So i've got a 1984 firebird V6 carb'd and i think its really slow. So i'm wondering if it's worth it to keep the the V6 and try to make it faster or go V8. either way i'll be swapping in a 5 spd but im just wondering in terms of pricing. Is it cheaper to make the V6 faster or to just swap in a 305 or 350. And if i would go V8 is it hard to go from V6 carb To V8 carb? I've seen the turbos that some people have been doing but mines a carb so I don't think I would be doing that.

 

V8 would be cheaper.

 

agreed the 2.8 carbed motors arent very good, the cranks shaft journals are smaller then the later mpfi cars,and also the heads on the mpfi cars are also better.
considering what u have to work with its much better to go with a v8
word of advice dont go with a 305,since ur gonna do the swap anyway do it with a 350 the first time

 

V8 would be cheaper eh? kinda the response I was looking for lol. Always wanted a V8 after driving my dad's 305. Anyone know the MPG difference between a 305 5 spd and a 350 auto, cause if I remeber correctly my dad told me one time that the 350 never came with 5spd? correct me if im wrong.

 

well, what you want depends.............. if you want to have some fun w/ your build and youre NOT going for all out power, i think we would all go for the 3.4 build up. if you want raw hp, then go w/ a built 350. a built 3.4 will out handle a v8, but a V8 will out perform (in a 1/4 mile or any hp run) a V6 any day. when i bought my camaro, it had a beat 2.8, and i was more than ready to drop in a 350, but once i got on here and read up on the 60 degree v6, and got working on it, i was hooked. i couldnt get away from it. now ive sunk way more than i should have into a V6 car and am still going. my next step is either a turbo or serious $$ into internal work.

It all depends on what you really want man, oh, btw..... if youre looking for MPG, even a built 3.4 will get better mileage than a V8. ive gotten 25 average MPG, and thats w/ a built 3.4 (about 190-200hp)

 

Well I want a car that would be fun with a 5spd. As for MPG i'm a bit concerned with what I would get but hey you gotta pay the price sometimes. As for what I want, well, I'm young so you could imagine what I would want. A car that can squeel tires and impress friends. The only problem I have is going Fuel Injected for more performance. Unless a four barrel holley Carb and a Edelbrock Performer Intake manifold are better for performance than Fuel Injection. So i dunno I used to think "Man I'm totally gonna rebuild the 6" But now I'm starting to think "Nah man i'm gonna go V8. Easier power and a lot better sound" But I'm kinda young so I think you guys understand what I'm thinking here.

 

MPFI 2.8/3.1/3.4 60* V6 maybe a good option, i have a T-5 on my 3.1L pretty fun, 1st isn't very fun but 2nd and 3rd really get u goin! i get 30mpg on the highway about 23mpg in the city. they're good engines but dont expect them to take on v8s (maybe u can take a 5.0 TBI lol), easy engine to find cuz everyone is swapin to v8s lol. the next best engine would be a 350 TPI probably w/ a T-56 (6 spd manual) cuz T-5 might be too weak, and then the LTx and LSx swaps.

 

V8 is cheaper. I could have put TWO junk yard motors in my car by now, lmao.

Don't forget you will need a different tranny regardless when going from a 60* motor to a 90* (the 3800 is the only 90* that bolts to a 60* tranny).

 

the CHEAPEST way would be a 3.4 with a 5-speed. they're plenty of fun. i have a good running 3.1 with a 5-speed and it's a plenty fun car. It also has 3.73's with posi though... That's probably a big factor. I've done quite a bit of suspension work and addressed every running problem though. On top of it all I get 24 mpg on average with ALOT of city driving.

But the most COST EFFECTIVE way of getting the MOST is to put a 350 in that car and never look back. It will be a bit more money, but is a much better horsepower to dollar ratio. There is also more work involved though. You'll need V8 springs up front most of the time... I've seen people get away without it, but most of the time the springs are worn enough to start sagging badly with the extra wieght of a V8. You'll need V8 motor mounts. If you go TPI you'll need a wiring harness.

I'd put a 3.4 block in that car and try to find a T-5 to bolt up to it if it's a "daily driver" that you just want to be fun. If it's a toy car that you won't mind being in the driveway for periods of time over the next year or so... I'd put a V8 in it and build a little slower.

 

Lol man I got a tough decision! I can buy a 305 with a 5spd from one of my dads old friends. The guy is real good friends with my dad and is basically considered familly and said he would let me have it for 400$! the engine has 130 000Km on it and is from a '84 Z28 H.O and the tranny was from a '87 Z28 I believe he said, and it had 105 000KM on it. He said he was'nt selling it to anyone else so I can take it whenever I want so I have time to think about. The only reason that I might not take it is because of how long it would take to swap in the V8 'cause i badly want to get this car on the road as fast as possible. So really im just torn between rebuilding a 3.4 and swapping it in and having it back on the road in a couple of days or dropping in the 305 with a 5spd but having the car sitting for a long time. how fast is a 3.4 with full exhaust and 3.73's with posi and a 5spd? (also I would be doing either one of these after I get the car Insured and on the road.)

 

If you do a 3400 top end swap to go with it, the 3.4 will outperform a 305. Guys are getting just over 200hp out of a hybrid motor (3400/3500 heads on a 3.4).

 

well i have both a v6 and a v8 camaro. the v8 is a carbed 350 with a decent cam, and that thing moves. but now my v6 is built pretty nicley. probally not as fast as the 350, but its def more fun(when it is running) check out the link in my sig to see what i did to the 2.8 ive always been against keepin the 6 in there but i like it now because its unique. and when i pull up to some one at a red light with open headers rumbling, their jaw drops when i tell them its a 6