Howdy y'all. I'm new to forums so if I break some unspoken rules, don't mind me. Basically here is the low down:

I got a 1992 Firebird with the 3.1L V6 (60* or 3100 depending on where you look the name seems to change). The engine won't start. Electronics work except a few minor ones like a headlight motor. Has some body rust near the wheel wells and floor pans are swiss cheese. Doors are rusted through vertically and FUBAR plus new hedges are needed as the current ones are bent. Exhaust is cut after the headers (I did that cause it was dangling). Suspension is shot but not collapsed. Tires and brakes are rotted and rust welded together. Center console has been gutted. Pulled her out of the junkyard for 700$. If I finish her, I wanted to make her more of a mountain pass/windy road car. Originally something that is more than just for straight line speed.

Due to how hard it has been to find parts, I have been thinking about putting a 396 I have in it instead of keeping and turboing the V6. There is a bit of what looks like aluminum corrosion on the block and the frame is pretty bad underneath. I was wondering If anyone thinks it is worth while to go through with the swap or just keep the V6 in it. I originally planned on getting a 305 to put in it but I already have the 396 on hand.

Any advise and help would be appreciated. I am just looking for others, who are more experienced, take on it.

Hood was removed to wash the engine bay. T-Tops are safely wrapped up inside.

 

I would not.

 

All depends on how much work you’re willing to put in. Personally I’m not familiar with what would be necessary to put a 396 in (Engine Swap section would know, Maybe this helps?) but you’re gonna want to get that body straight before putting anything powerful in there. It’s no secret that the T-Top cars love to flex, so once you’ve cut out the rust and welded on new metal, it would be good to pick up a set of subframe connectors. There’s a few different brands, some you bolt on (have to drill holes) others are weld on, but I’m personally leaning towards the UMI subframe connectors. Thread discussing SFC

Might be worth passing on a build if the rust is too bad on the frame. Hard to tell without pictures.

 

Rust is tje biggest red flag.
A small block Chevy V-8 would make the most sense unless you have the budget for a LS swap, but then again if you have that kind of budget, you can afford a better candidate that doesn't have the rust...

 

I would look for another third gen firebird and use this one for a parts car. This one sounds like a financial black hole…..my 2 cents.

 

I hate to be a wet blanket, but based solely on your description of your car, I'd advise finding a better-condition 3rd gen.

And even at that, dropping-in a big block will be a very expensive project; nothing in the car now can be used for the swap.

Whatever you decide, GL.

 

I really appreciate it guys.

I am already in the process of removing the rust and rewelding a lot of the body and framework. I have plans on reinforcing a lot of the frame especially when putting in new floorpans (my first part to finish on the list). I know the T-Tops are prone to flex and with the current rust, a big block swap immediately would probably a bad idea. The only reason I was thinking of the 396 is that I already have one on hand and on a stand. I also hoping to get some advise if it was even worth trying to repair the frame and bodywork. I really don't make a lot of money cause I am a young still (about to be 24) so most work on the car is going to be slowly building it up over time and done personally. I have Summit Racing equipment basically in my backyard so getting a lot of parts engines other than the v6 is not very hard for me.

I'll keep my eyes out for any other 3rd gen that might be worthy of a replacement. Until then, I think I'm gonna do as much free or low cost work to the current one. Hopefully this will improve my skills so I am better when I do get the car I really want to work on.

 

Don't bother with the v6, drop that 396 in there.

 

I'd cut my losses and part it out. Find a V8 car. This car was likely not worth the $700 you paid for it.
It's prohibitively expensive to go from a V6 to a V8, and not worth it. (And that's without all the body and suspension work.)
This is a fool's errand.

You can go to LS1LT1.com or LS1Tech.com and see for yourself.

 

This.

And THIS.

A million times THIS !!!!

You have come here asking if this car is worth saving, and you have not provided even one pic of the car's uglies.

How can you possibly expect a properly targeted opinion without showing us what we're judging here?

 

Yeah, show us the gore!!!!

Kidding aside, please do attach pics of the rust.

 

She is wrapped up in the barn for the winter. I'll snap some tommorow after work.

 

I've been a gearhead buying cars in in the salty midwest for about 50 years now, so I'm speaking from experience here: if the floor pans are gone and that frame has rust holes and soft spots in it, so does everything else in every nook and cranny you can imagine. The car is not structurally good anymore.

I'm with Scott's Z-- because you're invested in it now, keep this car for the miscellaneous parts it will offer up, or sell off what pieces you can, and find another V8 car or a solid roller without all the rust and structural problems, then combine the best parts of the two. You can then go do anything you want with it and it will at least hold up the motor!
Best of luck.