my name is stephen and i currently have a 1992 firebird with a 305 TBI and that is just not enough motor for me i have been reading up on some different motors and decided to go with the 400.... and i have a few questions if any one would help me out it would be helpfull. I know my stock tranny wouldnt hold up for long and i dont know what tranny to go with. and im prety sure i will need more motor mounts for the bigger motor...could i use my stock wires?

this is a budget build i would like to keep it under 5 grand if possible

 

im also in iraq right now so im just trying to get all my ducks in a row befor i get home for this

 

400 will swap in easily, especially a 509 casting block. Also, a 700r4 trans can be built to handle the power, although it can get expensive. Doing it under 5 grand might be a little hard though. Wiring should more or less be the same. If you do a little research, you'll have all the answers you need. If you want to go with a big block, that will be a major pain in the butt, new motor mounts, cutting the hood, custom wiring, and even more expense building up the car to handle the torque.

By the way, I just got back from Iraq a year ago, and I thought about my car the whole time I was there, it just happens.

Oh, and one more thing, 19 Deltas lead the way!

 

thanks man but i dont wana go big block, im shooting for 400+ hp i plan on geting a new tranny i found some that are capable of what im looking for but am i going to have to worry about my rear end any?

 

You could do 400 horse on a 383 small block and forget half the problems you are thinking about other than strength. That and it would be cheaper and you would be able to lie and say "Oh, it's just a little 305 with a cam and headers" and people wouldn't see the difference, on the other hand, a 383 stroker does make a deep and throaty rumble.

As far as the rear end goes, I've seen people go about 500hp on the rear end with gears and girdle, but I think they were automatics.

Anyone remember what TurboedTPI put out?

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org, and thank you for your service.

If you search the Transmission and Drivetrain forum, you'll see a member doing clutch dumps regularly with 500 HP and an upgraded/girdled/braced 10-bolt.

400 HP for $5k - a little difficult when you need to spend half of that to upgrade the drivetrain (transmission, rear end). But, it is possible to find $2k LS1/4L60E drop-outs, another $2k for install & upgrades, that leaves you $1k for rear end.

But, if you meant $5k for engine only, and you have another bucket for the drivetrain upgrades, man, I wouldn't consider anything but an LS1 package.

 

a 383 stroker is one of the motors i have been thinking about. but as the 5k goes thats just what i wana spend for now this is not going to be my DD i know its going to take alot of time and more money in the long run but thanks for yalls help