3.1L V6 to a CARBED V8 with a Th350 tranny. Need to know from someone who has done this EXACTLY what i am getting into, what time frame if i do the work myself. I do not want to hear buy a V8 car - i am set on the firebird i have, yes it has sentimental value, it looks good and drives awesome. A parts list would be good. I have seen the tech artical on this board but i would prefer a list and step by step from someone who has done, also looking at emailing back and forth tell i completely understand the parts and process. Looking at a 350 block or a 400... not decided on a 383 or a 406 yet and the car is 91 firebird. email is dmruff1@yahoo.com Emissions in texas is gonna be the killer, dunno how i am gonna get a supposed TPI car thru with a carb... Ideas are welcome on that too.

All i know at this time is:

1: a adapter plate for the TH350
2: a fuel pressure reg to go from 45psi to carb friendly 6 to 8psi
3: the brake lines can be moved
4: motor mounts
5: V8 radiator
6: V8 headers and Ypipe will work with my Cat back system.

my questions are:

1: Can the V6 drive shaft be used with a V8/th350 combo.
2: will the stock throttle cable work
3: What front springs will i need - they look easy enough to change when i do my shocks.
4: any clearance problems with the V8 distributor on the firewall?
5: if worse comes to worse if i collect a turn key engine and tranny whats a fair price for a engine shop to install? - not in a place with a garage - yet.


After seeing the two guys with the bigblocks in their cars i went out and ripped the for sale signs up... damn that was impressive...


Thx all



[This message has been edited by Red91Bird (edited July 21, 2001).]

 

the TH350 is a 3 speed auto. I'm not 100% sure but, I'm 90% sure that it will be shorter than a 700-R4 or(4speed auto) or T5(5 speed manual) so your driveshaft won't work. Your driveshaft also has less splines than a v8 one so it still wouldn't work. A th350 should bolt to a chevy v8 with no adapter plate. You might needs some odd tranny crossmember though.

------------------
-Tas
'89 Formula WS-6

305, TBI, auto, 14x3 chrome flat based open element with K&N, Milodon 160* thermo, functional Formula hood, cross-flow Flowmaster, '99z28 rear pipes and tips....

To be installed eventually far far far into the future: Yours if the price is right and I don't have to ship :
Hooker 1-5/8" 50 state legal headers, Dynomax 3" I pipe (PN 44063 and 43248), Catco 3" cat, and injector spacer.

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you'll need springs from a V8 car, unless you plan on driving this car more on the strip than on the street. in that case, you're free to leave the current springs in (they'll help your launch a bit).

the distributor will fit fine

i've heard 1500 to 3000 for a shop to install a motor.

and matters of personal preference: i'd get a lower rated fuel pump or a block-mounted mechanical pump instead of the pressure regulator for pump life concerns.

i'd go with the 350 block over the 400 simply because of the paper-thin water jackets 400s have. if i didn't live in florida, i wouldn't care, but it's challenging to cool a 400 here.

so if you saw two guys with big blocks in their cars, why are you putting a small block in yours?

 

If you get the TH350 and it's 32 inches long give or take an 1/8th or so your driveline will fit. I didn't change any springs and it drives just fine. I just put a mechanical fuel pump sucking the gas out of the return line. Works fine. Why waste all that money on a regulator and BS. The stock throttle cable will work. I just cut the bracket off the V6 and bolted it to one of the carb bolts. Works great. No clearance probs with the distributor. You will need a torque arm adapter, get that from Summit. I made my own though. No adapter plate for the tranny. Just a flexplate. Putting in a big block will be MUCH harder and a lot more expensive. Build a 383 or 401 or 427 stroker. Feel free to e-mail me at bhaas@bigfoot.com if you have any questions.

Brad...


------------------
1986 SC Camaro
Mods: Threw 2.8 in garbage, put in rebuilt
350 .060 over, XE268H Comp cam, Edlebrock
Performer Intake and Edlebrock 600 CFM Carb,
Pete Jackson noisy GearDrive (which sounded
cool for about 5 minutes, now I'm sick of it)
Rebuilt TH350, 3.42 Rear Gears. LCA RLB's.
B&M Mega Shifter.

 

1. A long tail shaft TH350 (9") can use the original 700R4 driveshaft with no monifications. You just need the B&M 700R4/TH350 adaptor.

2. Yes but it's a little long. Go find one from any GM (not just f-bodies) that have a carb and use the shorter one.

3. Your stock springs will work fine.

4. None



------------------
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87 IROC-Z SuperPro ET Bracket Race Car
461 naturally aspirated Big Block

Best ET on a time slip: 11.242 altitude corrected to 10.89
Best MPH on a time slip: 121.52 altitude corrected to 125.89
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP: 497.9
Best 60 foot: 1.546

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

 

Doing the small block as the big block will require alot of work that the small block will not. Went to one of the guys sites and saw all sorts of welding that need to be done, pounding floor boards ect ect... figure a small block will be more of a "drop in" then anything else. Altho yeah i would love to do the BB i haven't the time nor money for that. I am looking at getting the parts and calling afew friends over to rip the 6 out and install the V8 in a day, from there it will be getting it to run and drive and from there worrying about the small stuff like springs and such. I live in a apartment complex so i would have to have the V6 out and V8 in in under a day or two. Can't leave the hood open over night and can't leave parts everywhere. The good news is my door to the car is 15 feet tho. I am going over it in my mind and with a cherry picker i am thinking about 6 hours to pull the V6 and about 3 hours to prep the engine bay - mounts and such. The next day i am thinking 6 to 10 hours to install the V8 engine. From there it is prolly 6 to 10 hours to get everything up to run. Dunno if i am totally off on time. Never done the switch but thats about what a 1978 nova V6 to V8 was, even tho we didn't have to change mounts we put new ones in that time... Time was about what i listed above.