Hey anyone know exactly what is needed to swap a BBC chevy motor into a '69 Firebird? Are the crossmembers the exact same as the Camaro? I believe they are but am not certain. What factory driveshafts will work with a shorttail 400turbo. What models have the 12 bolt? I am looking to buy a car to put my combo in.
I would also like to extend a welcome to our Illinois based BB at www.AllAboutSpeed.com. The board is welcome to all makes and models of cars and I would love to see some first gen traffic there.
------------------ 500 ponies but lookin for a harness. 402BBC bored over to 408, to many other mods to list.
[This message has been edited by Rip-It-Up (edited January 14, 2002).]
1969 350HO, 60.000 orig miles http://www.allaboutspeed.com BB dedicated to all forms of cars restoration and performance.
Why would you lower your Bird's standards by putting in a chevy engine? I like Chevy just as much as anyone else.......but I wouldn't swap my 400 Pontiac for ANY chevy engine!
1968 Firebird 400 Convetible 1977 Firebird Formula
Didn't realize I stumbled into one of those concours restoration boards. I see nothing wrong with a GM motor in a GM car. Now when you do like some idiot did here in Springfield and put a 427 cobra jet Ford motor in a GTO that is crossing the line. I guess I won't tell you then my plans where to include a TA hood, spoiler, and badging. Granted the Edelbrock RPM air gap intake will clear the hood. Future plans of a plate system so I would doubt it unless I went direct port.
------------------ 500 ponies but lookin for a harness. 402BBC bored over to 408, to many other mods to list.
1969 350HO, 60.000 orig miles http://www.allaboutspeed.com BB dedicated to all forms of cars restoration and performance.
There are big chips all over the place..and many shoulders as resting spots! I think it's good that someone stirs up the room a bit. There's not much action on this site as compared to the Camaro site. We need to get things moving around here!
I have no problem with either motor.Its your individual decision. I have even played w/ ideas of a ford 302 in my Volvo! Had one in my Austin Healey.As long as you enjoy the car/hobby! And also , this site is not as "chip on their shoulder" as it may have looked ! As long as the car runs I think its good , esp. if it looks good and/or old. Would`nt mind an old Volvo 544 w/ a V8 for inst. , but I love a correct car too! Just siold our military Volvo Tp21 (VERY rare, 724 made) that we had a chevy 350 in!Also added a/c etc. Just have fun!!!
Ok... first off, many here ARE indeed diehard Pontiac only fans... and many are All original or nothing kind of guy's. But you will find that anyplace with most any brand...
As you said, you have the 408 and a TH400 already, and if you are saving a First gen from another fait, then by all means save a bird! Do what ever it takes!
If you take a good look, the Pontiac Firebird was a higher end product than the Camaro was, or at least that's how it was from the beginning. And since a Firebird is harder to come by than a Camaro is... Go For it, be different from all the Big Buck Camaro guy's!
And I'm pretty sure the cross members are about the same. You'll need a mount kit obviously and a few extras... but all in all it should be pretty straight forward! Just make sure you get the tranny cross member for the TH400.
And the reason there is not a lot of traffic here as apposed to Nastyz28.com or some of the others is this site has an excellent mailing list forum that everyone uses... )except Bjorn... he's banned for talking too much! Lol...) (ISP problems) But that is where all the posts, Q&A really are! And it comes directly to you!
Anyway, Rip-It-UP, go for it, save a 1st Gen Bird no matter what it takes. Yes you'll get some flack from purists... but isnt it all worth it? With a big block your looking to be different anyway?
Oh, 1stGenBirdman..I've moved out of "Self-Absorbed, Tree-Hugger" Olympia and now live in Tacoma. I'm trying to have a Birdhouse built on the property, but I'm in the valley. Nice to be here though!
Hey, thanks guys, I love seeing a perfect example of what a car was supposed to look like as it rolled off of the factory assembly line. To me that deserves alot of props and a lot of work and effort. There needs to be cars like that to preserve the history of the muscle car. But I'm a drag racer and firstgenbirdman took the words right out of my mouth. I want to be original because there are way to many efi spoiled 4th and 5th gen LT1 and LS1 guys around my neck of the woods here in Springfield IL. I love to show them the taillights of a carbed muscle car.
------------------ 500 ponies but lookin for a harness. 402BBC bored over to 408, to many other mods to list.
1969 350HO, 60.000 orig miles http://www.allaboutspeed.com BB dedicated to all forms of cars restoration and performance.
If it's power you want everybody know's torque is where it's at. horsepower is just a mathematical equation everybody also knows that pontiacs are torque monsters.
only matched by the bbc, Olds, Buick, and Caddy </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Doug Rustin: [b]If it's power you want everybody know's torque is where it's at. horsepower is just a mathematical equation everybody also knows that pontiacs are torque monsters. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
OK correct me if I'm wrong but won't a munci crossmember and driveshaft bolt up a 400 turbo perfectly? Or do I still need to buy a different crossmember? The trans is a short tail.
Also anyone know who makes the through bolts for the BBC engine mounts or do I have to swipe some from a scrap yard? I found the frame plates through Year One and am getting the Energy Suspension Polyeurathane mounts but can't find the 2 bolts necessary.
1969 350HO, 60.000 orig miles http://www.allaboutspeed.com BB dedicated to all forms of cars restoration and performance.
Rip-It-Up, as far as the cross member... I think the TH400, and any of the manual Tranny Crossmembers are different, even for the short shaft TH400 (but don't quote me) And the yoke on the TH400 are usually larger than the rest... so you'll have to double check that.
For the bolts and perhaps the crossmember besides ebay or some place you might try: http://www.gmsportssalvage.com/ for good used stuf all GM. Or for new stuff: http://www.theengineshop.com/ They should have what you need. Or for pure modification sites and information: http://www.racehome.com/index.html or http://www.pro-touring.com/ But they are all around High Performance, and into major suspension stuff, more than straight line stuff. But at the same time, they do lots of cross platform swaps and would likely have all the answers to your questions for sure!
So let us know how it works out, and get some pictures up!
Just love looking at pictures of 69s before hand. You my friend have a lot of work to do. My bird looked like yours (paint still does lol). Been working on it for over 2 years. Take a few breaks you'll need them. Good Luck
just go for it! Is this car ( as it looks on the pics) a midnight green 69 ? mine used to be that color. Looks like you need a few more parts than the motor and tranny though. But again , have fun!
Actually all of the parts are with the car. He started to tear it apart for restoration. The front end is just loosely bolted in place. And the interior is partly taken apart. The numbers on the car show it to be a Winward Blue car and the inside door jambs are showing some of the original color. Someone just did a quick paintjob on the car which hopefully isn't hiding too many surprises of the unpleasant variety. The floorpans are shot but luckily is selling a set of full length pans with the car left and right side and a buddy of mine has already agreed to help me tackle the task of bodywork. Also with the car are 5-15" rally wheels which are in pretty good shape minus the trim rings and centers. I am hopefully going to go pick the car up tommorrow and can't wait to get started in on it.
1969 350HO, 60.000 orig miles http://www.allaboutspeed.com BB dedicated to all forms of cars restoration and performance.
Good luck! also if you sign up on the FGF -L list , there are lots of people familiar w/ what you are going to be going thru! A friend of mine here in town ( houston) is currently welding in trunk and floor pans in his 69.
Hmmm.. Food for thought, I just learned that BBC motors where used in some canadian model Pontiacs but rather than being badged turbo jet, they where badged as astro jet motors.
1969 350HO, 60.000 orig miles http://www.allaboutspeed.com BB dedicated to all forms of cars restoration and performance.
The crossmember for MT and 2-speed trannys are the same, T-400 was different. You can get a new one from Year One or Ames Performance Engineering for T-400. Year One has the best price.
Would rather see a Pontiac engine in the car, but would rather see it running than junked out and crushed anyday!
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