Hey guys, Sorry I have not been on in over nine months. I'm a poor college student working and saving up 2k to maybe put into my high school ride, which is a 1989 formula. I've done quite a bit of searching and found some great threads but nothing with really a budget as low as mine. And I wonder if a motor and possible trans swap can be done on such budget.

The situation: 1989 firebird formula 305 TPI LB9 with good 700-r4 trans with 96k miles and only 300 miles on brand new 2k rear end. The body and interior of the car are in great shape. car has no rust but will be painted in a couple months. The old 305 is pretty gutless and burns alot of oil and never really ran right for more then a couple weeks. I wouldnet trust driving it on a trip over 30 miles with the motor thats in it now.

My mission: Drop the easiest motor into the car to replace 305tpi and swap it to a LT1? or LS1. I'm looking for a reliable, little more torqy 350 with 5speed.

My questions: Is it worth more to go with a used LT1 OR LS1? or find a used 350? as long as it comes with a used 5 speed or i can find a 5 speed cheap.
Should i go carb? the car will be only seeing maybe 2000 miles a year so Fuel mileage is not a real problem unless it becomes $5 a gallon.
Is the FI set up a PITA to deal with? or does the majority of the stuff bolt on like the 86-89 FI?
Would i need special headers with the LT1 because the stock ones or long tubes sit too low?
Should the car be easy to accept the 5 speed that would come with a lt1 out of a 94+ gm? i'm planning to switch it to 5 speed.

Another route i could go is switch the FI on the 305 i have now to Carb. I wouldn't get the fun 5speed for a little while but from what i understand i would only have to change the distributor. intake manifold and heads? and i dont know if it makes sense to do that temporarily if i could just be spending the money on a stock 350+

So can it be done for a budget of 2K or lower?? sorry if this seams like a question that comes up a lot but i just want to make sure i can get the best advice before i sink my only bit of real spending money on the car.

 

I hope you don't mind me tagging on to your thread as I'm considering a similar swap. But unfortunately I don't have an answer.

I found a working 350 from a 74 Camaro on craigslist for about $250. I have a stock 5 speed tranny and need to know if it would be compatible w/ the 350.

This would be grat as I was going to possibly pull my engine to add mods, i.e. headers, cam, possibly intake, and exhaust.

 

You can easily find a LT1 with harness and ECU for about $500-800. A non LSx T56 (6 speed) should run $500-800 as well. However a T5 (5 speed) can probably go for about $200-500 but they are not as strong as the T56.
For $1,600 I can't imagine why you can't find a LT1 and T56. However, I do not know what else you would need to complete the swap (such as clutch pedal, clutch, cross member, etc).

I'd personally look for a damaged 4th gen LT1/6 speed car. Even if you have to pay $2,500 you will have everything you need and can part out or scrap the rest of the car to make up the difference.

 

thanks, that points me into a good direction. I wish i had a set amount of money put away for this project. i might need a quick fix because i might have to get this thing back to daily driving status so i can get to and from work this summer. I might have to rebuild the top end as it runs weak, and its burning alot of oil i assume is from the valves. although the motor only has 96k on it. i cant find info on 305 tpi to carb. i assume its not worth it then.

 

For your budget I'd personally go with the SBC 350 and 5-speed. The 5 speed won't bolt to a LS1, so you'd need to go T-56 which would blow your budget completely. LT1 vs SBC, it's a lot easier to just swap a 350 under your current TPI setup, get a chip burnt, and you are good to go.

 

Whatever you do, do not use the original "T5" 5 speed tranny with a 350!! there was a reason they didn't put them in the F-bodies with the 350 because the tranny is not strong enough to handle the torque and would spit 2nd gear out the casing!!... best way to go if you want a 5 speed is to get either a new or used aftermarket tranny like tremec makes really good ones or richmond...

 

That aftermarket transmission will probably blow most of the listed budget.

The T5 can live behind the 350 as long as you don't abuse it too much. It won't live forever, but it's not like it will explode as you pull it out of your parking spot.

 

Understood, unless he can find one used!! The question is after putting all that time into the car does he really want that hanging over his head? I guarantee he's gonna want to get on it from time to time...