I have a 2.8L and i want to put in a 305. How much do you think it would cost to do the motor swap. I already have the motor.

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Drive it like you stole it!

 

love your quote, check my sig. Honestly, if you're going to go through the time and effort, might as well put something bigger in. I'm tossing up the idea of a 383 swap. You'll have to replace the transmission, engine, front springs, maybe the fuel pump, ac compressor and all that stuff......

 

NM, here's my sig

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Smile, you're in my rearview I'm joking, I have a v6.
See pics @ Billy's Firebird
92 Bird 3.1L Auto
Best $750 I ever spent....
DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
Kills:
93 Mustang LX (Before Mods),98 or 99 Dodge Stratus (tough one, edged out at 40),
92 Camaro RS 305 TBI-Not too fair, his fuel pump went out 2 days later. Nice car, but not running right. 97+ Honda somethin or another...modded....kept at my door the entire way
Close Calls
94 Grand Am 3.1 V6, 92 Cavalier 3.1 V6
01 Porsche 911 Turbo (Had em till first gear)
Mods-Jet Stage 2 Performance Chip, Accel Cap/Rotor, Accel 8.8 MM Wires, Accell Coil, AC Delco Rapidfire Plugs, Dynomax Catback, K&N
AIM name OVRCLCK350

 

you will have to replace your computer and wire harnes also.....I did a 2.8...3.4 converstion...and that was only about 850 for me to do...and I paid 600 for the 3.4 engine out of a 95 camero.

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Sgt Panther

89 Firebird..2.8/3.4 conversion

 

What do you have besides the motor? This is no easy swap... here's a list as given to me on the swap board by Five7Kid for a carbed setup:

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Alternator, A/C hoses, water pump and fan, smog pump, radiator as well as hoses & tranny cooler lines, exhaust from heads to rear bumper, trans cross member (unless you have a 9-inch tail shaft TH350) --- NOTE: this is in if you're using a TH350 for a trans.. I was going to. In any case, you must change your transmission to one designed for a 90 degree block ---, front sway bar, fuel pressure regulator (3-port type to retain the return line), fuel lines from driver's to passenger side of engine, wiring and switches for fuel pump, engine mounts (do these while changing the springs - much easier to get to the mount bolt nuts inside the cross member), brake line on front cross member, distributor, air cleaner, tach, misc. wiring, throttle cable, tranny kick-down cable, cruise control (you'll be going from electronic to mechanical govenor if you're eliminating the ECM and you want to keep the cruise), brackets for alternator, AC, smog pump & PS, starter, flex plate. ECM and all sensors if maintaining emissions and computer.
My front frame was also missing some braces that the V8 car had. Unless you have an electronic speedo, the speedometer cable will probably hook up (at least there's one piece of good news).

Since I say this to everyone else who asks, you'd probably be better off getting a factory V8 car and selling your current car, even in it's reduced condition. There has to be something pretty special about the V6 car you have to make it worth while going through this process. And, "smooth" is probably not a word that would be associated with a first-timer going through this, regardless of preparation (I have done several engine swaps in the past 30 years, including putting the BBC into my '57, and this Camaro project was by far the most difficult).
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How much will this run you? Depends exactly what you go with.. usually at least a grand even if you already have the engine. With the trans swap comes the possibility of needing a driveshaft if you change to anything but a 700r4/t5/t56 (not sure on t56)


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'86 Camaro SC, black /w silver racing stripes
2.8l MPFI/700r4 /w special 2nd gear delete option
In search of new v8 engine & transmission, now contemplating t5 swap to get me out of this mess.
MSD coil, Accel 8mm wires, SplitFire plugs, Gabriel hijackers, possible performance chip I don't know about.. gotta crack open the ECM and check sometime

 

And of course you will be shunned from the eyes of your fatherland, the V6 board, sent out into the desert of V8's in utter disgrace, and never allowed to return. But I digress...

-Reno

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'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
-Supercharged Hybrid LB8/L32 Project-
"You think you're weak and maybe I'm the cure, but I've got 6 pistons in my engine, and I got one for ya...it's a long shot"
http://www.angelfire.com/il/Firebird28/index.html

 

I actually have an old firebird that the motor will come out of. can i get most of the parts from it assuming they are in good working order. This is my first swap but i have lots of friends who have done it before.
I'm hoping to teach myself by doing it myself with the help of some experienced people.

I live in ontario and i drove my car through the winter because it was my only transportation. I'm sure you can imagine what the road salt has done to it. It really needs alot of work now. i am buying a truck this summer so i can put the camaro of the road and give it a makeover so to speak.

I'm not completely sure if i want to swap the motor but i figured since i was fixing up the rest of the car i might as well do something with the motor.

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Drive it like you stole it!

 

Here is a simple & reality answer.
Sell all the parts.
Buy a rust free, SoCal V-8 3rd gen car and bring it into Canada.
We got dozens of them in yards, out here.
START WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION, don't waste your good effort on a money pit.
You can pick up V-8 3rd gen down here for under $1,000.
You'd spend over $2K, on the swap parts alone. What would you prove, that you did it?
PLEASE, YES, IT CAN BE DONE.
But, look at the reality foundation platform you are starting with. Swiss cheese, with wires that only a mouse would love. And that mouse would be very happy, as there are lots of wiring to eat away at.
I was offered a free 305 V-8 to swap into my 1985 Firebird. I went the 3.4 route, to save myself the aggrivation of the emissions police & having to pay, on top of the costs of swap, $300, for a smog certification to be able to get a smog check.
Right now, I just sold my all left over 3.4 parts for $103 (by ebay) The smog tester looks at my car & "knows" I have a "2.8" under the hood. I have no cost penalities associated with this swap and I was outta pocket about $900.
YET, I have a 1995 3.4 with 40K miles on it, 175-200 compression in each cylinder, 17-20 inches of vacuum pressure at idle (15-17 in., in gear at idle) and a freight train of an engine to pull me up the hills and take on any jokers that try to mess with me.
I have only begun to touch this engine. I am awaiting the smog certificate (summer time test) to get to work and so I can play.
Sell the stuff and buy a fresh V-8 car to show off your talents & skills you'll teach yourself.
Don't be bummed by my answer. Just educated.
Flame on, if ya wanna

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

The front sway-bar shouldn't need to be switched. They're all the same clearance-wise... maybe Five7Kid wanted you to get a bigger one because of the extra engine weight. However, the only "small" front sway bars on V6's appeared to be in the 82-84 years- and even then, V8 front bars were smaller than 85-up.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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