so im new to the site and today i got a new toy and i have some big plans i got a 90 firebird 3.1 with auto trans crap in it motor is blown well a few months back i built a 350 4 bolt and a t5 for an s10 project and now im leanin towards firebird project i could use some experienced advice for this swap as ive never done it before any help or suggestions would be great

 

I have not attempted a swap, but read the sticky at the top of the page and do a search. I have considered it, and from what I have read, a lot of people recommend a V8 parts car. If you are not using an ECM to control it, it will probably be easier.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engine-swap/

 

Sell V6 car, buy V8 car.

 

 

I hate to say it but they are right. You spend SO much more in the long run converting a 6 cyl to 8 cyl car. Even with a donor car it ends up being a pain in the @ss.....

 

It's hard and costly enuff to go from 2.8 v6 to a 3.1 or somthing like that.There are plenty of v8 cars out there.Probly only a few hundred more than a v6 would cost.

 

It can be a pain in the butt to go from v6 to 5.0/5.7 tpi. I would know, when you use a 87 camaro engine harness on your 88firebird v6 harness, and c207 and c100 pinouts are different between the two, it can be a slight headache, it cost me alot of money,for the swap

I SHOULDA HAD A v8!

 

im not putting a tpi v8 in its carbd so no more comp simpler still need t5 bellhousing pedals hydraulic master and slave for clutch and rear crossmember i think thats bout all tho to put in carbd motor ??

 

im only puttin in carbd motor so it will be much easier i just need pedals hydraulic slave and master bellhousing and rear crossmember for mounting trans to car and motor and making clutch work

 

I still say sell the V6 car and buy a V8 car.

 

Okay, let's figure it this way:

You bought your car for how much?

How much do you plan on dropping into the engine before you put it in your car instead of the truck?

Now, factor in that you WILL need to replace the engine mounts and the torque arm mount on the transmission ALONG WITH the transmission's tailhousing (S10 trans sits straight up and down, F-body trans is tilted to the left when viewed from the back and the tailhousing is different between the F and S10 anyways). And possibly the output shaft on the T5 (I believe it may be shorter on the S10 T5 depending on RWD tailhousing or 4WD trans adaptor).

Now take into account the rewiring you'll need to either do or have done.

Now add in for front springs, radiator, hoses, belts, accessories that don't match up.

Then, finally, compare the cost of the above to the average cost of a V8 car. Already V8 car will be cheaper almost every time.

:edit: Forgot to mention a couple of things. 1. That T5, if currently put together for an S10, WILL need to be replaced, or 2. You WILL need to replace the shifter shaft (goes between the shifter offset lever and the shift forks), the shifter itself, and the tailshaft housing, which doesn't have provisions for the torque arm mount, or the offset F-body mounting. And, if you have an S10 bellhousing, you may need to replace it also due to the F-body offset mounting because it may not even have dimples in the bell for where the offset holes need to be drilled for the proper mounting of the trans. So, getting a hold of the proper trans mount doesn't even matter. With everything else that would need to be replaced on the trans, using the S10 trans is a waste of time. And, again, money.

 

fkn bump!!! put that baby in that purdy bird =P