engine swap help for a newbee

how doing im to new to the forums and also to the firebird as far as owning one. I recently picked up a 1988 firebird from a freind and got to talking to my uncle and we decided to turn it into a weekend race car at the track. what i need to know is what is the best motor that will drop in.Right now it has a 305 with a auto in it . My next question is how hard will it be to turn it over to a manual 5 or 6 speed .And is there any swap kits that will help make something easier. any help will be great

Swapping the auto tranny over to a manual can be done, but its a lot of work. I would try and find a firebird thats already a five speed or just keep the auto tranny and put some kind of shift kit in it. Unless you plan on tubbing this firebird out and are already planning to more or less gut it and start from the bottom up, then the cutting and modifying needed to change it over would be a real hassle.

Well I had a professor that had a weekend race firebird with one of his classes, they put a 400 in it, and it's running 6's in the 1/8 mile. Which kind of race do you want it for, drag or track?

im looking for drag

ok how about this does anyoneknow where i can get a supercharger for a 305 tbi

Are you heartset on keeping it TBI? There's plenty out there for carburated and TPI setups, I havn't seen anything for TBI though.

Any SBC will drop right in- 327,350,383,400-
The pulley / serpentine belt sytem is another matter and if you want to keep the FI.

Hell if it only for racing a Big Block chevy will fit nice and you could build the 700-r4 trans to take about 500 Hp.
Auto are quicker-more consistant times anyhow- And the rear axle's will last longer too !! :)