I have a friend who's been interested in getting a 3rd gen for whats getting close to half a year, now, and he's finally getting serious about it.

We're both 19, and we've never done any major car projects before, so we're just working our way through this with some mechanic friends and parents we know.

As would be expected, he's interested in two things: a manual, and an engine with good potential.

Problem? Naturally, the 350s only came attached to an auto, as I'm sure I don't have to tell you.

So, we have three questions.

A) Is the stock 5 speed manual trans from the later 3rd gens able to stand up to the power of a 350?

Assuming it is...
B) Would it be better to buy a 350 car and swap out the trans later, or better to buy a 5spd and drop in a 350?

and
C) Are the any issues involved with going from a 305 to a 350? Will the trans be in the right place, will the a/c and other accessories be in the right place, etc.--or will we be looking at a lot of modifying?

Buying a good 5 speed can be expensive, and I believe we'd have to cut a hole and attach a 'hump' in the center of the car to accomodate a manual transmission. ...and would we have to cut a hole through the firewall to accomodate the clutch pedal, or is that already there?

On the other side of the fence, the money he'd spend trying to build up a 305 would be a waste compared to buying a 350 that starts at that power already, and can only go up from there, right?

 

In the long run it would be easier to buy a 305 T5 car and swap to a 350 later. The 305 and 350 are identical exterior wise and everything can be re-used from the 305. The T5's are weak by nature but so long as you don't powershift and run slicks you can make one last.

 

i agree completely with shifty......
i would definatly look for a 5 speed car to begin with its alot easier to swap a 350 in than to swap a 5 speed into an automatic car.......

as for the 350 and 305 they are identical as stated above in outside appearance for accessories as long as the heads have the accessory holes to mount everything to ...

 

I agree as well, but I noticed you live in Cali !!!! which, introduces issues with smogging.

which might make an auto to stick more reasonable .... cause then you can just grab a T-56 and swap that in, then there would be no issues with the T-5 breaking behind a 350.


My vote is a 350 car, and then swap in a T-56

 

As for going from auto to manual, though, I know you've got to cut the floor for the shifter, but do you also have to cut the firewall for the clutch?

 

yes but all the holes you will have to make are already stamped on the firewall because the factory didnt designate each body to a manual or stick they were either or until it came time to build it ...

 

I still think the better idea is to get a 305 car w/ T5 and put in a 350. The smog guys wont get you, as long as you retain all of the smog equipment from the 305. They wont know. Then when/if the T5 takes a poop on you, put a T56 in. You will already have all of the holes, pedals, etc. The T5 > T56 is a much easier swap than an Auto > T56 swap.

 

even with the smog police as long as the engine is newer than the car its going into its accepted from what ive seen and read about it ....but yeah id definatly go with the stick shift car to begin with then swap the engine later..