Hi all,

looking for a little help, I have a 89 RS with a 2.8 in it, currently it is a 5 speed but I am turning it into a race car for my local speedway and it has to be an automatic. I have another complete 2.8 with auto transmission in the garage and I am wondering if I can swap the complete motor and tranny out. if so what are things do i have to worry about and what my give me problems..Thanks

 

What year car did the donor parts come from? Depending on the year, the 700R4 was either weak or weaker... And then there is the whole balance issue with the engine. I know everything is in one piece now, but what if something breaks? If the engine is pre-87, it has an externally balanced flexplate, which doesn't swap with later plates.

 

The motor and tranny I want to put in came out of an 87 Firebird.

 

Is this racing league one of those that requires a car to have its original displacement? If not, I'd go for an engine and/or trans that is a little newer, say, post-90 (if the league requires original displacement, then just the trans). Between 87 and 89, GM upgraded the internals of the 700R4 to take more abuse, mostly plate changes in the clutch packs. And then get a Vette servo assembly. You can do the swap with what you have, but you'd be even better off looking for a newer trans that has the updates.

Also, what do you plan on doing with the holes in the bulkhead and the trans tunnel, for the shifter and the clutch master cylinder? You'll also want an automatic brake pedal and bracket. Oh, and you'll need a torque arm bracket if the swap trans doesn't have one. The RS may also have the manual-only trans crossmember, which doesn't swap to the auto trans. I'm going to assume you're booting the catalytic converter, also, because you'll also need a trans bracket for that if the auto doesn't have it.

 

if you pull the 5 speed, I WANT IT. thanks. lol