SteveM

I have a V6 Firebird. It has a nice interior and nice straight body and it also has sentimental value so I don't want to get a new car. I've got about $5000 to play with. What should I do to add power? Given the amount of money that I have what are my options? How can I get the biggest bang for my bucks?

85f-bird

well, biggest bang per buck = nitrous oxide...but if i had 5k to play w/ right now, i'd settle my senses by doing the LS1 swap im still planning out. 320+ street legal horsepower/ will pass emissions/ and will give your car some $$ value ontop of just sentimental.

SteveM

How much does and LS1 and all of the components that I'll need cost? Wont I have to also change the transmission and the rear end? What else will I need to swap?

F585

You can swap a LS1 in to a V6 and still pass emissions?

SteveM

I don't have to worry about emissions where I live.

Gumby

If it were me, Id drop the cash on a 3.4 crate with a good warranty.
Fresh up your tranny, get some tires and have it detailed inside and out.

Nothing like a new engine.

Matt

[ You could also get some parts powder coated and share your money with me ]

SteveM

Where can I find a decent 3.4 crate engine? What should I do to the tranny?

I want something that I can have fun playing with when I take it out to the track. I'm not looking to blow away everything there but it would be nice if I could at least keep up with some of them.

F585

Look at any 93-95 F-body for a 3.4

A high mileage tranny and low mileage motor don't mix
Rebuild the tranny to take the extra TQ

Doward

$5k to splurg?

No question. I'd build a nice 383 (about $1500) coupled to a nice TKO or T56 ($2k) with a 3.23 equipped 12bolt rear (another $500) and spend that last $1k on looks.


OR

Brand spanking new 3.4 crate engine + rebuild the T5 tranny (go to a manual, if you don't already have one!)


OR

Save that $5k, and see if you can score a complete new generation 60º in a couple months, and be the first to swap a 255hp 3.6L into your third generation fbody!

SteveM

If I wanted to go to a V8 what kind of money am I looking at to get a decent set up? Do I have to swap the transmission and rear end? If so where would I find them and what would the cost be roughly? Also is there anything else that's needed that wouldn't come with a crate engine or a decent used engine from a reliable place?

Doward

You could pick up a 350 crate engine from Summit for like $2500, spend another $1k on a well built 700r4, get a TPI intake, and custom prom with the rest.

330hp and 380lbs/ft just like that.


Personally, I'd build my own setup from it all. Tho, I'd do it on like $2k of that, and save the other $3k just in case.

Gumby

I think he would be better off going used on a V8, if a V8 was in order.

Once you get new springs, mounts, acessories, computer, prom, wiring, tpi, or carb, msd box,bigger fuel pump / regulator,raidator, fresh tranny, exhaust, fluids, line, hoses and much more that could come up that would be needed.

If he had a V8 car to start with Id say keep it a V8 cause you would have 90% of the parts already.

Matt

91rs4life

I got some stuff for sale you could always buy something from me...or all if it from me....

SteveM

What do you have for sale? Do you have a complete set up?

85f-bird

Ebay has tons of LS1 engines listed, the engine tranny combo would cost about 3k or so....that's if you stuck with an auto, manuals might be 4, but an average of either would be about 3k. 800 or so onto the elctronics side of it they sell a painless harness that'll work fine with the stock cpu....rear can stay until you feel like changing it, i've seen a pegleg push a 320 hp LS1 already, did fine (the nittos bit the dust after a while though, LOL), the engines much lighter than a standard iron v8, so you're front springs wouldn't drop waaay to much, the radiaotr can stay in place if you'd like (it'll cool fine enough.....but you'll notice it when the cars parked you'll hear the radiator cooling off like a bitch LOL) Motor mounts will be needed despite what type of engine/ tranny combo you come up w/, tranny crossmember will be a deal if you need the 6 speed (t-56) tranny, cause it won't bolt to a stock location, etc. Your rear springs should be changed w/ some 89 iroc springs (very very stiff) and that should cover everything i can think of....there are some articles on the board for that swap, and yes it'll pass emissions as a six (even though you don't have any where ur at). In Missouri , the rule says any engine placed in a vehicle has to be from the same model year or newer (so no 70' 450hp 454 into an 85 firebird) but a L98, LT1, LS1 is legal enough for me....that and 1997 computer technology and emissions controls can make that v8 put out less polutants than a 1980's designed v6 could..... but if i were in ur position, and wanted simple horsepower a standard small block 350 w/ a turbo 350 setup would be quick nice and cheap...could use the leftover to modify the engine/ tranny setup, or purchase that positrac rear end.....but the LS1 would add more value to the car.

SteveM

Well right now I'm just looking for power. I don't care about the value of the car. I don't plan to ever sell it. I just want a nice, strong, reliable car. So I think the turbo 350 sounds good. Is there a decent place to buy a remanufactured one? I've tried looking for remanufactured, crate, and used engines and keep having trouble finding anything decent. They all want to get my engine as a core and they want the core to be the same as the new one.

It would be nice if I could get the engine, transmission, etc. all from the same place. I may check out Ebay but I don't really trust some of the things listed on Ebay. I would rather get everything new or remanufactured from some place that will be able to help me make sure I have everything I need for the swap.

Thanks for all the helpful posts.

Gumby

http://www.rebuiltcarengines.com/cem5.html

I believe the 87+ has the 1 piece rear main seal and/or something to do with balance weights.

I know at some point the weights went from the fly wheel to inside.

2_point8_boy

You know what i think you should do...give it all to me. :sillylol: