Just got a new project car swapping from 2.8 mpfi to 350 with 4 barrel in removing the trans cross member all 4 bolts broke off. What can I do? Any one else face this problem? What did you do? Also I read a post from 2000 that was addressing the torque arm would it be practical to mount the torque arm to the cross member instead of the tail of the trans or would this cause a problem. I am using a 79 350 turbo trans with a built 350. How much wire can I chop out without the car not working anymore as far as gauges and what not. kinda new to the sports car game been driving trucks all my life and they always ran from the get go, now its a new game for me. any advise would be great.

 

Do you have pictures? Since the bolts broke off you were able to remove the cross member right? Did they break off flush? if the broke off flush you will have drill a smaller hole in the bolts screw in an easy-out to remove them. if there are still some of the bolts sticking out you could use vise grips to remove them.

 

will have to get a good,sharp drill bit,drill out the broken stubs,and chase the thread afterward to clean them up-original bolts had a metric thread.If the firebird has cable driven speedo,you can remove all the ECM related wiring.I used a 1980 TH350 in mine for a while-used torque arm kit and as my tranny was passenger car style with short tailshaft,an'82 style driveshaft fit.

 

Thanks for the advise I really don't think an easy out is going to do the trick, these bolts didn't even try to move before snapping off 8t2 z-chev what did you mean by passenger car style with short shaft? My trans says short on it from a junk yard and is 3 inches shorter than the 700R4 I pulled out, the tail seems to be right as if it would bolt on but it would put the output shaft 1.5 inches inside the tail. I would assume that would be a no go. Do you happen to remember the length on the drive shaft you used? Is'nt 82 and 86 the same body style?

 

My 82 trans am came from the factory with a 350 turbo. I believe 82 was the only year they used them iirc. I believe thats what he meant about the 82 style driveshaft. The torque arm was different in 82 also.

 

yeah,those bolts can seize tight if they get rusty-IIRC,they are kind of a self-threading type that instead of the threaded part being round they have a kinda triangle shape that lets rust take hold '82 and some '83 f-bods used the TH200 thanny that is the same length as TH350,the later 700r4 tranny is longer and cars with that use shorter driveshaft and torque arm as well as different crossmember located back from TH200 x-member position.My TH350 came from '80z and seems to be the most common tailshaft lenght; 4x4 is shorter and i understand there is a long tail version from 2wd pickups or something that is same lenght as 700r4.

 

ok new question same car this thing had a MPFI 2.8 V6 I'm putting a 350 in it with a holly duel feed carb will it hurt the factory fuel pump in the tank to be regulated down to 7.5 PSI or should i seek an alternative fuel pump. Any one done this swap before? what did you do to solve this problem?

 

will fuel freely flow pass the in tank pump or do I have to drop it if I use an alternative inline pump?

 

the original MPI injection pump is a positive displacement roller type-fuel does not flow through it well without it running(unlike the turbine type TBI pumps) You will have to remove the MPI pump or use it with a bypass regulator.

 

ok so i got the engine mounts off the frame today and set my 350 in the mounts were off by a few inches now with the issues. The windshield wiper motor/sprayer motor is within millimeters of the top of the valve cover on the driver side. Drive shaft is a few inches from the tail of the tranny. So what can i do to get more room in the wiper motor department and what drive shaft from what car should make up the difference there? Also the engine was in a 79 Pontiac grand prix are the "clamshells on the engine going to be the same as what i need for this body? seen some things posted about this but every one is saying 3rd gen camaro not what other mounts can be used if any. please advise.

 

strange about the wiper motor clearance problem-sounds like the engine is out of position(chevy engine i presume)what part of the wiper motor is close?-i once used '84 'vette air cleaner on mine and had to use flat gear cover(without pump)on my wiper motor-it came from '78 camaro.'84 up f-bods use different wiper motor than 82-83 that use the larger '60s style wiper motor.Not sure about the clamshells-i thought all ~1974 up chevy besides vette used the same clamshells,but i could be wrong on that.
You should create a thread on this swap in"engine swap"-you should get faster and more complete info in that section

 

Well this is a different wiper motor than what I'm used to seeing it has the sprayer pump built right onto the front of it and whats near touching is the sprayer housing I was thinking of using a washer reservoir that has the pump on it and get it away from the engine all together but the problem is even then I don't think I can take part of the wiper motor off without stopping it from working its self. I broke the nipples off that pull the fluid and push it to the nozzles so i need to do something anyways but its still in the way sorta. It may be useful to know this engine has high rise valve covers not your stock 350 covers.