351mach11647545510 Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 got my brothers 88 firebird from him when it got stolen and he decided not to throw any more money at it due to all the issues with it and his lack of gumption to try and tackle anything himself. Car is originally a 305tbi car with a 700r4. The motor is gone and the tranny has an issue with upshifting prematurally (sp?) then not wanting to downshift causing the already weak motor to stall. Today picked up a 4 bolt 350 complete from CARB to oil pan and a TH350. The motor and tranny came out of an 84 silverado 2wd truck and was a "computer controled" carb motor. Dont know how well this is going to work but my main concern is are there any issues im going to have with this tranny getting it to work besides needing a different drive shaft. will the mount still work and should the speedo still work correctly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TA In Progress Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 If you have a 2wd truck tranny, you shouldn't need to change the drive shaft. You'll need a torque arm adapter, but that's something you can get at Jegs. The electronic speedo is going to be an issue if you don't plan on retaining the factory ecm/wiring. You could get a mechanical speedo out of an 85-87 and solve that issue. I am not sure about the crossmember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patterson Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 You'll need a torque arm mount to bolt to the rear tail housing on the tranny, Non computer carb, and distributor. You'll need to get a lock up switch kit for the transmission as well. If the tailshaft housing on the trans is the long version (should be out of a truck) the driveshaft should work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patterson Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 IIRC Autometer sells an adapter to run the mechanical to electric speedo as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TA In Progress Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Just looked on Thirdgen and it appears you can use the same crossmember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TA In Progress Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 IIRC Autometer sells an adapter to run the mechanical to electric speedo as well. Will this work with an OE electronic speedo and no ECM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351mach11647545510 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 i dont mind keeping the wiring all the and leaving the ecu hooked up, i just wasnt sure if it would do any good if its not hooked up to the motor (as far as speedo and all that junk.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351mach11647545510 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 im just gettin it runnin on a budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351mach11647545510 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 speedo on the th350 is electronic already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1647545494 Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 if you want it to be really easy get the tbi intake manifold and tbi off of a truck it'll bolt on and then all of your fuel injection will work..... you should be able to pull the speed sensor out of the 700r4 and use it in the th350 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patterson Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Will this work with an OE electronic speedo and no ECM? 95% sure it will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patterson Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 if you want it to be really easy get the tbi intake manifold and tbi off of a truck it'll bolt on and then all of your fuel injection will work..... you should be able to pull the speed sensor out of the 700r4 and use it in the th350 The heads are the wrong bolt pattern. 86-95 GM cast iron heads have a 72 deg cant on the four center intake bolts. You can grind down the intake and reangle the holes to match the early style head pattern though. But you could run into sealing problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadz89GTA Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 The heads are the wrong bolt pattern. 86-95 GM cast iron heads have a 72 deg cant on the four center intake bolts. You can grind down the intake and reangle the holes to match the early style head pattern though. But you could run into sealing problems. I've always just drilled matched it, never had a problem and did it to several intakes Old cheap intakes on an L98 or the 305 truck motors I use to get all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patterson Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 I've always just drilled matched it, never had a problem and did it to several intakes Old cheap intakes on an L98 or the 305 truck motors I use to get all day. Yep, easy to do. Just tedious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351mach11647545510 Posted February 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 okay, if i leave it carbd, what would be some good budget upgrades for the motor on the cheap. would like to get a little bit more power than stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1647545494 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 a good edelbrock weiand offy etc manifold holley or edelbrock carb to match and a set of headers for bolt ons if you want a little more cam would help it out some too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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