i am glad i got the info i wanted to hear
thank you onefine8t9
i too thought i would just need a new bellhousing
remember i am only going to keep the 5 speed temporarily i can only afford to improve upon one part of my beauty at a time
and obviously the most important is the engine
which brings me to another question
how long will it take a competent mechanic to install the engine? any clues would be greatly appreciated!

 

no prob man, glad i could help

It shouldnt take much more than a few weeks for a decent mechanic to do the swap but the only problem is n e good mechanic for a job like that will cost u some big bucks. Depending on ur mechanical ability i would ettempt the job urself. Its not really rocket science as long as u have a donor car to get the parts from. If u need help one of us on the board will be more than happy to help.

BTW y do u want to change ur tranny after the v8 goes in?? The same Borg warner WC t5 that came in the 305s also came in the 6 cyls.

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1989 pontiac firebird
bright red exterior(just repainted)
grey interior
5 spd
305 TBI (stock)
WS.6 formula wheels
3.73 posi rear end
-------------------------
system: 2 10" MTX thunder 2000 in a Professionally done custom bandpass box.
Blaupunkt CD player
Blaupunkt 4x6 and 6x9
600 watt rockford fosgate 4.6 amp

http://members.aol.com/j007golden/Mikey89.html

 

that's cool
i guess i really have to get an estimate
because the i am not mechanically inclined enuff (nor have the resources/tools [nor would my parents let me take up the garage for 2 weeks{my dad's 1997 rs goes in there}])
i sorta got one estimate and the guy said it would be by the hour i was wondering how many hours?

 

Hold up. You say the T5 that came with the 305 is the SAME as our T5s?? Are you sure??? Ive heard that theirs is stronger, maybe built up. But if what you are saying is true then we wouldnt need to do a tranny swap if we put in a V8!

------------------
1992 Camaro RS 3.1L
T5 Manual 5 speed
Open Air Intake
Z-28 Exhaust
8.5mm MSD Ignition wires
TB Coolant bypass

Kills:

95 (****) Probe GT
94 Mustang GT
91 CRX (dont ask me why he raced me)
2nd Gen Z28 (350) haha to you V8 guys!
1992 RS 305 TBI (good race)
More to come

 

well, i don't think the automatic tranny will bolt up, but i've been told that a t-5 might work, if the tranny was set up right. Tom P once said that he thought the tranny would most likely shatter though into a thousand highspeed peices. As far as price. When i got my new 2.8L the motor cost about 1300 bucks, while the install was about 6 hundred. My mechanics at my regular shop said they could install the motor, if i got the motor to install. They'd charge $450, on the install, plus any additional parts, but if i got the motor in and it stopped working, than i'd have to pay anotehr $450 to get that motor pulled out. I'd say, if you know how to do some auto work, then do it yourself, if not, find a "good" mechanic and have them do it. Also, my mechanics told me it'd take them about 3-4 days for the swap, the guys who did it performed the it in 3 days. But they specialize in motors. But, i also ended up paying for everything, I got a 3 year/75,000mile warranty on the motor, and 2.9L engine for 2200 bucks.

 

to the best of my knowledge there where only 2 different 5 spds available. one for pre 88 cars and one for after (borg warner T-5 and WC T-5) I dont think there is one that changed for the V6. I can almost guarantee that the v6 and 305 trannys are the same just the bellhousings need to be changed.

A motor swap wouldnt cost to much but changeing a motor from a 6 to an 8 might be a little more pricey. There are alot more things u would have to take into consideration. At the very least the computer and wireing should be changed as well as motor mounts. If u dont mind me askin y do u want a v8? If ur mechanicly inclined than y wouldnt u keep the 6 and get a remanufactured 3.1. Throw a cam in it with a good exahaust and u will be keeping up with 3800. U do already have the 5 spd advantage

BTW i also believe the 700r4 tranny that came in the 6 cyls are the same as the v8s.

