and if so how difficult would it be?

thinking about picking up a 3rd gen firebird. they are inexpensive and plentiful. I would like to remove eng/trans and swap in old school 350 with a th400 trans. this would of course mean no need for computer, could I just run a new wire harness from a non comp car?

how much work would be involved with this swap?

thx

 

Yes it can be done. That's almost exactly what we did with my '83 Z28. except I have a TH350. Depending on how big you go a TH400 might be serious overkill. No need for a new wiring harness, you simply just tuck away whatever connectors aren't used, your temp, oil pressure, voltage, tach and speedo will all still work w/out the computer.

 

It's not all that difficult, just be dedicated to taking your time and doing things right with the wiring, etc.

You'll need a new trans crossmember and torque arm mount, possibly engine mounts.

 

kind of what I thought, but I haven't been messing too much with newer style cars.

just want something to play on track with and drive to a show now and than.

 

thanks

I knew about the trans crossmember, did not know about torque arm mount.

I think the motor mounts will work on the car I'm looking at. it has a tpi or tbi whichever 350 in it now.

 

Cool, cool. You can get the torque arm mount off of ebay or hawk's, also depending on what length of tailshaft you get for the trans you may have to swap driveshafts. My th350 has the longer tailshaft and I was able to keep my stock driveshaft. Yeah, if you check the engine swap threads there are plenty of build ups on there of this style.

I agree it is nice to have a simple car, air-fuel-spark, makes working on it much simpler, haha.

 

Many swaps like that has been done. It's pretty easy over all.

My 1988 camaro started out as a 2.8L v8, 5 speed.. Now it's a 355 v8 with th-400

You can use your stock wiring harness, all needed wires are there and all the un needed ones you can tuck away or remove. All of your gauges will still read/work with stock harness and "old school" engine.

If you get an EFI car then you will need to look at/adress the fuel system. It's not a good idea to try to pull fuel through stock in tank elec pump. So you can...
1) keep elec. in tank pump and use a fuel pressure reg to turn pressure down to 5 psi and use a mech. fuel pump block off plate on engine.
2) Replace fuel tank pick up/sender with a '82-85 carb'ed pickup and use block mounted mech. fuel pump
3) Remove in tank elec pump and replace the pump with a length of hard tube fuel line and use the block mounted mech. pump

For the th-400, you will need a driveshaft from a '82/83 with the 250c 3 speed transmission or have a longer one cut to right size. You will need a 3R to 1330 conversion U joint as the th-400 uses the larger joint. You will also need a th-400 swap crossmember and torque arm bracket mount. I used the old Hurst #550-0002 th-400 swap kit on mine when I 1st built it

 

great info thanks.

 

I'd go with a v8 700r4.Bolts in, great first gear and overdrive.use a 1987-89.then you only need the torque converter lock up kit.[as far as I know...]