The engine is tired in my 1987 Firebird Formula 350 (at startup it runs rough for few minutes, doesn't have the power that it used to, and chokes bad when I punch it.

I'm a complete novice on engine swaps so I would have to hire someone. I think from looking online that 2 options for a 383 Stroker are to get a kit up upgrade my engine or buy a new crate engine. With my engine maybe needing other work because of the issues I described, and knowing I haven't provided alot of into about the engine's issues because I just don't know, money wise am I better off with a crate engine rather then trying to upgrade the current engine?

Would I need a new transmission as well or would the current transmission that is factory original be able to handle the 383?

To get a noticeable increase in power over the Formula 350 engine, is there a different engine besides 383 Stroker that you'd recommend?

 

Why jump to upgrading? Why not find out what is wrong with the current setup? A swap and or upgrade is much more difficult and expensive, especially if you can't do it or learn it.
I'd recommend seeing what the current problem is. You may be capable of diagnosis with our help.

 

I agree with aliceempire. Sounds more like a fuel delivery problem than an issue with the engine itself. A lot more details would also help.

 

Thanks for the input. I was thinking that if the engine was to be fixed (which i'm thinking will be expensive because it hasn't been right for 15 years or so and several mechanics haven't been able to figure out a fix), for the expense of that, I'd like to get more power at the same time. I'm the original owner and I want to keep the car and having more power would be nice.

I thought about doing the work myself but then from doing research I realized there's so much more to it that seems way out of my league. I've replaced alternators, window motors, rear hatch motors, and miscellaneous fixes but nothing like digging into the engine itself.

 

Whereabouts are you located? Might be people close by that could coach a bit.

 

I'm in Las Vegas, NV

 

the problem is that the issues causing the poor performance now will likely still be around when the motor is swapped out.

may want to chase those gremlins down, get them fixed, then see if you want a new motor. chances are the motor part is still in good shape.

 

With the costs of everything right now I would look at my existing motor before buying a new or reman motor. A compression and leak down test would be a good place to start. There are some insanely smart and talented on this site that can help you along the way. You could very easily spend 10k on a swap you might not really need to do….

 

^^^ This ^^^

Whatever ills your engine now, is most likely NOT in the parts that will get downgraded by a "rebuild". You probably have NO IDEA how many people have given up their top-of0the-line L98 motors, and ended up with 70s smogger crap, or TBI motors, or the like; all built with the CHEEEEEEEEEEPEST of the CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP, and once they discovered how bad they had screwed themselves, there was NO GOING BACK. The car was DESTROYED FOREVER. You'll end up spending no tell how many $1000s, and the FIRST TIME you take it out and test drive it, it will do EXACTLY THE SAME THINGS that are pissing you off right now. "Rebuild" is not the answer to your complaints.

Fix your car FIRST. Worry about "rebuild" later if you are left with no alternative. The things that get replaced during "rebuild" won't fix a "runs like crap" problem if the cause is the fuel system, electrical system, etc. Which about 99% of all "runs like crap" problems can be traced to "at startup it runs rough for few minutes" and that sort of thing.

 

Still having problems?