87 ENGINE IN A 79

[87GMC1]

Has any one put a 305 from a 87 in a 79 Chevy. is it a lot of work to change the wiring harness. i would like to use the fuel injection. i my change the steering column

[Lt.Del]

to just change engines, converting the 87 to hei distr and the like would be pretty easy, you'd have to get a carb intake.  however, to change it to a tbi truck, you'll need to change fuel pumps, the lines, wiring for the tbi, accelerator cable, quite a bit of stuff, but it has been done.

[DnStClr]

87GMC1, it's a pretty good sized job, as Sgt.Del says. But tbi is a lot better fuel delivery system. So imo you've got the right idea.
When I bought my 87 a couple of yrs ago, it had been changed from tbi to a carbureted engine and I didn't know the tbi was a better setup. I just liked the design of the truck!  So now that I've been here and learned a bit,  I am faced with swapping back to tbi or selling it and getting a truck with the right set-up. Counting the costs beforehand, I find it  cheaper to sell and buy another. I bet you will too. Let us know how you do,

[F-body Demon]

Well I guess I will whip out my dead horse beater here  . Yeah its a task to do the swap. And like the guy above me said it would be alot less hassle to just buy a TBI truck. But me personally I prefer the carburated setup. Hands up if you like not having wiring all over your engine! I like the K.I.S.S. approach for my truck persoally, Keep it simple stupid! lol Mech fuel pump, mech carb, mech water etc etc etc. That and I just love being able to physically sit in my engine compartment while working on stuff    . Not to mention, being able to work on stuff with a very small bag of tools haha. Boy sounds more like a rant for toyota truck guys lmao.