I want to know EVERYTHING you know about the 3.8 swap.

What is better to begin with? A v6 or V8?
Will a convertible hold up w/ stong SFC's?
What tranny's will work with it?
Are there any cheap upgrades other than adjustable boost controller?

Kyle, can I see a pic of where your boost gauge is located?

 

contact pete (20-psi) he gave me lots of info when i was looking into it, but found im just going to go 3.4 route....

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1989 Firebird
2.8 v6, t5 swapped in

Ram Hi-po clutch, Cold Air, 1.6 rockers,Lakewood LCA's, Lakewood Lift bars, Wonder Bar, 3" y-pipe, Random Tech Cat, 3" I-pipe, Flowmasters, MSd 6a, MSD Coil (Fireball in future) Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Ignition Module, Auto Meter Gauges (Water, Clock (needed one) Fuel Pressure, and 5" monster tach)TB Bypass, 4th Gen Seats

Coming for my v6:
Panhard Bar, 4thgen front seats, Nitrous, Line Lock, and Ram Air 2 hood

"I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to not have run at all"

 

Your best bet is to talk to someone that has done it before. Here are a few people that I know that has done it. Kenny Duttweiller, Fred Veder of Dynomax in NJ, Jimmy D. of Quarter Mile Performance in NJ, and several others. Most of the numbers can be found in Turbo Magazine or GM High Tech Mag. I don't have any with me right now, I am at work.

I have seen this combo in many types of cars, i.e. Camaro's, Cadilacs, Jeeps, El Camino's, and yes A MUSTANG that ran 10.38 (Kenny D did this one.).

Let me know what else you need.

Pete

 

From what I understand, which is not much yet because I have not tore into the car yet, can be found on this board in a lower post about 3.8 Vs V8's or 2350 or something. I got pretty involved. As far as my boost guage goes it on the right side of the tach. I dont have any pictures but if you look around on the internet a little its not hard to find a pic of one.

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89 Trans Am Turbo 3.8L All stock 43,000 miles #1053 of 1555

Past Thirdgen:
86 Trans Am w/ built 355TPI with SLP goodies and too much other stuff to List. One sweet *** car, wish I would have had a good enough Job to pay insurance on three cars so I could keep it, but for a 89 Turbo Trans Am w/ Low miles, I think I made the right choice!

 

Juast got back from the beeach and i m drunk as hell so i will say something tomorrw.

 

Either a v6 or v8 car's fine to start with; it's all coming out anyway. If the v6 one has a tachometer, you could still use it, instead of hunting later for a v8 instrument cluster.

I don't see why a convertible wouldn't hold up.

I think any trans with a BOP bolt-pattern (like the commonly used 200-4R) will work. Wouldn't a chevy bolt pattern work too? I mean, the 4.3's a 90 degree block (that took a 700r4), just like the 3.8's a 90 degree.


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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
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

the 200r4 and 700r4 are interchangeable as far as bolt pattern goes because the Montes had the 20-0r4 bolted to their 305s which were the smae engine as in the camaro except the Camaro had a 700r4 they just need a different crossmember.

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89 Trans Am Turbo 3.8L All stock 43,000 miles #1053 of 1555

Past Thirdgen:
86 Trans Am w/ built 355TPI with SLP goodies and too much other stuff to List. One sweet *** car, wish I would have had a good enough Job to pay insurance on three cars so I could keep it, but for a 89 Turbo Trans Am w/ Low miles, I think I made the right choice!

 

I wish i had that gauge, and what it measures!


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Stock 2.8 MPFI auto w/ Flowmaster 80 Series, More to come......
New Pioneer Head Unit
Targa E-910 7-Band Equalizer w/ crossover
2x 10" Pioneer subs powered by 300 Watt Jensen amp
2- 6x9" Pioneer (rear)
More to come..... (hey, i dont got a job yet)

[This message has been edited by 89V6FBIRD (edited June 16, 2001).]

 

Thanks 89.....I'm really wanting to do the swap with a convertible.

 

Check out GM High Tech Mag this month. Page 52

Pete

 

Hey 89V6FBird,
All you want is a manifold pressure gauge?
Go visit Graeme at Thousand Oaks PAW.

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

 

umm thats a turbo guage...

 

A 3.8 Turbo or a regular 3.8... Either way I would get a small block 400 and a 6 speed anula with some 4.10's in your 4th gen rear you would be buyin... Toss in some LCA's and SFC's and a new torque arm and be prepared to hook up....

 

I have one of those gauges and have seen the needle 2 notches past the top!!

Pete

 

Wrong, it's the same thing. Just that the gauge is hooked up to interact with the Turbo.
And it shows the same action as a vacuum manifold gauge would, or how heavy your foot is into the turbo.
When this gauge is used on a regular car (without a turbo or Supercharger) it shows how heavy your foot is into the gas pedal.

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

 

OK so i guess i meant that i wanted the TURBO to clear things up. "CAN'T WE ALL JUSS GET ALONG????" lol