charlie31603

iTrader: (10)

Has any tried to put a 301 turbo motor into a firebird?

AJ_92RS

Yea. Pontiac tried it. It didn't work out to well.

charlie31603

iTrader: (10)

I mean into a third gen.

RB83L69

No....

I think anyone that has ever driven one of those 301 Turbo cars would put a 2.8 in his 3rd gen before wasting any money or effort on that POS. They were a disgrace; a turbo-charged V8, that ran in the high 15s. That's just so wrong on so many levels.

charlie31603

iTrader: (10)

What makes them such a pos? and can they be built to perform.

RB83L69

The fact that they are what they are.

Not that I've ever seen. Of course, they've only been around for 23 years now, not much time for people to try to improve them, who knows what somebody might think of next.

charlie31603

iTrader: (10)

I figured if some four bangers with a turbo can be quick , why not a v8 with a turbo.

Cronic3rd

Try putting a turbo onto an engine that can run 15's naturally aspriated.

fly89gta

iTrader: (1)

bah, get a real turbo motor


The heads suck, the intake manifold sucked...they didn't flow worth a damn, it was a smog motor

It's a boat anchor

1991tealRSt-topGuy

RB83L69

Seems reasonable enough to expect that. But until you've driven one, words cannot begin to describe how gutless those things were. A 82 LG4 car is faster.

Another real loser in the same vein was the early turbo Buicks, when they were using a carb (same basic setup as the 301). Those don't even dimly resemble the performance of the FI GNs or the TTA.

The 301 was the "baby" Pontiac motor for a few years, a special short-deck version, different from all other Pontiac blocks and heads. It has the same bore spacing, so it's not a "small block" in the usual sense; but since the heads are closer to the crank, no other heads will work on that block and still allow accessories to bolt up, and the turbo setup won't bolt to any other motor. It's an evolutionary dead end with no room for improvement.

charlie31603

iTrader: (10)

Well thats a kick in the a$$.

Air_Adam

The 400ci engines had BARELY enough to power a 4000lb Firebird with 2.56 gears... and the 301 put out about 1/2 of what the 400 did.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

I think 15's off of that car are a little better than what they actually could do. I thought they were more like 16 or 17 second cars.

In any case the 301 blows chunks. Turbo's have been installed on real V-8s. The Gale Banks Twin Turbo F-body for example is a fine example of what can be done.

There are some people on the Power Adder boards that can give you better advice but a supercharged or turbo charged 305 or 350 can and do run extremely well. Willie has a supercharged 305 that runs in the 12's I think. There are some guys that are also doing custom turbo work. Typically though 3rd genners opt for a supercharger as they can be found in a couple of kits.

That 301 is just what was said before. An evolutionary dead end.

MDv6man

Wait a minute...

Let's not start bashing the D-port 400. From your description, I assume you are talking about the 75-79 400s. That is correct. however, the 400 was used in the GTOs and first gen birds since 67. Back then it was a potent motor (the early ones still are). Most of the restriction on the later 400s lie in the cam. Car Craft took a '76 455 that peaked out at 250HP. With just a cam swap, the thing gained 100 horses

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

Well SD motors were made to perform. They were underrated and with a few enhancements can bring a heavy 2nd gen to life.

BANDITSBC

hey i owned an 80 indy car,,
it sure was a dog, however, remember those flouresent(?) lights under the cars in the early 90's,, well i started that fad when the catalytic converter would glow red "it looked like i was riding on a cushion of light"
anyways, yea there were dogs,, but those 3 boost lights that came on were cool, one when running, 2 under boost, and 3 at 9lbs of boost,,
well that car only lasted in my hands about 2 months before the cool lights got the better of me,, i would love to find one though and through a 350 in it!!! a little FI, and a twin turbo kit,, now that would be sweet!!!!:nono:

DartByU

Check this page out if you want to read about the 301 Turbo T/A
Turbo T/A Shrine

Air_Adam

Yes.. i was bashing the late '70s 400 and 403 Firebird engines... they were just pathetic.

I have great respect for a "real" Pontiac 400 like a Ram Air III/IV engine from the '60s and early '70s. Those things had serious stones that a similar factory 396 Chevy, 390 Ford or 383 Mopar couldn't touch.

83crossfireZ28

hahahaha... thats great...


anyone tried putting a 400 pontiac engine in a thirdgen yet??? i think that would be a better swap to do... i got an extra laying around too that my mom didnt want for her 68 firebird because of the wrong date codes...

i should buy me a thirdgen T/A and swap that in there some day...

Cronic3rd

I don't know if it has been done by anyone on this board but it has been done. I think 455s are more common to swap though.