Helpp!!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Helpp!! Im new to this but i got a 1998 firebird 3.8. Im looking to make a project of. With a oldschool 5.7 carbed. All i know of right now is il need my k member from a 98-02 convertable, sub frame connectors,and im also runnin a oldschool tranny 350/400 th. what all would i really have to do? I really dont wuna hear sell the car n buy a v8. Like i said a project.. Any help would be nice and if anyone has done it. Thanks
There are soooo many options of what to do. But for a reliable and more durable power plant, instead of going the carb'd 5.7, go with a carb'd 5.3L. Engine will be cheaper to get ahold of, and there are a ton of options available.
But before jumping on that, what are your plans for the car itself? You wanting to drag race, daily driver, street/strip?? Tell us what you want to do and then let us give you suggestions from there..
But before jumping on that, what are your plans for the car itself? You wanting to drag race, daily driver, street/strip?? Tell us what you want to do and then let us give you suggestions from there..
the 3.8 in your car can make a ton of power when turboed , unlike old school sbc they have cross bolted mains like LS engines (GM introduced series 2 3800 just before LS engines) series2 3800 was on Wards 10 best engines of all time list - a stock factory assembled bottom end ( other than cam) has been 8.6 @159(ZZ Performance FWD GP) and Tim King from Intense Racing pushed his RWD firebird to 8.9.
3800 is allready in there , if you should hurt it they are dirt cheap to buy , LS engine is also an easy swap as it was the other engine platform available in the car. I have many fond memories of cars I have had with traditional SBC but after modding 3800's and LS engines I am starting to view old school sbc as people started to view flatheads in the years after sbc's were introduced , yeah they can make power but its so much better/easier using engines developed with the latest progress - most of the upgrades to 3800/LS were from lessons learned with years of SBC production. stronger bottom ends , better oil delivery , better sealing tecknologies,head designs ,factory roller valvetrain components ,etc...
heres a link to a teardown of a series 2 3800 : http://www.thrashercharged.com/tech_...gine_tear.shtm
3800 is allready in there , if you should hurt it they are dirt cheap to buy , LS engine is also an easy swap as it was the other engine platform available in the car. I have many fond memories of cars I have had with traditional SBC but after modding 3800's and LS engines I am starting to view old school sbc as people started to view flatheads in the years after sbc's were introduced , yeah they can make power but its so much better/easier using engines developed with the latest progress - most of the upgrades to 3800/LS were from lessons learned with years of SBC production. stronger bottom ends , better oil delivery , better sealing tecknologies,head designs ,factory roller valvetrain components ,etc...
heres a link to a teardown of a series 2 3800 : http://www.thrashercharged.com/tech_...gine_tear.shtm
Last edited by murphinator; Jan 12, 2014 at 09:04 AM.
Im new to this but i got a 1998 firebird 3.8. Im looking to make a project of. With a oldschool 5.7 carbed. All i know of right now is il need my k member from a 98-02 convertable, sub frame connectors,and im also runnin a oldschool tranny 350/400 th. what all would i really have to do? I really dont wuna hear sell the car n buy a v8. Like i said a project.. Any help would be nice and if anyone has done it. Thanks
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Im looking to make a street/strip. I might do fbi. Idk yet. N i have to have a convertable 98-02 k member they said. Cause mine convertable. My 3800 is still good just catches air in coolant system. I ALREADY GOT A 350 with alil work to it. Im just a kid lookin to start a project with one of my vehicles. And how much would i be cutting?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Im looking to make a street/strip. I might do fbi. Idk yet. N i have to have a convertable 98-02 k member they said. Cause mine convertable. My 3800 is still good just catches air in coolant system. I ALREADY GOT A 350 with alil work to it. Im just a kid lookin to start a project with one of my vehicles. And how much would i be cutting??
Trending Topics
The old 350 won't fit without cutting the cowl to make room for the distributor. Someone did it to an LT1 car, but I don't remember where the thread was.
Build the 3800 or go LS. It will be less work in the long run.
Build the 3800 or go LS. It will be less work in the long run.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Il cut the car no worried. I can alway cut and mold the cut section around the objects. Part of projects and life dont let lazzieness get the bestbof you. Gota work to get progress done way i always was told
Part of cutting the cowl is you loose the windshield wipers. If your street driving the car that might not be good.
K-member issue I have never heard before, I would check with some of the shops that make k-members about that.
I agree with installing either a 5.3, 5.7, or 6.0 fuel injected motor. You have a 98 so if you find a 98 engine harness and PCM everything should be pretty easy.
Don't sell yourself short or force yourself to go one direction without investigating all your options. You might be surprised with what you find out.
Good luck.
Keep us posted with your progress.
K-member issue I have never heard before, I would check with some of the shops that make k-members about that.
I agree with installing either a 5.3, 5.7, or 6.0 fuel injected motor. You have a 98 so if you find a 98 engine harness and PCM everything should be pretty easy.
Don't sell yourself short or force yourself to go one direction without investigating all your options. You might be surprised with what you find out.
Good luck.
Keep us posted with your progress.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Thats the reason indont want fbi. Cause the wiring. And plus i like the look when you pop the hood and see a nice 4 barrel holley. N its okay no winshield wipers. Im sure they wont notice to bad. Its only gona be a trac car n a street car on nice days. No winter
If you want to do it.. then do it. Don't worry about what they are saying not to do.. It is good that everyone has informed you what the con's are and what alternative are (including just buy a V8 car and Carb vs EFI). But they will help you make the informed choice going forward.
As it has been done before so.. good luck and keep a build thread going.
They have pointed out what the con's are and if you accept them and want to work around then and what it might cost.. more power to you.
But do some more Research to make sure you want to take this on and what you getting into.
BC
As it has been done before so.. good luck and keep a build thread going.
They have pointed out what the con's are and if you accept them and want to work around then and what it might cost.. more power to you.
But do some more Research to make sure you want to take this on and what you getting into.
BC
One of the worst things to have happen in a build is to run into problems that you did not anticipate and you can't solve. When that happens all your hard work and money are wasted. None of us want to have that happen to you.
So do your research, plan it out, then start collecting the parts you need.
Good luck and let us know how it's going.
So do your research, plan it out, then start collecting the parts you need.
Good luck and let us know how it's going.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Yea everyone does fbi. With coil packs(ls) motor basicly. I found someone thats done a sbc carbed in a 98 firebird. He told me its more time than money and patience. Gota do a good bit of cutting. I figured.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Has anyone ever did a v6 swap with a old school sbc with distributor and carb/throttle body. Need to know about the cutting and about how hard and how much time? And money? Or is it more time that money