i have an 89 camaro and have found a 78 TA v-8 for free, if i were to change it out would i have to change tranny's or can i user like a 700r4 or a turbo 350 for it

 

Chances are that car has the Pontiac engine. I do not think you will have an issue with the bolt pattern on the trans, however engine mounts will have to be fabricated or purchased if they are available.

 

"Change" what "out"? Put the '78 engine in the '89?

Most likely a Pontiac engine, and it won't bolt to a TH700. If you use a Pontiac transmission, it won't have the torque arm mount you need in the Camaro.

You'd be best off selling/parting out the 'Bird, and using the proceeds to put an upgraded SBC in the Camaro. It'll cost you a lot less in the end, and you'll have more HP/$'s.

 

You could use an aftermarket torque arm. I have one from Jeg's that mounts to a plate that is bolted to the floor board, in the tunnel (it is shorter than the stock torque arm).

 

True.

It would still be a lot of work and expense to put a Pontiac engine/transmission into a 3rd gen Camaro.

 

thanks for everything guys, i just figured it would be cheeper to put a free pontiac engine in than buying a not free SBC. about how much would that torque arm cost ?

 

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...07&prmenbr=361

 

doin this swap, 400 from 79 TA to 87 Camaro. Just not getting very far very fast, Indian Adventures has the motormounts as well as headers. You can get an adaptor plate to put a BOP block to Chevy tranny.
What is the engine code on your block?
My concern is the crossover for the tranny.

 

If "cheaper" is your goal, then putting in the "free" Pontiac drivetrain will cost you far more than putting in the Chevy drivetrain you have to go out and pay retail for. Don't even hallucinate for one second that it's going to be cheap or easy.

If you genuinely want a Pontaic motor in your car for whatever reason, that's a whole different matter of course. Then all of those $wap part$ make sense. People like Bob have experience with those engines, know the parts they're made out of, what fits with what, etc., and have either a collection of parts of their own or access to sources of them, and do it because they like the other motor, not because it's "cheap". It isn't.

An aftermarket torque arm is in the $300-400 range, depending on the source.

I would recommend selling the Pontiac drivetrain to someone that has a car it will fit in, and buying the right thing for your car. That plan will cost less and be a whole lot less trouble, and probably give you better results in the long run.

 

Have to agree with RB83L69
This swap requires a little money in the bank. It is Probably a Pontiac 400 engine. And definately not a bolt-in swap. Too make good power out of this engine you need to know your Ponchos. Entirely different animal then a Chevy. There are a lot more aftermarket parts for Chevy and you can buy a lot more of them dollar to dollar. The power and torque of the Pontiac can be awesome though.

 

i dont have the number on the engine, i havent gone and picked it up yet, I was just curious as to what all goes in it. the swap was never intended to be quick, the motor is in bad shape and has to be rebuilt anyway, so it wasnt planning on being cheap, i just thought that possibly i could get off a little by taking a free engine. so dollar for dollar, the SBC will put out more power? which are more dependable engine? in you opinions which are the better engines?

 

They're both good motors as far as that goes. Cubic inch for cubic inch they're about equal. It's always amusing to see people talk about Buick or Olds or Pontiac motors being "torque monsters"; what they conveniently overlook, is that those motors are usually larger than whatever they're being compared to, so of course they have more torque.

IMHO you will end up with a whole lot more car for your money if you run with it, not against it. Transplanting a foreign motor into a car is definitely "against the grain". On top of that, rebuilding any other motor will cost you more than rebuilding a SBC. So, the rebuild will cost more; the trasnplant will cost way way more; and when you're done, you have no guarantee that it will actually outperform the less expensive approach.

A 350 core is dirt cheap. All that other stuff will cost far more than just buying one and building it and putting it in.

"Free" core that doesn't fit your car + $$$ rebuild + all the stuff it takes to make it fit = $$$$$$$
"Cheap" core + less $$$ rebuild + no special efforts or parts to install it = less $$$$

 

I dont reccomend the Poncho motor either.

If you want a 400, get a 400 SBC or even a 396/402 BBC. That will be a much easier and cheaper swap than the ponch 400, and it will have the same bore and stroke.

If its a 455, then that would be worth the effort, because those things make ALOT of torque... even more than a similar 454 chevy will, but i wouldn't bother with a 400 poncho. Good motors, but the 400 sbc or 396/402bbc.

 

i do like the ponchos, and cause it's not widely done, even though it may be frustrating at times, i may ne interesting to try, i am currently on the prowl for a 350 or bigger chevy, but it seems when im ready to buy, noone has, so i guess we will see how that goes, if anyone know of someone in the 5 states areas (tx,ok,ks,nm,co,) im right in the freakin middle, give me their name or something, and could i get an email from some of you guys in case i do try the poncho swap, you will be of some uber help,