I've got to switch out the small V6 on my 91 firebird to get more hps (140 stock) and that muscle car sound. I'm looking for suggestions on V8s or crates that I can drop in without tooooo much $$$. Someone suggested to me a LO5 or an L98 350. Any suggestions?

 

your cheapest bet would be to buy an engine already built. go the carb route and eliminate the computer harness. aused and rebuilt th350 tranny would be about the cheapest tranny. of course it all depends on how much money you want to spend and how fast you want to go

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86 camaro 405 sm. blk. th 350 tranny 3.42 gears

 

Not sure exactly where La Verne is, but in general, California + '91 model = injection. Only choice. Factory style or CARB-certified replacement to boot. Model year of the chassis or later only. No other choices for a street-driven, licensed vehicle.

The best way to make a V6 car into a V8 car is to get a totalled factory V8 car and swap out anything that's different from your car. That will include everything between the AC condensor and driveshaft. Exhaust from heads to rear bumper. Harnesses, computer, sensors, tach, front springs, engine mounts, etc., etc., etc.

The best way to get a V8 car when you have a V6 is to sell the V6 car and get a factory V8 car. You'll spend less money and be driving in a lot less time. Sorry if that busts your bubble, but reality can be harse.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, TBD heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat).
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 & Trans-Scat shift kit, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

The driveshaft's the same on v6 to v8 cars, or so I've heard/read over and over.

 

Non-inclusive...

 

how much do you think all of this would be, incl. parts and labor? i really don't have the time/know-how to do it myself.

 

ponyhunter,

You can do the swap fairly inexpensively (couple thousand $$) if you do the work yourself and scrounge around for parts. But I'm afraid you nearly doubled the project cost by hiring out the work. Unless you know someone who will do it on the side.

The V6 and V8 driveline are not the same. The V6 tranny has a course spline output shaft (10 count?) as opposed to the V8 tranny fine spline output shaft (26 count). Also, the V6 driveline actually has a thicker tube wall and is stronger than the V8 driveline. Just use your V6 driveline and have a shop change the yoke and balance the driveline for you. It's cheap.

 

When I did the swap in my 86 Camaro, I used the V6 driveline with a TH350 and didn't have to change anything. I did have to custom make a torquearm bracket though.

 

Well, can't deny that. The 26 spline shaft must be a unique aspect of my project becuase of the heavy duty yokes and driveline components I'm using. I didn't realize the standard V8 used a 10 spline shaft.

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'89 Firebird, RED!!!
B&M blown 468 big block
Tremec TKO 5-speed
Strange 12-bolt
Kenny Brown Competition Suspension
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