HillbillyJeeper

I'm getting ready to start a 400 swap into my 92 lo3 firebird. I've already read all the swap stickies, and a bunch of the threads on the topic. I dont need to be talked out of it. Between me and my dad, we have close to 50 years fabrication experiance. If we can put a 215 aluminum olds v-8 in a triumph spitfire, and convert a 62 cutlass to 4 wheel discs with a jag IFS rear, we can put a pontiac 400 in my car. I have more than one vehicle, a 1000sq ft shop with all sorts of tools, and a 68 GTO 360hp 400. So please, i dont want to hear "do a chevy instead, its so much cheaper and easyer" ect, ect. I'm ready to spend the time and money. I want a pontiac in my pontiac.
The swap is still pending the condition of the motor. It ran when we had it 4 years ago. The guy who we gave it to has kept it covered, and is willing to give it back. I understand what im up against. Really looking forward to it, acctually.
But i have a few questions i havent seen answeres to yet. I apolagize if i just missed it. First is front springs. My car is still stock height, so a small loss in front ride is ok, as long as i can keep it aligned. For those that have done the swap, what did you do about springs??
Also, I'm running a 3.27 9 bolt posi. Its in good shape, but will it hold up?? I'm planning on keeping the motor stock.
I'll be running an adapter to keep my 700r4. It was rebuilt about 20,000 miles ago, and has a 2000RPM stall converter(behind a L03). Should it survive?
I plan to document the swap as well as i can, how much it costs me, what i use, with lots of pictures, hopefully being able to create a decent thread or or add to a thread For the sake of those who wish to do the swap.

BackInBlack86

unless your 700R4 has been heavily beefed up, the Poncho mill will kill the 700R4 in short order. might want to look into www.2004R.com a 2004R could be built to handle the power, have the BOP bellhousing, and better gear spacing to boot.

HillbillyJeeper

Dont really trust a 200. Had a rebuild one behind a buick 300, stock, in a 2,500# car. Didnt last. And it wasent even raced, just a driver. I guess they can be built strong, but id rather trust the 700, even if i have to do some work to it. And, id rather keep the 700 and use an adapter, because every 2 years i'll have to swap engines for a week or 2 to pass smog.

LT1guy

iTrader: (1)

A well built 700 should have no problem holding up; neither would the 2004R, but swapping it in would require a lot more work and $ than just an adapter plate, so if you have a good one by all means use it. Considering the mild gears, and using regular street tires a 9 bolt in decent shape should be fine, as long as you're not abusing it too much. The stock springs should be fine also, but you may notice a slight drop. If you're losing the AC as part of the swap, it will probably be a wash . I don't have the exact weights in front of me, but it shouldn't make that much difference. I'm planning to run coilovers with mine.

BackInBlack86

something that might be of interest for swappers who are concerned with weight issues....

http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/sho...rt=&PHPSESSID=

LT1guy

iTrader: (1)

The Caddy intake weighs so much, just swapping to aluminum will put the eninge in iron SBC range, easily.

HillbillyJeeper

I think its gonna be see how the rear holds up for now. I know by the casting numbers, it was rated at 360 horse, and that was the old ratings, flywheel, no accesories. It gonna be left stock. Even gonna be running a Q-jet on it. I might just go ahead and tear into the tranny and rebuild it while i have the engine out. It has a tag on it from when it was rebuilt/replaced, but i have no idea what was done to it. Hopefully the insides of the engine have not be exposed to water since we gave it away 4 years ago!! the project is really depending on that!