 

hate to say it but i'm not mechanically
inclined there are a lot of reasons i want an 8 mainly performance
i knew i had to change the mounts, computer and harness
i think i would also have to get a new radiator
i figure if the i can have the labor done for about a grand then i can afford to do the swap
plus i'm planning on spending 1-2grand on all the parts
so figure i have 3grand to do the swap
is that enuff?

 

sorry man, didnt mean to say that u where mechanicly inclined, i just go the wrong impression. 3 grand should be more than enough for a swap. The donor car shouldnt cost much more than a grand and 1000-2000$ range for labor.

 

cool then summer it is
but will a 350 bolt up?
i hope so but if not a 305 is cool too
i got big plans for my car
just with my income i gotta do one thing at a time
that's what all those in my other post did not understand
t-5 for now
when the money rolls in t56!
plus i gotta have injection cause it's my only car! GOTTA BE STREET LEGAL!!!!!!!
glad to hear your (onefine8t9) news!

 

350 will bolt up the same as 305 but it might be a little more cost effective with a 305 and a t-5. If money isnt an issue than go with 350 and t56. IMO

 

if you go to the V8 you'll need this stuff..... and probably more I think.

1. V8 radiator and hoses. and possibly a new electric fan.
2. V8 trans or bell housing.
3. computer and wiring harness.
4. V8 engine duh!
5 V8 carb and intake manifold/ fuel injection manifold and plenum.
6 new throttle body
7 new TPS,IAC, and all those other little sensors that might not translate to the V8.
8 new fuel line.
9 brackets for all the accessroies on the front of the engine.
10 EGR/Smog stuff if it has emissions.
11 New front struts to support the heavier V8

on the bright side though,..... the rear end will work

 

ok i think what 3.1 was trying to say is get a donor car. take everything from that and put it in ur car. Its really not that hard. just think about it. Move motor mounts to fit the 305. Put in the 305 with a bellhousing for a 305 useing ur current tranny. Ur rear end is fine. Get the drive shaft out of the donor car. There is all the mechanical work there. Now get the computer and wireing harness out of the donor. Put it exactly where the old stuff went in the car. Update the cooling if needed(thats where the donor car comes into play again) and do the proper tuneing and off u go. I can get alot more detailed if u need me to. I was just tryin to sum it up.....

 

if you could get more technical i would appreciate that what i really need toi know is what parts i will need from the donor car
if you want you can email me the specifics at metalmaniaman@yahoo.com

 

hmmmm lemme think, parts needed from donor....ok the best way to say it is just to remove the motor mount bolts and take the out motor as is. obviously U will need to disconnect sencors and what not to acctually get the motor out. U want the radiator and cooling from the donor car. U want the computer and wireing harness from the donor. The bell housing from the donor, and while ur under there yank out the drive shaft. A good idea while the new motor is waiting to be installed is give it a set of fresh AC delco plugs. They are such a pain in the *** to do when its in. U will also need the exahaust from the donor. Atleast the exahaust manifolts and try for the Y pipe, the rest of the exahaust u could probably get through dynomax relatively cheap. All u really have to do now is remove the facotry motor and wireing/computer in ur car. Find out where the motor mounts need to be mounted to fit for the v8. Another idea is to replace the old motor and tranny mounts with urethane ones from energy suspention. Be sure that when u put the v8 in u have the exahaust manifolts already bolted on. If u want to get a little creative get some exahaust manifolt restorer from autozone. All u have to do is wirebrush the manifolts and spray them down and they look new. The finish will last a while to. Now (with the help of a friend) drop the motor into the engine bay. (u will need to a cherry picker) Bolt it to ur fresh urethane mounts and bolt the tranny/bellhousing to the engine block. Next install the drive shaft. A good idea is to have new u joints put into the drive shaft and have it balanced. I had this done to mine it it costed me like 50$. They also painted it for me too so it looks nice. now ur almost all done mechanicly. Remove ur factory (v6) cooling if u havent already and replace it with the parts from the donor. A good idea is to replace all the rubber hoses (heater core, radiater ect...). Now this next part might be a little harder or trickey than the last. Now its time for that computer. Getting it out isnt hard. Go to the passanger side of the car and by where ur feet go there is a kick panel that runs up to the dash panel. There are 4 7mm bolts that hold that into place. take them off and u should be able to look at ur computer. Remove ur computer that is held in by 4 7mm bolts. (most interior bolts in the car are either 7 or 10 mm) Now u need to get the wireing harness out. Just follow it where ever it goes. Replace with the v8 harness, plug in and bolt down the new computer. Install ur kick panel and the interior is done. Plug in all needed sencors and hook up the starter. Label where the wires go. Replace all fluids. (oil,coolant,tranny, rear end). The suspention will be fine. well i think i covered almost everything. here is the big moment. turn the key and she should start up. Sit and listen as ur v8 rumbles vrooooommmmmm

