Hi I'm new here and was very excited about my project until the rest of the family fell in love with my new project.

Story--I was looking for a project car to build up for the local Drag strip only. I Have a 350 block sitting and was going to be built and dropped in.

So I found a 1986 Firebird V6 with a very clean body (Minus a cracked bumper) No rust and a seized V6 for $285. Brought it home and now my entire family loves it (I know that would normally be cool) except I am now considering a street/strip setup. So my wife and I can enjoy driving it around town. And I am stressing on what type of combo would make me and my family happy.

OK so I need some ideas, and I have done some searches but want to be sure I am not missing something.

1. The V6 has got to go.

2. V8 options-- I live in Utah and yes I have to get a smog test.

3. I know you cannot generally go backwards from FI to Carb, but this year Frebird had an option for a 4BC 305. Does this mean I can legally change over to a Carbed V8 or since it has the V6 FI I need to stay FI?

4. If I have to stay FI, Can I pick up a 350 TPI and legally drop it in or do I also have to stay v6?

The cars I have worked on are 71 Ford Torino, 68 Mustang, 69 Dodge Coronet, and this is my first 80's Project so is my first time worring about compatability and much emissions requirements.

I have also registered at the Utah F-Body Boards at ufba.org, but seems like it is taking a long time to get validated to ask this question over there.

So Basically I am wondering with trying not to fight the emissions issue, what would you do? V8 combo, V6 combo, scratch the street/strip and go straight strip?

Thanks,
Rob

 

Welcome aboard.

There's nothing that requires you to stay FI. Computer controlled carb was available on 305's in '86 & '87, so as long as your final product has all of the equipment required for either of those years, and meets the sniffer, it will be legal.

Of course, your "new" engine will be a 305 (wink, wink).

 

Why must it be smogged if its only for the drag strip?

Since a carb was available that year, then you can use one. You can also use a 350 TPI since it was smog-legal from a later year F-body (87-92). There was never a carb'd 350 in these cars, but its usually not tough to slip it past inspection, since it looks identical to a 305.

Theres ALOT of V6->V8 swap info on these boards... you'll learn everything you'll want to know (and some things you wont) from there,

 

Well if I decide it is for strip only, then No I don't care about smog, but since my wife and kids love the car so much, then I would love to make it street/strip.

So If I build a 350 with a computer controlled carb and make sure I have all the smog equipment up to par, I should not have much of a problem? Does everyone normally notify the DMV, since the Registration saysd 6 cyl. or is there anyone on here from Utah that knows if they do a visual of the engine or not?

i'll keep doing searches, I am just worried that I may interpret something on here wrong, then put money and time, get there car down there and find I can't register it.

Thanks again,
Rob

 

Here in Colorado, they do a pretty thorough visual inspection. I just took it to the place, they scanned the VIN, it came up "2.8l", they could see it wasn't, I did have the appropriate V8 underhood stickers, they checked off the equipment their computer said it needed, put it on the rollers, and passed me.

I haven't heard how it goes in Utah.

 

88 caprices had 350 carbed. (210hp)

 

Thank *** I live right smack dab in the middle of nowhere.The smog cops could smell me coming for miles!

350 should be legal,given it's the same year or newer,Carb should not be an issue,but will probabley have to be CC quadrajet.If your building a street/strip car,I've heard you can get special registration,with a mileage requirements,like if it's driven less than 5000 a year,etc.

If it's not too much trouble,I strongly recomend making it street legal.Mine was a strip queen for one summer,and I really didn't enjoy the car near as much.Now,I still frequent the strip,but I laid some fresh paint on,put some of the interior back in it,and taught my wife how to climb around the cage to get in,and I wouldn't trade the fun I have in my car for the half second it cost me in the 1320,now or ever.There's nothing like cruising the mall parking lot,finding out who has a car alarm!