Ok, I just bought a 88 firebird with a 2.8 in it for 100 bucks. I want to put a 350 with a 350 trans. in it. I have a few questions. 1 - are the old transmission, block, and heads going to be worth anything? 2 - am I going to have to replace my driveshaft/rearend, or would it just be a good idea? 3 - I am going to go with a carb. 350, so can I just tear out all of the wires for the EFI and the computer, or will I just be getting myself into more trouble than I want? The car is sitting in the garage, and is a project, so I am not really worried about time, I just want to get it all done right, and the easiest way possible. Thank you

 

Welcome to the boards!!

I have done this same exact swap, it was easy to do for me cuz i had a V8 parts car to work with. I was in the same situation that you are, bought a cheap V6 car and wanted a 350, and it is well worth it. I even got a brand new engine and mostly new accesories, then just used the the rest of the stuff of the parts car. It was cheaper for me to do this other than buy a nice V8 car, they are not to cheap around me for anything that i could afford.

Now for your questions:

You will have to get a different drive shaft. I custom made and balenced mine, but it might be easier to just find one of from a 82-83 camaro/firebird 3 speed auto car, this will be the right length. The only way you wont have to change your drive shaft is if you have the 9" tail shaft turbo 350, but i dont think you do because those are really rare anymore, but you might of got lucky.

Also for the tranny you will have to get a turbo 350 conversion kit, I think Summit and Jegs sell one for about $80. I custom made all my brackets and everything to save the money, and they worked perfect, but in was a PITA.

Getting rid of the the wires and computer is a great idea IMO. It makes the engine bay look so much better. The only thing you wil have to watch out for is your electric fan, i kept mine and just wired it up so it runs all the time, and my 350 runs a 160* all day long. Or you can runs a mechanical fan and bypass that problem.

You will also have to get a V8 radiator.

For your old engine and tranny, i do not know cuz i havnt even tried to sell mine yet and they are in perfect running shape. So if any one wants a rebuilt 2.8 MPFI and tranny give my a holla

Good Luck, if you have any more questions just post them and i am sure they will get answered.

 

Think you gotta swap springs too. Somebody correct me if im wrong. A v8 parts car would definitely come in handy. Sweet deal on the firebird though.

 

Thanks, this is the first board that I have joined. Anywho, is there any way to tell which wires are which? The previous owner tore the heads and everything else off, and I am left with a mess and a block in the engine compartment. Oh, and a 5" long cockroach that we nicknamed Osama, because he looks like an Afghani roach off of Fear Factor. I want to really clean up and paint and clear coat the engine compartment. Any tips or hints would be greatly appreciated. I want to do this right. Also, will a 350 chevy match up (motor mounts), or will I have to do some custom work? Ok, that's enough for today. I thank you all, and I will keep a log, and a photo diary for all to follow.

 

You gonna let that roach drive?

 

ReynoldsJK
you have to swap out the motormounts for v-8 motor mounts...move them forward to the most forward set of holes...its a dirty job but ya gotta do it....I didnt swap out the springs...the car lowered an inch or so and the corners arent as tight..
You can get to the mount nuts through the springs into the x-member with a few extensions and swivels...be patient and allow yourself plenty of time...if you are going to swap out the springs, now is the time to do it..makes the mounts alot easier I,m told.
Good luck!

Ps .
You will need an adjustable fuel pressure regulator as well..the fp is too great for a carb...you need 5-7lbs not 40+....be sure and lable all of your wires as you remove the 2.8....all said and done you will only need about 7 of them...and there is the getting the fuel pump to run past prime after the swap .
Spohn offers a great conversion kit for the th350...check it out!

 

my problem is, whenever the guy before me took everything out, he didn't label any of it, he just pulled it off..... All that is left is the block and the exhaust.

 

thats why you got it so cheap , but thats what a project car is for!

good luck..

 

yeah, that is true. I am going to try to get the engine and tranny out this weekend, but I have to pull a motor out of my brother-in-law's civic so that he will quit driving my truck. Hopefully I will be able to get in there and get those out and get some of that wiring pulled out. It's gonna be a long road, but I think that it will be worth it in the end.