1981 Firebird motor replacement...

[Justin5321]

Im in the middle of buying a 81 firebird that needs a new motor. it currently has a 4.9 turbo in it. I would like to put a 350 in it. Jw if i would have to move the motor mounts or anyother problems i would run into. Any advise or suggestions would be great thanks!

[hotrod_chevyz]

If your talking a Chevrolet 350 and not a pontiac 350, then you will need exhaust, computer if your in an emissions state, transmission, shifter, um.. prolly a few other things im not remembering.

you could have it rebuilt those things can straight up scream if you set them up right. They do have a nasty habit of grenading tho.. Stock most of em ran a 17 second quarter mile. I could outrun that crap slapping an aluminum can down the 1/4 with a putter. But its not hard to make a sleeper out of one.

If you can find a donor car with all the parts so you can compare and take what you need it would make it a lot easier for you. Its harder than just throwing the motor under the hood, wich i suspect you suspect.

If you go with an pre-computerized pontiac 350, im pretty sure all you will need is the new motor, exhaust, and a little wiring change. You might need a radiator too. The motor mounts should sit in the same spot.

[Justin5321]

Well sounds to me like rebuliding the motor would be my best bet.. any suggestions on performance parts for that motor? Thanks

[Orion2247]

I would suggest getting an olds 455 instead. Screaming fast! On the other hand, they get terrible gas milage.

[MrPbody]

Far and away, the most popular "swap" for the '80 and '81 Turbo T/As is to use either a 400 or 455 Pontiac. Either will bolt in relatively easily, as all the main hookups and brackets are in the same spots. The mounts need some movement, but will "fit". ALL the "goodies" from '79-back, when the cars had REAL Pontiacs in them, also fit. A well prepared 400P will STOMP a T/A with a 350 Chevy in it, unless the Chevy is pumped to the point of rediculousness, and won't be much fun to drive. A 455-powered one is pretty much out of reach for any "streetable" small block. 455 Pontiac also will STOMP 455 Olds in pretty much any application, especially once "stock" is out of the picture. And lastly, Pontiac V8s are much more common and available, as well as less expensive to build, than the Olds. The only engine made in greater volume from '67 through '79 (the "muscle car era") than 400P is 350 Chevy. And of course, zero true muscle cars were equipped with a small block.

Jim

[CreepingDeath94]

Pontiac motors are expensive too, not just the Olds. If youre used to small block 350 prices, Pontiac parts will usually be triple that. I would probably swap to a 400 even if youre worried about gas prices as the 4.9 301 Pontiac didnt exactly get good mileage anyway...

[79Bandit]

take it from me a pontiac 400 is a nice engine i had a 68 pontiac 400 in my 79 t.a very nice i have since then ripted it out however bored it over and am now in the process of putting it back together, if you need parts let me know i got pretty much everything to put a 400 back together other than pushrods.

[Justin5321]

ok well i am leaning towards the 400. Any suggestions on where to get one?