5 days ago I came across my new car. I've been partial to G-bodies for quite some time but just bought my first F-body.

84 Pontiac Firebird SE
2.8L Carb w/ 5-speed
3.23 POSI(i think) with rear disc brakes
Fairly nice condition
$490 is what I payed
The RPO codes in the console do NOT match the car...which raises some questions, but anyway.

I wanna drop a Chevy 307/turbo 350 combo into the car while I build my 350in up, I dont know where the drive shaft will hook up to the turbo 350 or not. Anyone that has done a swap like this Id appreciate some hints/tips/suggestions to going about it. It will not be computer controlled. Also any things I probaly wont expect that you could enlighten me too, and how much they may cost.

Thanks in advance.

 

the drive shaft should work just fine.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd

 

I own a 83 firebird. I completed a 2.8/th200 to 350/th350, then to a 355/700r4 swap last summer. the swap went well for me so ask anything. as for the tranny B&M makes a kit to support your torque arm P# BMM-30299 available from summit racing (Summitracing.com) for $79.95. I ended up welding a brace to support it (it cost $150 ish)because the car cant be towed without a transmission. The 2.8 automatic tranny (200C,th-200 or 200r4 or whatever it is) the driveshaft fits to a th350 without any problems. if you want to use a 700r4 then youll need to shorten the driveshaft 7cm. youll need a steering pump from a V8 and headders or Exaust manifolds from a V8 thirdgen. also the rad & support from a V8 thirdgen or from a 78,79 malibu (NEEDS TO BE 3 CORES WIDE or wou'll have an overheating problem the rest of your life). new V8 motor mounts need to be installed (this is the hardest thing ive ever done) DONT DROP YOUR WRENCH OR YOU'LL NEVER GET IT OUT!!! And you might need to install stiffer springs in the front.

 

This will be my first engine swap, I have a few buddies I can ask for help, but I dont wanna have to turn to them for everything. Basically I want a step by step on how to go about it. The simpler anything can be explained, the better since Im not up on my terminology.

First Question is why I need a different steering pump when the one on my engine(the 307 is in my 82 Cutlass running fine) works. Why a different radiator when I dont have over-heating problems now?

And I have a manual tranmission in the bird now, u said the automatic will work fine, should I assume same length whether manual or automatic?

Dave(trying not to sound too ignorant)Wright

 

the 2.8L pump bracket wont fit a V8, and a 2.8L pump wont fit a V8 bracket. If you got a pump and bracket for the 307 then use that. the 2.8L rad is to small to cool the V8 and will only give you problems, unless you have some sort of larger radiator that i didnt get with my 2.8L. you'll need the 3 core wide rad. sorry i misread the tranny part and blabed on about automatics. but just measur your driveshaft and compair it to a driveshaft off a V6 in a scrpyard. if you need to buy one they are cheap and easy to install.

 

There were two different length driveshafts used in thirdgens...one for the non-overdrive transmissions (200C & four-speed manual), and one for those with overdrive (700R4, 200-4R, and T5); with the overdrive versions being shorter.

Pete

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Pete's Place
HiOutput Virtual Racing Team

 

Will I have to change the frame mounts, or will my 307 w/V8 motor mounts drop right in?

Anyone have any recommended reading for a first engine swap?

 

yes and they are hard to get in. there are already holes in your frame for the mounts. you might need to slide you tranny brace/mount thing, there should already be holes for that too

 

Hmmmm, are there mounts that will put an Olds 307 into a 3rd gen? Certainly nothing from the factory.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.73 unlimited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, TBD heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

this seems to be getting twisted up. there is too much stuff i dont know yet. forget everything ive said cuz im stupid for trying to help. but the 2.8-350 is a real easy swap and is worth doing. thats all. (i just got my bird into a 6 car pile-up, so i think buying anything without atleast 1/2inch thick chrome bumper is a wast of time,as of today)

 

It is a 1970-73 chevy motor, not olds.

 

You said it was in an '82 Cutlass.

If it's a SBC, it will bolt in with the same mounts as the 350 you're planning on. The tranny questions were already answered.

 

The CHEVY 307 is in my 82 OLDSMOBILE. Its not impossible for one manufacturer to have a different manufacturer's engine. Take for exampe the 6.6L T/A's. Olds 403.

=)

I see where the confusion comes from though with the OLDS 307 being the most common engine besides the 231 BUICK in RWD Cutlass'

 

Well, neither Chevy nor GM made a SBC 307 in 1982 (made only from '68-'73). If your Cutlass has a Chevy 307 in it, it didn't come from the factory.

GM lost a class-action suit because they were putting Chevy engines in Oldsmobiles without telling the buyers they were getting a Chevy engine. Soon after, they adapted the "corporate" engine disclaimer.

FWIW, did you hear that Oldsmobile is in its last model year? No 2002 model Olds.

 

I know its not factory since I put it there...original engine was a 4.3 V8 and yes i heard about olds. Its rather sad I think, first car was an olds. Oh well, life goes on. And so does my bird!

 

I just sent you an email of part of my article on V6->V8 engine swaps. The article isn't complete yet--it will be a few days. The article is written step by painful step, so that a 2 yr-old could do this swap--anyone with half a brain would realize some of these steps. Keep in mind that I write from a slightly different perspective (MPFI V6/auto -> carb V8/auto as opposed to your carb V6/manual -> carb V8/auto, so not all info should be necessary/relevant).

Also, I just wanted to add a plug that I have a complete exhaust system for sale...hooker headers, y-ypie, 3" hi-flow cat, Gale Banks 3" cat-back system and brand-new Flowmaster dual out muffler. This system would be perfect for your ride [grinning exessively].

Hope the email helps a little.Oh, also, here is a list of parts you'll need in order to complete a (non-emissions) MPFI V6->Carb V8 swap.

DRIVETRAIN:
V8 engine (natch)
V8 trans and torque converter
*driveshaft (depends on trans type)
*transmission crossmember (depends on trans type)
*transmission inspection cover plate (depends on trans type)
*TV cable (depends on trans type)
V8 motor mounts
Carburetor

COOLING:
Radiator from V8 car
Waterpump (specific to type of belt system...v-belt or serpentine)
Thermostat and housing
Trans cooler (why not?)
Tranny cooler lines
V8 trans dipstick

IGN/ELECTRICAL:
Vacuum advance distributor (HEI, non-computer controlled)
IGN coil and bracket
Spark plugs and wires
*TCC lockup kit (if desired, depends on trans type)
Starter
Alternator (type depends on type of belts run)

FUEL SYSTEM:
2 Methods:
(1) Use mechanical fuel pump, remove intank pump from sending unit and inline fuel filter
(2) Use intank MPFI pump, buy Mallory 3-port fuel pressure regulator
Carb fuel filter kit
Misc fuel fittings


MISC:
V8 LF brake line
Full V8 exhaust
Front springs rated for V8 engine
Throttle bracket
Air cleaner assembly
V-belt or serpentine belt setup and matching accessories
*AC cooler lines (serp system requires special lines)


MILT

 

Milt, I believe you mean RF (right front) brake line. My donor car was '86 and had metric lines, so I just carefully rebent the '82 V-6 line to clear the motor mounts.

Also need a V-8 throttle cable.

If going mechanical pump, the V-8 is on the right side, V-6 lines come up the left. Need to get that from one side to the other somehow. Keep rubber lines to a bare minimum, especially on the suction side.