joem84

I have an 84 2.8 V6 that was my first car, about to swap out to a 350. I found two possible cars that are same price that I could use for engine and parts;

1) 89 with a new marine 350, TBI, flow master exhaust, bad tranny but has a new rebuilt 350 turbo tranny that goes with it, engine only has 1,000 miles on it, car will run as is, just has two gears though with bad tranny still on it

2) 84 Z with GM crate engine, shorties headers, flow masters, holly AFB, Ed intake, looks pretty new but has been sitting for two years and won't currently run at idle, not sure about mileage, 700r4 tranny

Looking for an easy swap that will make for trouble free driving back and forth to work and for my kids to drive on occasion, while having some power to spare (compared to the 2.8. V6, either will be a huge improvement)

This will be my first complete engine/tranny swap so I want to have complete running doner car on hand so I have everything I need to complete the job and a good frame of reference. Thoughts and opinions greatly appreciated!

joem84

Anyone?... Will I have more issues with going with TBI or going through the carbed crate engine that's been sitting for two years..... Should I go with the TBI engine with low miles and convert it to carb? Want to buy something in the next couple days and get started....

kmcn47

definitely not a marine engine for one, and to answer one of the parts of your question neither, neither one will make it an acceptable daily driver, th350 transmissions are garbage for anything but 13 second and longer 1/4 mile passes and they lack overdrive so there goes any kind of highway driving, if you have to pick one go with the second one, the factory 700r4 and the 160 whp gm "performance" 350 and a bad carb, then rebuild the bad carb (q-jet probably) or replace it with an edlebrock 650 and then set it once and never mess with it again, you won't get great mileage and 650 is enough cfm for that smog motor so no problem there, or hell just fix the 84 its in and have 2 thirdgens

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

Marine engines are usually just beefed up light truck engines with copper head gaskets, brass freeze plugs, and an over-sized oil pan. Add the water cooled exhaust manifolds and it becomes a boat engine. The major differences are in the electrical systems, as everything marine rated has to be sealed to prevent an explosion from fuel vapor that can accumulate in the boat hull.

Marine engines are sometimes an odd mix of desirable parts, and some not so desirable parts. My 1990 454 GM/Mercruiser has the same camshaft as the SS 396 did in 1968, which is a great cam, but also has the cast crankshaft and small port heads used in the GM light trucks of the same years. Marine engines are sort of a mis-mesh of parts that work for marine application.

A co-worker drove a Chevy truck for years with a marine engine that was given to him. It started and ran OK.

joem84

Guess I'll pass on the marine engine then....was thinking a 350 was the way to go, want to keep a carb set up, not sure how bad gas mileage will be with the 350 crate motor, just hoping it will be better than my truck, assume a 350 can make a daily driver for short distances and be a dependable engine, not sure why it wouldn't unless I'm completely missing something...

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

The problem I see is that neither of them is a stock setup, and therefore you can't be sure what you are getting into. It's challenging enough to swap over a complete stock setup if you've never done it.

If I had to choose, I'd take the crate engine over the rebuilt, assuming that the mileage is fairly low. Ditto on the trans.

midias

Depends on the setup. My 355 only gets about 13 pure city. Not sure about highway with my newly tuned carb and trans.

My friends 700R4 350 with a 3.73 rear gets about 15 mpg. His is roller and a little more mild.

joem84

The car with the crate engine is an 84Z and my car is an 84, given that they are the same year and he already has the motor set-up, I figured swapping out the engines wouldn't be terribly complicated given I should have everything I need readily available ....... I'm sure there will be some issues, but this being a step above my normal shade tree projects, I'm not sure whether they will be over my head or not....

kmcn47

make sure you ditch your in tank fuel pump and honestly no, its pretty simple to do the "tree fiddy swap" god knows its been done to death

joem84

Both cars are carbed, don't think either should have an in tank fuel pump...good to know it should be pretty straight forward.

Picking the 84z up today, has some really good parts, going to switch out the dash, instruments and all, motor, tranny, hood, exhaust, etc., car runs well, just won't run at idle, going to put some fresh gas and seafoam in it and try to drive it back to my shop (truck with tow strap following me)

Excited about getting started, sure I will have lots of questions that have been asked a million times, so will be using the search engine a lot.

kmcn47

my mistake, thought the 2.8 was fi, and if it runs good but wont idle and keeps fowling plugs you need to rebuild the carb and plug these holes http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/leak...et-138013.html horrible mileage will be another sign that this is your problem, from what i understand its incredibly common so its not hard to imagine that the issue with it is this

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

Well, good luck with the project. Keep us posted. Pix would be nice.

joem84

Thanks for the info, will definitely have to start with the carb.


Drove the car back to where I work....stalled a few times, starter doesn't always engage, won't run at idle, but is very fast and sounds great. Not sure the carb has been set-up correctly, may start there before a rebuild. Temp and battery/alt gages work, fuel gage doesn't and not sure oil pressure gauge works, showing high, but doesn't drop all the way down when switched off. Transmission shifts great, no problems there. Car would be good with just a new interior, tune up and paint, but I want to get my first car back on the road and fixed up the way I always wanted to when I was a teenager. Will upload some pics in the next couple days.

mmadden55

Swap to Holley 4150 carb 600 cfm 750 cfm , much less headaches involved.

joem84

Got an Edelbrock 600CFM #1406 now, initial settings already has the car running at idle in park, need to set it up today and fine tune before taking the car home.

Starter is about fried, have to tap on it to get the car to start, not sure if I will buy a re-manufactured one or just keep tapping on it until I swap everything over.

joem84

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...94133447_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...59696140_n.jpg

Here is the pic of my 84 and the start of what will be the new 350 engine.

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

Sweet looking car, man. I love the color on that body style. It's easy to see why you want to keep her.

joem84

Thanks, lots of good memories with my car, hoping for lots more.

I got a bunch of TPI stuff when I bought the parts car for the engine, so if anyone is in the market for used TPI stuff, shoot me a message. Picture below is what I have, the computer is marked 1985 z28 305 TPI.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...04304175_n.jpg

joem84

After going through the 84Z I just bought, I decided to just fix my old 2.8 V6 and leave the 350 in the Z and keep both of them. I'll let my kid drive my old car and will keep working on the performance of the 350 and just make that my new toy. Two 84's are better than one I guess.

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

OH GOD... you are starting to sound like me now. I have 3 thirdgen firebirds... one that was bought for my son to drive... and two parts cars... which are both now repaired and on the road.

Richboll

How about some pictures of your "new" 84?

joem84

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...61295083_n.jpg

It's uglier and faster than my old one.....fun project! I just driving them, won't be racing or restoring to show quality, I'm sure most folks can outrun and outshine both my cars on their worst day, etc, but I'm just enjoying them for what they are.....really great, solid, classic automobiles

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

Looks like you have something there to work with. Please keep posting your progress!

Richboll

I agree that it looks like a good start. I don't worry about other cars being faster or slower than mine. I just enjoy driving it. To me that's what it's all about. Good luck with the project and as Ternandes said...keep us posted