Mike Harvey

Well some of you guys know that I have an '86 Firebird w/ the 2.8L. Well that will all change coming by the end of spring. That is when I calculate that I will have my entire car finished off and all my credit cards paid off (bought too many toys, oh well ya live once right?).
I plan to rip out the 2.8L and install a 4.3L Vortec (completely rebuilt) out of a '93 or newer model S-10 or S-10 Blazer. The tranny will hold and stay but (hopefully the 700R4 will bolt up to the 4.3L, which I think it will) I will buy a new torque converter though and the 3.42 stock gears will stay; that right there would rip *** . I would obviously get the computer and wireing haarness out and go to town on it.
What I would also need to change. The exhaust piping & Y-pipe needs to be changed to be less restrictive and choking but not the Flowmaster. Headers will be installed on it as will an awesome intake (don't know by who yet) and a JET chip. Then I think she would be done, then on to the '68 Chevy pickup.
How does all this sound for my Firebird? About how much HP do you guys think that I would get from this bad boy install? Do you guys see any problems that I may run into? This sure would be one unique '86 Firebird huh?

- Mike Harvey -

Grim Reaper

I don't think a 700R4 will bolt up to a 4.3.

But, given all the cost (and effort) to do this, you may find yourself saying "Wow.. I could have had a V-8"...

And, be performance ahead with more dollars in your pocket. The aftermarket parts available for a 4.3 are not as plentiful (and sometimes as cheap) as they are for a 350 (God's chosen engine for the budget-minded performance enthusiast).

Graeme'sFirebird

not only that..if u did a v8 ud be smog legal...

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88 Firebird 2.8
MODS (either coming or on):
Flowmaster Cat Back, Random Technologies Cat, 3" intermediate pipe, Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Coil, MSD Ignition Module,MSD 6a,Cold Air Induction, Current Mod:
t5 swap

Ace_Murdock

Yes I agree, even if you have to sped a little more, the V8 would be better. Besides after all of that work you'd only have a V6.

There is a kid at my school, and he has a 1998 V6 Camero. He talks his jive and says that the V6 is better than the V8 and all of this other crap.

Do the V8, more Torque = more fun
enjoy

87Z-ya

iTrader: (1)

If you can get the 4.3 that came in the blazers from 93-95 or the 94-95 ss ick up for cheap than do it. Use a 700r or 4l60e from a v8 camaro. Yours wont work. The computer from the s10 will be able to control a 4l60e so it would be good to use. I had a 94 s10 ss, all i did was put exhaust, made a ram air setup, and cooler stat. It ran 14.6@97mph. W/342 gears. Your camaro would be similar. That 4.3 made 210hp stock.

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87z 383,afr 190's, crane hyd roller(224/230-.509/.528,112 sep),Ported and polished mini ram, 24lb inj, 3.42 gears, strange 12 bolt, tremec 5spd, , 1,3/4" slp headers.(stock 305 hypercrap chip), other stealth goodies.
Runs 14's all day long.

Mike Harvey

What would work for that engine as far as trannies go would be the electronic version of the 700R4 right? I am doing the V6 4.3L b/c I don't want to deal w/ the V8 and gas prices and how much I would get on it. I bet $1k dollars that this 4.3L would get better gas milage then my 2.8L. 15mpg in town, I know V8's that get better than that and my car runs beautifully too.
I just don't want to deal w/ the hassle of the V8. I would have to change so much more stuff and spend so much more to convert to the V8. That's why I'm getting a '68 Chevy pickup and drop a 350 in that one and that will be my hot rod, not my Firebird. Granted I want it to go fast but nothing to V8 standards plus my car would be so unique b/c everyone has a 350 but how many F-bodies have the 4.3L? I'm going to drop the engine in there that I think that GM should of put in there.
The one wrecking yard that my mechanic is good friends w/ rebuilds all the engines that they have there including the trannies and they want $800 for the engine and the complete wiring harness & computers and all the smog equipment and $1500 for the engine & tranny. I think that it is a pretty good price. plus I won't have to pay for any labor of installing it b/c me and my mechanic would do it plus my other job is working at a car lot so no labor charges to all employees so long as the part is paid for. I think that I would come out pretty fat on this engine swap.

- Mike Harvey -

Roy

Make sure, I mean sure, that you get the CPI motor and not the TBI motor. Having had both I can tell you that the CPI motor is the way to go. The two are completely different internally, the CPI goes like a scalded dog when it gets to about 3000 RPM. My 4000 lb 4 door 4 wheel drive S-10 Blazer will run mid 15s and gets 20 mpg with nothing but a Dynomax exhaust on it with the CPI motor. I think it sounds like a cool swap and congratulate you on your effort to make your car unique. If you end up with the old TBI motor you are going to be at least a second slower and lose about 3 MPG. Only advantage is that there is more that can be done to modify it, however you are starting about 30 HP down.

87Z-ya

iTrader: (1)

The reason you have to get a 4l60e from a v8 f-car is the torque arm mounting. The 2.8 and 3.8 and 3.4 v6 have a different bellhousing design then the 4.3(same as small and bigblock chevy).

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87z 383,afr 190's, crane hyd roller(224/230-.509/.528,112 sep),Ported and polished mini ram, 24lb inj, 3.42 gears, strange 12 bolt, tremec 5spd, , 1,3/4" slp headers.(stock 305 hypercrap chip), other stealth goodies.
Runs 14's all day long.

