sorry if this is already posted somewhere i just can't find anything on what all i'm asking, i was just wondering if i were to buy a 1996 to 1998 firebird formula with the 5.7 lt1, would i be able to swap that lt1, radiator, trans., complete wiring harness, and possibly seats into my 1990 firebird that has a 305 auto trans. in it currently, i will have 8 grand to throw into my car and i need quite a bit of stuff, i bought her for $500 almost 3 years ago, still running, along with all above listed, i need rear posi(no more 1 wheel wonder), and my steering column moves quite a bit so i need to do something about that as well, i wouldn't mind new interior, maybe i could use the seats out of the newer firebird if possible? and i also want a 3" cowl hood.
any info would be much appreciated, and again sorry if this has already been posted or i was suppose to post somwhere else.

 

A '98 f-body would be an LS1.

The loose steering column is a just a matter of getting inside to tighten up the tilt mechanism bolts.

Many people have installed 4th gen interiors in 3rd gens.

 

haha, ya i just found that out that the 98' is an ls1 all i know is i found a couple for around 3500 to 4500 and figured for everything i need and what comes all with the car it looks to me it would be the cheaper route, as you can tell i really don't know what i'm doing, i just know that i will have 8 grand to work with in the next couple of months, so i'm trying to get info on what i would want and also what would work best, i still have to pass emissions since i live in az. I know i want a 350, either a new trans, or rebuld my current one, a new exaust system, rear posi, and other small things here and there

 

The LT1 would be the easier install, but the LS1 would arguably produce a better final product.

There are stickies in the top section of this forum for each swap.

 

If your going to do a lt1 swap try and find a wrecked car. Should be able to get one for around $1500-2500. Use the seats,rear end, engine,tranny, and harness for your car. With that much to spend you might as well go with a ls car and do the same thing.

 

so seats and rear end out of a ls1 camaro or firebird would fit in my car no problem?

 

i was also wondering how much of a pain and money it would cost to swap my auto for a manual trans. 5 or 6 spd? out of the newer firebird or camaro i buy?

 

I haven't done it, but that's what I understand.

That is discussed often. There is a little bit about it in the LS1 swap sticky. The recent thread "a little bit annoyed" also talks about clutch pedal install. It seems to be easier in the later 3rd gens than what I ran up against in my '82.

I would agree that no matter which direction you go, having a complete donor car makes the task much easier. Wish I would have done it that way.