So my 350 rebuild is complete, and my birthday's coming up in a couple weeks, so my parents suggested that I could take my Firebird to a shop and have them install the motor for me, as a birthday gift. This would be great, since I could get the car back on the road faster and I wouldn't have to worry about getting everything perfect with the motor. So I called up a shop that my machinist recommended to me, and they told me they'd do it for $800. Does this sound like a good deal? Also, there's no intake manifold or front accessories on the 350 right now, since I want to use the ones on the 305, but I need to drive the car onto the trailer, would it be better for me to put the 350 ones on and use the wiring harness that I got with the motor, or just ask the shop to take them off the 305 and onto the 350?

 

Which 305 do you have now, TPI or TBI?

$800 is reasonable, but begs the question if they really know what they're biting off.

Changing the manifolds from the old to new engine should be included. But, that should have been part of the conversation when you called them.

 

man, i would pocket that 800 bux and do the swap myself, unless u dont have the proper tools and space, then i guess a shop would have to do.
dont u have any buddies with a cherry picker and some free time?

 

Thats how much they charge do you guysknow how much to install a tpi costs in a shop because i am want to put a tpi in a monte carlo

 

If its a carb you should put it yourself and put those 800 for some headers and exhaust

 

Both motors are TBI. I don't have a hoist, although I could get one... I don't know. Seems it would be a lot easier to have a shop do it, but I would like to put that money to better use. Can anyone tell me how easy/hard it is to do this swap, and if there's anything that's a PITA that's involved?

 

if you have never done a swap like this and the car is currently your daily driver then have the shop install the motor for you. if you have a diff car as your daily driver then I would just get some friends together,rent a hoist and do that yourself. if a shop does it however I would try and get them to give you a top dollar estimate though.who's to say they quote $800, they comes accross a couple of issues and before you now it your up to or getting close to a $1500 bill. $800 is a good deal if that is exactly what they would charge but I would bet my lasdt dollar that something will come up and the bill will go up b/c of it.if you now the shop and the now you thats one thing, but if your just another Joe off the street to them then I would def get something in writing if possible stating the bill will not exceded this dollar amount.

 

I had space issues at my place or I would have given it a shot, I got mine swapped at a shop for $1000. He even took the time to paint the frame and crossmember black before putting the motor in. Don't find help like that often any more. He did a really good job, and now he has my other 2 cars whenever they need maintenance hehe!