Mike Harvey

I see what you guys mean about the trannies now. Thanx for the clarification. I definetely want this Firebird to be very unique b/c when I start entering it into IASCA I also want to show it as well and show that it is a one of a kind and not all stock. Well I can get the CPI motor & tranny with all the smog equipment, wireing harnesses and computer for $1500. I do agree that the CPI motor is one bad *****. I have driven bot hand the TBI is a dog in comparison. The Vortec 4.3L is what turned me on to that CPI engine. If all goes well you will see me announcing w/ praise about this engine by the end of Spring/early Summer. Wish me luck on all this. I can't wait for this project; I'm way too excited

- Mike Harvey -

Troy 85Z

If you've got the cash try to get your hands on a turbo intercooled 4.3 out of a 91 Cyclone or 92-93 Typhoon. It will be one of a kind and outrun just about everything on the road. Electronics might be a little difficult but I'm sure there are enough parts out there to do the swap.

Mike Harvey

That would be sicker than SICK!!!! If I did that with a cyclone. I hardly ever see one of those around town more or less one at a wrecking yard. I'll see what turns up w/ all this in a few months.
Also would I be able use my 3.42 rear end my drive line or would I have to switch out my rear end and drive shaft? Thanx

- Mike Harvey -

Novaguy76

If you put the turbo motor in there out of a Cyclone you would basically have a 89 GTA Turbo car, so it realy would not be that different. I would stick with the naturally asperated 4.3 Vortec motor. we have put one in a S-10 and one in a Luv truck and they both ran low 14's to high 13's on the motor and got great gas milage doing it. It is a blast beating a V-8 car then popping your hood and seeing the expression on there face when they see the V-6.

Mike Harvey

Well this sucks!!!!!! I came back from the smog shop yesterday and told them about my concept to find out if it would smog legal. The smog technician is also a referee station as well and he told me that it would smog but it would break smog laws b/c I would have an engine in there that does not meet the classifaction of my car b/c that engine was never offered for my car.
He then tolde me that I could stay w/ the same block and go w/ a 3.8L b/c they have been around since '86 in the Buicks. I don't know if I want to slap a 3.8L b/c for 1) I don't know too much about them, 2) am not too sure if they are a speed motor, 3) don't know how well they respond to mods, 4) they are a completely different motor than in the TTA so I really don't know anything about it and I think that's it.
Also he told me that if it was legal then he said that he would be very suprised if I was able to fit the engine in there and to be able to close the hood. The sides of the engine where the heads are at stick out too much and won't fit in between the strut towers and the engine would be too tall b/c it is a truck and it would either sit too low or stick up too high.
Then I thought of a 350 cid swap b/c I wouldn't have to change as much but then I started to think that if 1 thing goes wrong in that swap then hundreds of things would follow and my car mechanically runs sweet as hell so I'm not going to waste my money on trying to turn it into a hot rod. Thanx for all of your guys help

- Mike Harvey -

S92RS

iTrader: (1)

Well, if you put the 4.3 Turbo out of a Syclone/Typhoon in it, it would not be like a TTA at all. The motor in the 89 TTA was not a 4.3, but IS a 3.8 turbo. The 4.3 is a completely different motor than the 3.8. The 4.3 is a Chevy motor, the 3.8 is a Buick.

If you want to do a swap, put an LT1 or a TPI motor in it. It should still pass smog. It would be much cheaper than any of the other swaps and would require much less fabrication. If you do a 4.3 you'd need custom motor mounts and exhaust also.

The rearends are the same in V6 thirdgens as in the V8's, so it would be fine. You may want to add posi, or a locker for more traction.

Also the 4.3 won't get much better gas mileage than a LT1 or TPI car. I have a friend that had a 93 blazer with the CPI motor and the mileage wasn't great. Mileage really doesn't matter to me, I get like 12mpg around town in my car. My old 3.1 RS got good mileage, but just wasn't as fun.

I don't see why someone would tell you that a 3.8 or a 4.3 for that matter wouldn't it in a thirdgen's engine bay between the strut towers. A 4.3 is "basically" a regular small block chevy with 2 cylinders chopped off. The motor mounts are different though. If a big block chevy will fit under the hood, any v6 will. A 4.3 is NOT any taller either.

Somethings will just go wrong in any engine swap. It just happens. But you WILL find much less problems if you do a "traditional" swap, rather than a 4.3 or a 3.8.

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- the 92 RS is gone..
- 1984 Z28 with 89 bumpers and ground effects.
- 355 with ported World S/R Torquer Heads, 214*/224* .471/.496 lift cam, Crane 1.6 Full Roller Rockers, 2500 non-lockup stall converter, Holley 750 carb, Edelbrock Performer intake, Hedman headers with custom 3" Flowmaster exhaust, Lakewood LCAs, Powertrax Locker with 3.23 gears.
- http://s84z28.fbody.com

tf0r1

Dude, all this to be unique???
The smog laws and classification laws make it dam near impossible to have a unique streeter, I applaud your effort, but Id simply roll with a kickin 350..
good luck man

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(Kill the headlights, and put it in neutral)

--George
92 RS 25th Aniv.
350 Goodwrench (NEW LO5)
700R4 Raptor: high performance intermediate billet servo,Mega Valve,13 vane high performance pump,1800 heavy-duty stall converter and a 29 element heavy-duty forward input sprag

turbo497

Dare to be different, how about 300hp northstar engine setup from caddy that is one great engine.... A third gen would fly with this motor