Hello all,

I have 1500$ right now... My 1989 Pontiac Firebird Coupe has a 2.8L in it... Should I go with a TPI or with a carb setup? Wich one cost less to put in a car like mine? What will I have to change in my car? I'm new to this, but willing to learn and kick some Civic guys *** See ya!

 

i did the same with my 92 rs i took out the 3.1 and put in a 350. The carb is cheaper and easy and i only had to move the mounts of the engine forward.for a tranny you could go to a junk yard and find a low milage tranny hook em together and slapem in......then good by honda's...........

 

You are in about the same situation that i was a year ago.... I spent around $1200-$1300 on my 2.8 to 350 carb set up. I also got a free V8 parts car to help with the swap. I decided to go with a carb setup for a few reason, its cheaper, its what the parts car came with, and i did research that a TPI setup doesnt breath to well over about 4,500rpm. And i knew that this winter i was going to pull the engine apart and make it faster and rev a lot higher than 4500.

Now in another year if i have enough money i want to go with a miniram set up and put a stroker kit in my engine.

I would say go with a carb set up. In a V6 to a V8 swap you have to change everything from the tranny forward. including motor mounts and radiator. then buy a AFPR to take care of the high fuel pressure(only with a carb)

I would highly recommend a V8 parts car or i dont think you will make the $1500 budget. You probably could stay within budget with a TPI setup, but you will have to hunt for the good deals.

BTW...when i did the swap i bought a new 350 long block for $900 for the reliable factor.

good luck....the swap is well worth it

 

Thanks for the replys! Well, I think I will go with a carb setup... So I will need to change motor mounts, transmission... Will I have to change the suspension? Will my gauges all works? Is their is other things, please tell me wich one. It's someone else that will do the stuff for me... I just want to be sure he does it right. I don't want him to rip me off! I have to talk to the guy again, but I think he wanted to keep my automatic transmission and all... I think he is crazy...

 

to do the swap right your gonna need alot of misc stuff. i also had a v8 parts camaro when i did my swap so i already had alot of the stuff i needed. of course your gonna need your engine. try to find one thats complete since the 350 is one of the most produced engines it shouldnt be too hard.you can use a v6 electric fan and radiator if you want too i did and it cools just fine plus it is savin horsepower by using the electric one.you need a 700r4 to bolt up to it preferably a newer model and low mileage one. i dont believe the v6 one will hook up. your gonna need a ladder bar and the mounting brackets and hardware out of a v8 bird or camaro for the tranny your gonna need new gauges out of a v8 so you tach will work right. also label all your wires when you remove your v6 so theres no confusion.your gonna need a fuel pressure reg if your goin carb. i recomend a barry grant 3 port return style.your gonna need to move up the engine mounts and nows a good time to get some poly mounts. your best bet is to look on a v8 to be sure that you got em in right.it will be a pain to get em off but its possible. its realy not that hard just a little time consuming.i recomend doin all the rubber mounts while you have them out. heres what i think your gonna need that is if i havent forgot something.

complete 350 water pump and all
distributer
intake carb or tpi which ever you decide.
radiator hoses for a v8 camaro.
700r4 tranny
tranny brackets and v8 ladder bar
v8 motor mounts
v8 instrument cluster
v8 headers or manifolds
besure to label all wiring as removed from the v6
6 pack of beer or a big cup of coffee

i believe thats it.. when your done slap on a flowmaster exhaust and roar away.....

 

Okay, thanks alors guys Should be very usefull!