n e one feel free to correct or add n e thing

 

I think you did a very decent job 8t9, um as far as tranny's go, i'd say try it out, see if the tranny will work. I've heard both ways, and there were two distinctive auto tranny's for the v6. not sure about the manual though, while they were both 700r4,they had different bolt patterns. I've heard you can possibly re-establish the bolt patterns to fit the v8, but it might damage structural integrity. Also, you can do a 350, but then you definately need a new Trans, that's why the 350 never came with a manual until the 6 speed. I know, that the rearend won't crack well shouldn't, but i'd recommend you going to a posi axel, hopefully you can get one out of the donor car, the only reason is, a Tuned Port V8, or even Throttle Body, is going to have a lot of TQ, and just a little two much gas will make your peg leg go crazy. If you get any rain where you live, i'd advise you not to drive that car until you get posi, mine with a new motor handles like crap in the rain, just because the rr keeps spinning. Besides that, i think everything will be good. It'll probably take about a week or so to get things done at the shop, maybe longer if they're backed up. A straight new motor swap of the same size can be done in 3 days, but a lot of stuff like this will need more time.Now, my only question, and i'm not trying to detur you, but for 3 grand could you get a Z28 with a 305 anyway? just curious don't know what 3rd gens are going for in your area. around here you could, i found an 85 TBI firebird with a 305 for 1200, and it had a straight body, just needed paint. but my v6 had more options, and is a one owner so it'd be a downgrade. But i'd say go for it, find that v8 donor car, and then swap anything from the drivetrain, or connected to the drive train you can. Also, have that motor checked out before you drop it in, the last thing you want is to get a new motor, and have to have the guys rip it out again because something's messed up on the bottom end. That's why i went to the pro's, i.e. people who change motors for a living. not my regular mechanics.

 

my 1991 is in great shape but has a gazillion miles on it so i would get dog food for it i couldn't afford a z-28 even if i could they are rare with manuals

 

1991rsttopguy u could get a decent amount for ur car. 5 speed and t tops are ur best sellers right there. If its in good shape with those miles u can safely get between 3 and 4 grand for the car as is. Do a little searching and i can bet u will find an irco or Z28 with t tops and a 5 spd for almost that price. But hey do it how u want it though, well help u either way

 

thanx for the encouragement
i honestly really like the car i have cuz it is exactly the way i wanted it (5-speed tops and I even got the color i wanted!!!!!) the only thing missing is the 8 so i figure i put one in and keep the car for a good while cuz it's a really awesome car
i originally wanted a vette but figured it would command 2 much 4 someone my age
i think i am actually much happier with the camaro it is really a great first car

 

well get ready for the new V8 swap BTW (cant remember if i asked already but..)y wont u just mod ur current motor?. I mean get a gm crate 2.8 for about 900$ and its already pushing 160hp. Add a cam, port the heads and get a nice exahaust and u should be close to 200 hp. It would probably be alot easier and more cost effective. It also will keep the cars value up. Again i say do what u want and we will help u either way but u wanted my honest opinion so i gave it