I own a 1987 Pontiac FireBird and im looking to swap my fuel injected 305 for a Carburated 350, What am I going to need to do to swap this engine? Ive never tackled a project this big by myself, am I going to need to do modifications to the motormounts? Any and all help is greatly appreciated thanks guys.

 

The 305 and the 350 are IDENTICAL outside. The 350 should just drop right in like it was made to go there. you will, however, have to deal with your ECU. Your Fuel Delivery will probably have to be changed. I guess the easiest solution to that would be to go to a Mechanical fuel pump mounted on the engine. I think you have an electronic one now, right?

 

Yes thats right, The motor mounts will line up and everything?

 

I don't see how they wouldn't unless they're loose and they move out of alignment. Should just drop right on. BTW, welcome to TGO.

 

Thanks alot man ill be sure to keep yall posted as my build progresses im thinking about throwing a manual transmission in and building a drift car but It will probly end up being my drag car >

 

I know this doesn't tell you how to swap it in, but like said beforehand... it's not hard. Also - while it's all out get yourself a set of Hedman longtubes. They aren't really expensive, and you'll be doing yourself a favor.

 

Allready on the list along with some electronic cut offs a high flow cat and some super 44's

 

if you get the Hedman longtubes you have to do a little work to them i had to put mine in about 3 or 4 times before i got the clearance i need it

 

For a stock 350 replacement don't bother with long tubes. The gains in power will be minimal compared to the gains in headaches.

Buy a pair of Hooker 2055s with the matching Y-pipe and call it good.

 

I was going to go with a custom built X pipe, I refuse to skimp on the little things, Id rather my car down and out for longer than to cheap out on anything

 

That's good, because when you keep smashing the pipes of the long tubes and ain't-no-way-to-get-around-it low hanging dual pipes, you can spend even more down time fixing them.

 

Putting shorties on isn't skimping, it's choosing the right part to match the application.

 

My sleds got a crazy rake to it the low hanging dual exhaust is no problem, The 350 is going to be worked adventually, I did think about shorties and yes they would be easier than the fab work for the longtubes but building cars is my hobbie, The way I look at it the more fabwork might be a pain in the ***, but at the end of the day I can sit back and say yea I built that, Im not scared to dive into projects that are way over my head

 

The problem is that the headers sit low, so your "sled having a crazy rake" isn't going to help when the header pipes get smashed.

Be happy to sit back and point to the crushed header pipes and say "I did that".

 

Allright so Shortys wont get smashed? Shortys it is, I dont know these things man I usually find out by trial and error

 

Correct, they run the same basic route as the stock system so no loss of ground clearance.

 

So will it connect into the old exhaust or have to change whole thing? (im kinda doin the same job right now on my 85)

 

Not unless you get direct-fit headers & y-pipe. '85 is a bastard year, though, not many offerings for them. Besides, the stock exhaust isn't something you want to keep.