
The Car: 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Station Wagon, silver color with an original L03 305 TBI engine
The Swap:
The wagon has huge sentimental value for me; it was my dad’s work car and he brought it home from the lot as one more in a long line of station wagons he owned. The wagon took us on lots of vacations and trips, to hockey games, to drag races (The Winternationals was a regular for our family) and more. I learned to drive in the wagon. I picked my wife up for our first date in it. My daughter was born just as I started this swap and helped me once she got old enough. This car has taken care of me and my family, so I wanted to be as kind as possible by giving it the much needed care and love it deserved.
As is typical for projects in my family, this took waaaay longer than it should have and there are some big gaps in time where life got in the way.
At this point the wagon is back up and running great. It’s as fun as ever to drive and I couldn’t be happier with the results. This year (2021), my dad and I are going to take it for the long haul on Hot Rod Power Tour.
Ok, enough pre-rambling, on with the journey…
The Beginning:
91 Caprice LO3 to L31-R: Which Header?
The above post captures the reason for the swap as well as of my initial plans which, when I read back through them are not too far from where I ended up. I went further than initially thought and had some important learnings along the way.
Here is a high level overview of I ended up doing:
The Car: 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Station Wagon, silver color with an original L03 305 TBI engine
The Swap:
- L31-R (4-bolt main) Vortec 350 (P/N: 12530283)
- LT4 Hotcam (P/N: 24502586)
- Clear Image Automotive Gen II Tri-Y stainless, coated headers
- TCI Streetfighter 700R4 Transmission (P/N: 371000)
- GMPP TBI Intake Manifold – bored out intake and distributor holes (P/N: 12496821)
- TBI with Ultimate Mods done by SPR Performance
- 65lb/hr injectors (P/N: 17084327)
- All new: suspension, brakes, rear axles, cooling system, AC, power steering, exhaust and more
- EBL Flash from DynamicEFI
- And more…
The wagon has huge sentimental value for me; it was my dad’s work car and he brought it home from the lot as one more in a long line of station wagons he owned. The wagon took us on lots of vacations and trips, to hockey games, to drag races (The Winternationals was a regular for our family) and more. I learned to drive in the wagon. I picked my wife up for our first date in it. My daughter was born just as I started this swap and helped me once she got old enough. This car has taken care of me and my family, so I wanted to be as kind as possible by giving it the much needed care and love it deserved.
As is typical for projects in my family, this took waaaay longer than it should have and there are some big gaps in time where life got in the way.
At this point the wagon is back up and running great. It’s as fun as ever to drive and I couldn’t be happier with the results. This year (2021), my dad and I are going to take it for the long haul on Hot Rod Power Tour.
Ok, enough pre-rambling, on with the journey…
The Beginning:
