Sometime soon i'm going to swap in a chevy V-8 small block. Now now a chevy only because I have two complete engines sitting in the garage. And also I'm going to yank the whole ohc motor and trans with the harness and sit it in the garage. I know theres quite a few of you who have done this and was hoping to get some information so I can start gathering up parts needed.
1. Will a 68 camaro v8 engine harness bolt right up to my firewall?
2. Hows stock ohc 6 front coil springs handle/drive with a V8?
3. Is a Pontiac 6 bell housing, bolt pattern different from a V8 chevy? Thanks.

Duck - here comes the fire and brimstone!

1) Don't know
2) 6 banger springs are most likely too light and will need to be changed out. Unless you find you are enjoying the bouncing over every bump (and bottoming out)
3) You are going to have to swap in another tranny with a chebby bolt pattern.

I can relate. Good Pontiac engines are getting few and far between these days where as old chevys are still pretty much a dime a dozen. I keep one in my garage for that very reason.
You will also need to change out the eng frame mounts. (Piece between motor mount and sub). Don't think your pontiac shroud will line up either.

It'll never work. The firebird will reject the transplant. Trade both of the small blocks and get a Pont motor. You'll be happier in the long run.

I have no problem with a transplant. Actually, it makes the best sense, but I don't always follow my best sense, the reason I'm assdeep in my car.

From what I have heard and what I can tell by looking at the two vehicels, you should treat it as if it's a camaro as far as driveline. That means camaro mounts and exhaust components. You are on your own as for driveshaft, but driveshaft alteration won't be any worse than anything else

If you want to get to basics, you have 3 wires to the engine, the ignition, charging and starting, so I don't see why you would need any wiring from a camaro, but there I go thinking again.

I see many parts to do the swap. I changed one back from chevy to pontiac. Trust me I won't making that mistake again. Transmission will not interchange. Sell the motor and buy pontiac.....

I can tell you I wish I had done this after seeing what I had to pay to get this 455 built and installed. I did all of the assembly from short block up and installed it myself and still cost me thousands.
The engine I built and put in my 68 Camaro cost me half as much and has run perfect for ten years now.

Keep in mind that it will significantly devalue the car. Good Pontiac 350 running engines and cores are still pretty easy to come by, at least around here.

1) The frame mounts will have to be changed to Camaro. There are two different mounts that Chevy used. You can see the diffrences here
http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa291...frame%20mounts/
When you get the motor mounts. Make sure you get the ones that go with the frame mounts you get.
Remember when you remove the Pontiac frame mounts, that they are mounted with the A-Arm bolts, so caution when removing them

2) The starter nose piece will need to be changed, or just get one for SBC

3) For the wiring. If you are planning on ever returning it back to ORG. All you have to do is just extend your wires you have now, to make it to the new spots. (Coil,Starter,Alt,Temp & Oil sender if you have them.)

4)For the trans if it is an auto, they make adapters plates

5) You will need mounting brakets for the Alt,P/S,A/C that fit SBC. Also the crank pully, and Dist.

6)Fan shroud for SBC Camaro

7)Depending on what you going to do for exhust. Some long tube headers will interfer with the steering linkage.

8) Maybe have to reroute the fuel line.

9) Depending on how low you want the front to sit, I put SBC Camaro front springs with one coil cut on my 69.

Thanks guys for the quick replies and advice. I will change my coil springs and get a chevy bell housing and another gear box since right now I have a saginaw. I still want to yank the whole motor and trans out complete with the existing engine harness. Its all factory stock and I want to keep it all together in case i want to put it back to stock? Not!! but you never know. Also I would like to build a Pontiac 400 or 350 but living in Los Angeles these engines are quite expensive just as cores. So since I have a 327 and 350 complete from oil pan to carb I want to use one of these engines first. Thank you firebird69racer for loading the pictures. I had no idea that there were different frame mounts tall and low. I'm not up to date on the headers these days. do they offer a long tube header that has good ground clearance? for a lowered street driven car?.
OK guys I'm back to the question? will a 68 chevy camaro/nova v8 engine harness bolt up and be functional/ compatible to my 68 firebird sprint firewall? I really dont want to hack or alter my 6 cyl engine harness. Thanks.

you should not need to change the harness

there is nothing on the sbc that isnt on the ohc and the starter is on the right side

So, would you call it a Cheviac or Pontrolet?

maybe a Camabird or Firemaro ?

I cringe when I see people putting Chevy's into Pontiacs. My neighbour put one in his 2nd gen Firebird and thinks it added value. lol.

If you want a V8, sell your OHC car to someone who will appreciate it and get a Firebird with a 350 or 400 already in it.

I respect differing opinions, but since one was fired out there I thought I would also state mine: There is nothing wrong with customizing any car, in any way, to one's personal taste.

And if I were theoretically shopping for an F-bird, and found 2 otherwise identical Birds to choose from, with the exception of OHC Pont 6 vs. the other with a properly transplanted Chevy V8...I'd actually buy the car with the Chevy 8. And I'd probably even be willing to pay a small premium for it over the 6 car.

And many others would think I was nuts.

But "value" is in the eye of the buyer. Different strokes for different folks. Overall I've never cared much for "all-original" cars.

I also expect that if my Pontiac 400 engine ever suffers catastrophic failure or needs an age-related rebuild, I will be considering the possibility of a SBC conversion myself.

I also am a firm believer in customization to the likes of the builder and they actually installed SBCs at the factory in some Ponts built in Canada. I pulled one from a temptest some years back for my Jeep but that being said if I ever happen upon a Firebird with a chebby under the hood(it has happened) mostly I just walk away shaking my head disappointed. To each his own.

The first question I ask "is it a #'s matching engine?" If not then "is it a Pontiac?" If not then I completely lose interest.

Like you said "different strokes for different folks". I think its the main reason why these cars are so great. Poncho engines are torque monsters compared to similar displacement chebbys. Anyone can just drop a SBC into anything. Lots of beautiful Ford hot rods have (yet another) SBC. They are just too common. (Which is why they are so cheap).

Not to pile on but in your second post you used the words Sprint in referring to the motor you are pulling. If that is the case and it is a matching number engine, you will be throwing several thousand dollars down the drain if you ever sell. But I do agree with crazecars, if you are going to keep the car you might as well put in what you want. You can drop in a Yugo engine if that is what blows up you skirt.

I believe a lot of people buy these Firebirds looking at them as cheap Camaros. As such their mentality is pulling a 6 banger and dropping in a 327/350 will only increase the value for resale. To some people it doesn't matter. To the majority it is either a deal breaker or represents a significant reduction in value.

I'm not sure you'd even have to change the Springs, the OHC engine is a pretty heavy engine and the SBC is much lighter than a Pontiac V8.
I believe the OHC is around 460 lbs without the bell housing and flywheel, the SBC is around 575
Install an aluminum intake, 540 lbs, use an aluminum SBC bell and headers instead of Iron manifolds on the SBC and the weight should be close enough to not be a problem.
Plus the SBC fits further back and lower in the frame than the OHC.

Also if it is a real Sprint it will have the 400 springs installed.