so i have a 92 firebird with the 3.1. the little v6 has almost 300,000. so shes about due, i plan to swap in a 350 because i want a little extra power to play with while im rebuilding my peashooter. i would like to go with the F.A.S.T e-z efi system to deliver my fuel, however, im not sure how to get my guages to function much less the car to start once the factory v6 ecm is removed.

 

The ECM isn't involved with the gauges.



Instinct tells me that 6-cyl will accidentally fall into the trash can and be totally forgotten about within about 15 seconds after the first time you press the gas pedal on that V8, and you realize what a complete waste of money on a complete turd "rebuilding" it would be.

 

I agree and why would you go to the trouble to swap in a 350 then go back to a 3.1? There is so much work in the 350 swap that it would be so pointless to swap back. If you want to keep the car a 3.1 in the long run why not just get a used 3.1, rebuild it on a stand and then drop it in-no modding to the car needed.

 

Because I want to keep my options open, the v6 gets almost 21 mpg, and its the original powerplant, thirty years from now I want to be able to take the car to a show and say its actually all original. , but in the mean time, I need something to calm my right foot.. I take good care of my car, good oil, tranny fluid ect. But, I also drive it like it was built to be driven. I just dont think this little v6 can handle too much more. It drives exceedingly well for what it is, I just want some more power to play with. And not used power either, I've already got a 350 two bolt block, I'm just working on piecing it together, what I need help with is how to make it live once its in the car using the e-z efi system.

 

no offense but i would not go to a show to see a camaro with a 3.1 in it,thats like taking a pony to a horse race haha

 

Well then, you sir obviously have no appriciaton for the legacy of these cars, thirty years from now, you'll WISH you still had one. A true third gen lover apriciates these fine vehicles for what they are, not how fast they go.

 

I'd rather see a SOHC straight 6 first gen Firebird at a show over yet another first gen Camaro with a 350. There is something to be said for rarity. I'd love to see an Iron Duke third gen in great shape at a show, 92 hp and all.

Still, this is the dumb/expensive way to do things. There is no cheap & easy & reliable & powerful 350 swap. Just buy an L98 car. If you must keep the 6, do a performance rebuild and throw a turbo at it. Run 12s while staying original. Either way, you're looking at hassle & expense.

 

Thank you.

 

Lots of money for a temporary fix, What trans would you run with that 350? If you really want a car while rebuilding your 3.1, go buy a second car with a V8 and then sell it again after getting your car back on the road. Probably end up being cheaper than your idea. Only swap to a V8 if you're keeping it that way. if you really want to drive your car, swapping in a used 3.1 is the way to go, so much less work


Edit: Another option is to just go with a 305, build it up a bit for efficiency, better fuel mileage than the 350, more power than the 3.1

 

i have owned a dozen of third gens a couple i wish i didnt get rid of,but im glad none of the ones i owned were v6 or a 4 banger really who the hell had that idea,i dont want to remember a muscle car with a crappy souding v6 in it.maybe you should of bought a honda,and in thirty years my third gen will sound good and look good.

 

I dont really know what I want to do, I want to keep the six shooter because its original and it gets great gas mileage. But I want the 350 and that fi setup so I can try not to be th e slowest car on the block. Either way, im not getting rid of the original engine, its been a good little bumble bee.. Its never left me walking. And as fir the tranny on the v8, its probably going to be a w.c. T5, or a t56

 

What is your budget for this temporary motor setup? New FI system and tranny alone can run 1000's of dollars plus the motor and all the other swap parts needed? Do you have a hookup? What are you going to do with the 350 /tranny/FI system when you put your 6 back in? One of us is missing something

 

I already have the engine pieced together for the most part, all that's left is the intake and dist. As far as a tranny, I have a connection at LKQ, and the engine isn't technically temporary, I'll drive the 350 till about 250,000 then swap the fresh six in. Which for me would be a solid five years or more. If it was temporary, I'd just get a re-ring kit for the original engine and rebuild it one weekend. But I'm looking for more, reliable power, a turboed six isn't reliable. A race-ready 383 isn't really reliable either, but a simple fuel injected, stock powered 350 is. I'm shooting for at least 230 horses, that's plenty for me. And a good sound to go with it.

 

I still think going back to the 3.1 no matter what time frame you are dealing with is a bad idea, but alot can happen in 5 years so I say do the 350 sway then.

 

OK, 5 years isn't temporary then , at least in my world, then go for it. I was thinking 3-6 months..350 is a great choice for cheap reliable power of course.

 

My vote goes for a 3.8 series 3 from a 1998-2002 Camaro. V6 FI and good gas mileage :-)

 

This is an ok idea as it makes 200Hp and 3.8's are great engines. The 3.8 is not a direct swap in so there going to be more work then if it was a 3.4 swap. At that point might as well go with the 350.

 

if it was me i would throw a nice sounding cam, cheap hooker shorties or long tubes and a 3" cat back exhaust, the ez efi seems like just a couple wires and all you need for your gauges is oil psi sender(by the distributor), temp sensor(drivers side head), and possibly a fan controller if you are running electric fans

 

thanks for the feedback guys, the whole reason im keeping the v6 as an option is because i dont want to be stuck with a car and no engine. (should the 350 blow)
on top of that, (most of you guys are die-hard v8 guys so i wouldnt expect you to understand) the v6 is the original engine, in the first car ive ever owned, and its STILL going, after 300,00 plus miles. and i dont under any circumstances baby this thing. i think it deserves a rebuild. i definetly dont plan to take the short way out while rebuilding the v6, as i do plan to turbocharge it.

 

The Turbo on the 3.1 sounds great but I still don't see you makeing as much power as any stock TPI. Those old 6 cylinders don't have hardly any power. I drove both the 2.8 and the 3.1 and hated it. Drive a TPI car with posi and I don't think you'll ever want to go back. Just my 2 cents.

 

visit the v6 boards, youll see how much power these little v6's are capable of lol

 

I'll give you that just saw a youtube video with a turbo 6 cylinder, run a mid 12, although don't know if he was using nitrous. But for me if I'm going to spend the money to turbo, I'm going to do it to a V8. Anyway good luck with your project.

 

thank you for the respect and support, which some people tend to lack as they visit posts just to walk all over peoples hopes and dreams...

 

You'd definitely be a great sleeper with something like that. Highly under estimated. My car on the other hand seems to intimidate. 91 z28 with the high rise spoiler. My goal is to build a 6.0 gen III twin turbo, and a six speed. Looking for 650 rwhp. Looking and doing research now for a motor.

 

Thats a little too much power for me lol. My main focus is reliability and originality. I thought about the fourth gen engine swap, but how many cars have that done already?? Im actually going to pick up another car this friday, its an 88 firebird with the tbi 305. Its been under water, not for long, and there was no battery in it as im told. There is water in the oil, but the rest of the car is in prestine condition, new leather etc. what kind of problems could I be buying?

 

Depending how long it sat in the water it could have a lot of potential. Never touched a flooded car. But imagine you clean the ignition system up get the water out of the motor and try to fire it up.