I am brand new to this site. I’m looking for some tech advice on how to swap a olds 350 rocket into an 85 firebird. I am a licensed tech. I teach automotive at a high school. I purchased a solid 3rd Gen without a engine or trans for the students as a school project. In my school shop, I have an olds rocket with a turbo 350 trans. I’m on a tight budget. What modifications will I have to do to slide this “unit” in? I’ve read lots about it, and most guys online hate the idea!, but if a person chose to, what mods would need to be made? Thank you!

 

It can be done. It has been done. More trouble than it's worth considering that a SB Chevy drops right in and makes the same power. Check the V-8 swap stickies on this site for details.
I didn't know any high schools still had Auto Shop class...

 

Modifications would involve exhaust; accessories (alt, PS, A/C, etc.); drive shaft length; crossmember location; cooling fan shroud; maybe a few others.

Exhaust would be the real killer. This chassis is rather specific as to requirements under the hood especially, since it has strut towers instead of upper and lower control arms. I highly doubt that any existing manifolds would fit, or that any headers are available for it. No doubt some "custom" headers could be created, but at what expense and level of trial-and-error.

I would recommend STRONGLY against it. It will cost you FAR MORE to put that "free" crap into a car that it doesn't fit in, than to go out and BUY OUTRIGHT a motor and transmission that WILL fit. Put that other thing into some chassis that it could have come in such as a A or G body.

 

The usual nuts & bolts---motor/trans mounts, hoses, electrical, custom driveshaft, etc,. Your biggest obstacle for this particular matchup will prove to be the exhaust system. As already mentioned, this swap is made impractical due to complications compared to the ease of using a small block instead of the Olds engine. And while just about anything can be 'swapped' into anything with enough skill, experience, facilities, and $$$, what outcome will be realized for all the cost and work?

All that said, it might prove to be a good exercise for a school class if you can somehow manage to keep cost under control.

GL to you and your students.

 

Tight budget? Then don't do it.

It will cost more than just getting a junkyard Vortec 350 and putting that in. And the Vortec will likely make more power, definitely be more reliable, and you can get parts anywhere. It is also what the Third Gen chassis was designed to accept so you can simply bolt it in using off the shelf components.

Or, if you want to do a "swap" get a rusted out or dead transmission truck or suburban with the 5.3 LS. Change the cam and you'll make about 375 at the tires. I bought a suburban with a dead trans for $300. Scrapped the chassis for $200. Do the math on that one.

GD

 

I’m in Northern Ontario, Canada. Yes, our school has well equipped Welding, Auto, cabinetmaking and construction shops. Thanks for the reply; I think I will distance myself from the rocket!

 

Scrap yard hunt it will be then!....Thank you for all of the responses. It has straightened me out. If I was to get a vortec V8 from a truck, (This is farm country and therefore the pickup reigns supreme), what year range would be ideal? And would that necessitate that I convert to fuel injection....I was planning to stick to a carb situation...Thanks again.

 

96-2000.

No need to convert to FI. Just gotta get a Vortec intake manifold. Not too $$$.

I was up in Iroquois Falls not too long ago...

 

Are we talking about an emissions-legal swap here?....

 

He is in Canada. Plus, it's a school auto shop project.

 

My suggestion would be the same I took installing the 400 Pontiac in mine. Get an adapter plater to bolt a 700r4 to. Bolt it all together. Set transmission mount in the stock place using stock drive shaft. Fab your own engine mounts from there after you square engine up or just weld originals to K member. If it’s an Olds with the crossover exhaust manifolds exhaust routing will probably be an absolute breeze

 

I installed an Olds 307 into a firebird a long time ago. To mount it to the K-member, I used the lower engine mounts from a g-body and drilled holes for them. To the transmission, I used a bellhousing adapter. The starter and alternator of the Olds are opposite of the SBC, so I just moved the battery to the other side along with the cables. Finally, both engines were quadrajets and just plugged in. The only true custom work I would've needed was to fabricate some headers.