Cost/parts for 1985 Firebird v6 swap
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Cost/parts for 1985 Firebird v6 swap
I have considered selling this car (and tried before) but I have approximately $4,000 in this, unfortunately its on the origional engine which is the MPFI v6, and has 250,000 kms on it. It is okay but idles rough, my intake air gets too hot (or so says the check engine light thing) and it starts reving to like 1500rpm or so (at idle, its a 5spd) then dropping back to 900 then back and forth. I like this car still and enjoy driving it, and love the looks of it, which brings me to this... because I can't sell it (for anything worth it) what would the cost of parts be for an engine swap? I do not really need the kind of power I have read about that you guys cars do, but do think that a custom car would be really fun. Is there any affordable reputable places I can get an engine that would be very streetable (as I drive it daily) that will give me 250+ HP and 300+ torque and still get decent gas mileage? (FI...?) I assume I would need a new transmission (I need a 5 or 6 speed, recommendations here?) Also I would need electronics, and pumps and stuff? The body is still great on it, and any interior stuff I can easily do myself (was planning on custom fiberglass/leather a new interior with VDO vision or millennium guages possibly if i did this, and new power seats and such, also excessive dynamat for a sound ride) Sorry if this is alot to read... Also if anyone lives in central alberta, canada (doubtful?) could anyone recommmend shops to get quotes at for this project?
Thanks for helping the newbie!
Thanks for helping the newbie!
Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 464
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From: Lenhartsville, PA
There is PLENTY of info on this website to get you started. I don't have all day so I recommend doing a search. Good Luck newbie!!
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'88 IROC TPI 355, '69 truck 4-bolt, fully balanced, 9.75:1 compression, fully ported '70 truck heads(for now), Harland Sharp 1.6 Roller Rockers, Comp Cams CS 252AH-12, ported '86 TPI converted to speed density, Crane AFPR, Flowmaster 3in. exhaust, Edelbrock TES headers, all emissions equipment is still intact, plan on burning my own chips, many more mods and parts on the way as time and money permits =(
Best E.T. with TBI 305: 16.11 @ 82mph
Haven't been to track with new motor
If you have any questions on converting from TBI to TPI email me at jdkchevy70@yahoo.com
In memory of Dale Earnhardt, I'll miss cheering for that black #3 on raceday!!!
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'88 IROC TPI 355, '69 truck 4-bolt, fully balanced, 9.75:1 compression, fully ported '70 truck heads(for now), Harland Sharp 1.6 Roller Rockers, Comp Cams CS 252AH-12, ported '86 TPI converted to speed density, Crane AFPR, Flowmaster 3in. exhaust, Edelbrock TES headers, all emissions equipment is still intact, plan on burning my own chips, many more mods and parts on the way as time and money permits =(
Best E.T. with TBI 305: 16.11 @ 82mph
Haven't been to track with new motor
If you have any questions on converting from TBI to TPI email me at jdkchevy70@yahoo.com
In memory of Dale Earnhardt, I'll miss cheering for that black #3 on raceday!!!
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 43
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Let me attempt to clear a couple of misconceptions you appear to have:
1) Something is worth what you can get out of it, not what you have in it.
2) The cost of having a V8 car should be compared between what it would take to convert your current car vs. the net cost of selling your current car (see 1 above) and buying a car that is where or close to where you want it to be.
In other words, you may only get $1500 for your current car, but you could likely get a V8 car for $2500 - so, the net cost is $1000. But, it very likely could cost you $1500 to convert your V6 car to V8 - your past investment of $4000 is meaningless - so you'd be spending $500 more to get your current car where you want to be.
I've said it before, I'll repeat it again: The best way to make a V6 car into a V8 car is to find a complete but totalled factory V8 car and change everything that's different because of the different engines (you'd best get a model [Camaro or Firebird] like yours, and a year close to or a year or two newer than yours). The best way to get a V8 car when you have a V6 car is to sell your V6 car and buy a factory V8 car. If I knew that before I started my project, I'd probably be driving something different.
A couple of more points: You won't increase the value of a V6 car enough by putting a V8 in it to recoupe the cost of putting in the V8. Also, the only way a V6->V8 swap can approach being economical is to do the work yourself.
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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/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, World 305 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" Hedders, 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 w/open diff & slipping tranny. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.
[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited April 11, 2001).]
1) Something is worth what you can get out of it, not what you have in it.
2) The cost of having a V8 car should be compared between what it would take to convert your current car vs. the net cost of selling your current car (see 1 above) and buying a car that is where or close to where you want it to be.
In other words, you may only get $1500 for your current car, but you could likely get a V8 car for $2500 - so, the net cost is $1000. But, it very likely could cost you $1500 to convert your V6 car to V8 - your past investment of $4000 is meaningless - so you'd be spending $500 more to get your current car where you want to be.
I've said it before, I'll repeat it again: The best way to make a V6 car into a V8 car is to find a complete but totalled factory V8 car and change everything that's different because of the different engines (you'd best get a model [Camaro or Firebird] like yours, and a year close to or a year or two newer than yours). The best way to get a V8 car when you have a V6 car is to sell your V6 car and buy a factory V8 car. If I knew that before I started my project, I'd probably be driving something different.
A couple of more points: You won't increase the value of a V6 car enough by putting a V8 in it to recoupe the cost of putting in the V8. Also, the only way a V6->V8 swap can approach being economical is to do the work yourself.
------------------
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/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, World 305 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" Hedders, 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 w/open diff & slipping tranny. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.
[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited April 11, 2001).]
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