I have a '91 Firebird with a 3.1l and in the distant future I want to swap in something like a 350 or LS1/LT1 but that will be quite a while. I still need to get in school and I just need a V8 to do me for a few years, so I mean even a 305TBI would do me okay, I just want it to sound good and be able to say I have a V8, and actually have something to work with.

But I need to know the cheapest way to do this. My dad is a mechanic and I know some and we have a garage and all the tools... I thought looking for an old beat up 85-92 F-body that I could give somebody some cash for might be the best way but I'm not sure, just asking you all what you think would be the best and cheapest way. Thanks

Good Vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld3GsWl6znA

 

I swaped V8s into my camaro, which had a 2.8, and into my firbird, which had a 3.1...there isn't really a cheap way to do it...Look around and make sure you're finding the best quality for the cehapest price. I think the cheapest and easiest way to go would be carburation. that way you can do away with some of the electrical. you will have to replace the tach too, v8 and v6 tachs have different resistors. there is a sticky in the engine way board about v6 to v8 swaps, it's very inforative, check it out. It's not a hard swap, just a leangthy one since you have to replace EVERYTHING.

 

The cheapest way typically is to find a trashed out factory V8 that still has a decent engine.

The only technically legal way for you is with a '91 or '92 donor car.

 

Just move to massillon ohio, anything is legal here. my buddy cut the hard top off his cavalier and drove it around town painted like the general lee with only 3 tires...he drove like that for 3 months...the cops just laughed. theonly reason he got busted was because we drove it out to akron to pick up a part for my TA and the akron cops are mean. FASTERTHANUMARK here on the board got to see the car too. lol.

 

The cheapest way to swap a V8 is to buy a V8 car.

When I had a 2.8 and swapped a V8, here is a basic idea of how much it cost.

$550 350 roller long block.
$130 Intake manifold
$230 Edelbrock Carb
$280 Edelbrock Catback
$400 Hooker Headers and Y-pipe
$250 T-5 Transmission
$100 New clutch
$250 Hydraulic setup
$100 distributor
$100 ignition system
$100 Cam
$25 timing chain
$30 water pump
$50 Alternator
$50 V-Belt assembly w/ PS pump
$40 motor mounts
$30 coil
$200 misc gaskets and odds and ends.

Total:
$2865

This was with a top notch full exhaust system, and transmission system.

This is not my current setup now. This was my old car but you get the picture. If you want to do it right you will need some cheddar. You can buy a parts car and swap everything and not cost you a dime. But the choice is yours.

 

Well that's what I meant, to find a trashed 3rd gen that still has a good engine. I'm not going carbed because it's my daily driver, and I'm not going to mod it much, just put an exhaust and light mods...

 

Well I still wouldn't use the stock exhaust system. It is garbage.

 

Here ya go; 2 easy steps.

1. Sell 6-cyl car
2. Buy V8 car

Cost you maybe $4-500. There's NOT THE CHANCE OF A SNOWBALL IN HELL that you can do a decent, reliable, WORKING V8 engine swap into a 6-cyl car for any less than that, even if you get the donor car for free.

And of course, this method has the no-risk, no-down-time (no bus rides!!!) advantage, besides just costing less.

 

well I can tell you what I'm doing... im in the final stages of the swap, and i gotta tell you, its a pretty good feeling to know that im accomplishing something like this, first off lemme tell you that dont think its gonna be like a project to do in a short time frame, a problem will always come up... very rarely will everything just fall into place, but since your asking questions about it, i garauntee it wont.

just gotta take your time and look around and ask around, you can find some really good deals..

83 Camaro - $300
87 5.7L L98 - $200
Intake Manifold - $50(used)
Carb - Free(used)
HEI Distributor - $80(new)
Mechanical Fuel pump - $30(new)
Starter - $35(used)
Transmission 700r4 - $100
Torque Converter - $60(used)
driveshaft & crossmember - $25
exhaust manifolds and y-pipe - $25
serpentine setup - $100

most of this stuff i either got from ebay or people who were parting out their cars from this website, i mean there was more to this than what i listed for sure, a lot of little odds and ends, like sway bar, coil springs, motor mounts, trans mount, misc. bolts for everything that i didnt have. pushrod and mounting plate for my fuel pump, new oil pump. new water pump. radiator, hoses, trans cooler lines, fuel lines, electrical and so forth.. but i think all in all i only spent a little over $1000 to get the engine and everything bolted in, thats not even including the maintainence stuff..

oil
oil filter
air filter
fuel filter
spark plugs
wire set
antifreeze
trans fluid
power steering fluid
diff fluid

just this stuff alone is gonna cost you a couple hundred.. but if you look around you can find some pretty good deals, just be patient.

 

Yes I know the best is to buy a V8 car, but mine is getting body work done now and it's my first car, I am very attached... I'm just going to look for a beat up thirdgen with a v8 that runs ok for cheap. I just can't sell my car...memories and money I have in it and it's my first car, it's been in the family, I'm keeping it forever...wouldn't sell it for $5k even though I know it's not worth ****, it is to me