I've searched, but haven't found what I'm looking for. I need the infinite wisdom of the board....

I'm considering buying an 86 firebird, which was originally a carbureted car.

The owner is offering to drop in a complete, running 283 with all accessories, and let me finish the hook-ups.

What are the potential pitfalls here?

Does the distributor need to have a specific module, or will the older one work?

I understand the dipstick may be on the wrong side, so I'll need to go with headers....any suggestions?

I'm a relative newbie...is there anything I might be overlooking?

Keep in mind I'm not asking about legality, I'll deal with that.

Thanks!

 

The accessories won't mount to the heads, because the heads won't have bolt holes.

It's a smaller engine.

He'll do the easy stuff, and leave the hard and impossible stuff for you.

It doesn't make any sense to do this.

It's not something a newbie should consider.

 

The engine comes with all the accessories, it will be swapped complete.

All I need to figure out is the wiring, especially the distributor, etc.

I'm a RELATIVE newbie, not completely. I've done an engine swap before, by myself, but it was the same type of engine. If the car was carbureted before, how much difference will there be?

I'm not really concerned with it bein a smaller engine, as lon as it runs. In 6 months to a year, I'll be swapping in a 350/383, and I would do that whether it was a 283 or 305.

I guess I'm just looking for technical help related to the wiring. Does the computer even do anything on a carbureted car?

Thanks...

 

update - I decided not to go this route. Thanks for the input!