I need some advice from the experts on a motor swap
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Long Island, NY U.S.
I need some advice from the experts on a motor swap
Hi. I have a red '83 TA with a 350. The body is fairly nice, but I found a really nice looking white '89 Firebird with gfx. The Firebird has 6 cylinder with 128,000 miles on it. I was wondering what the troubles would be with swapping my 350 into the new car. My car now has an 85 mph speedometer...and the 6 cylinder has a 120 mph speedometer. Should I just swap the parts I bought new from my '83 into my new '89 that I might buy, and then just sell my '83 with the 350 in it....and then look for a 350 crate engine? What is a good crate engine and please post the price and the specs on the crate. Thanks. Oh yea, I forgot to mention that my '83 had some electrical problems...but looks identical to an '86 b/c of some body mods. I really like my '83 but I am trying to save money...since this is my first car. Is it easier to just sell my '83 whole and buy the '89 and drop in a new 350 crate...or should I swap engines and part out my '83? Please give me suggestions. Thanks.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
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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
Do you have to pass emissions/inspection? If so, your '83 won't have the proper induction (unless it's been converted to fuel injection).
Personally, I'd think you're looking at a lot more headaches than you realize trying to convert the '89 to V8, whether you use the engine currently in the '83 or a crate engine. But, you'll probably hear from plenty of people who disagree. The "best" way to convert a V6 car is to find a totalled factory V8 car the same year/model or newer, and get all the parts you need off of it.
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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.
Personally, I'd think you're looking at a lot more headaches than you realize trying to convert the '89 to V8, whether you use the engine currently in the '83 or a crate engine. But, you'll probably hear from plenty of people who disagree. The "best" way to convert a V6 car is to find a totalled factory V8 car the same year/model or newer, and get all the parts you need off of it.
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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.
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