I have a 1968 Firebird Convertable with a 350 and 2 speed tranny. I would like to set the engine and tranny aside in storage and put in a new reliable engine and tranny so that I can actually enjoy driving the car.
I would like to put in a 400 engine and whatever automatic tranny will handle the 400.
What can I put in there easily?
What years and part numbers should I be looking for?
If you keep all your existing engine accessories (timing cover, water pump, pullies, alternator, power steering pump) then any long block 1967-1978? 326, 350 Pontiac, 400 Pontiac, 428, 455 will bolt right up with three variables...engine mounts, exhaust manifold bolts on the outer head ports, and accessory holes in the ends of the heads. Engine mounts can be overcome by selecting a five hole block, a two hole block, or using conversion mounts. Accessory brackets are available but won't look stock. Using all the accessories that came with the engine is another option. Use accessories from the same year for '67, '68 and '69. Don't mix and match.
For the transmission, a popular modification is an overdrive automatic, it needs some light modification to work. TH350/TH400 are bolt in with the correct driveshaft and crossmember. What rear axle ratio are you running?
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
If you keep all your existing engine accessories (timing cover, water pump, pullies, alternator, power steering pump) then any long block 1967-1978? 326, 350 Pontiac, 400 Pontiac, 428, 455 will bolt right up with three variables...engine mounts, exhaust manifold bolts on the outer head ports, and accessory holes in the ends of the heads. Engine mounts can be overcome by selecting a five hole block, a two hole block, or using conversion mounts. Accessory brackets are available but won't look stock. Using all the accessories that came with the engine is another option. Use accessories from the same year for '67, '68 and '69. Don't mix and match.
For the transmission, a popular modification is an overdrive automatic, it needs some light modification to work. TH350/TH400 are bolt in with the correct driveshaft and crossmember. What rear axle ratio are you running?
Don't know on the rear axle ratio. What is the stock ratio for a 2 speed tranny?
I found a 400 from a 1969 with YT engine code. What is the YT?
From looking on the site it looks as though I should be looking for a 68 or 69 engine if I want more power. Will the pulleys from a 350 bolt to the 400? Will the intake manifold bolt to the 400? Or are they different?
The power numbers are not directly comparable due to differences in measuring method. However, after 1973, they do become quite pathetic.
A '69 YT is a Firebird 400 automatic. It's what my '69 was born with and still has.
The 350 intake will bolt to the 400 but you would be better served with a 4 bbl setup. The pulleys will bolt up, however the depth of the pulleys from the hub faces to the grooves is NOT the same between '68 with 8 bolt water pump and '69 with 11 bolt water pump, and to make it more interesting there are two '69 water pumps, long and short snout, each of which use different pulley sets and neither the same as '68.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
