86 firebird 2.8 to 3.1 swap?

[Thrifty Joe]

I have an 86 firebird with a 2.8. The engine blew up and now im in between rebuilding it or getting another engine. I also have a 91 lumina with a 3.1 and the tranny is shot so I was starting to think about just taking the 3.1 and putting it in my firebird. Ive never swapped engines before and I was wondering how i would mount the engine in it whether I could use the mounts or if I would have to modify something.

Thanks for the help.

Joe

[ForcedFirebird]

The FWD Block is not a direct swap. You are going to run into problems with starter location and motor mounts just to name a few.

You can use the FWD crank and rods to repair the 2.8, or find a 2.8, 3.1 or 3.4 from a Camaro/Firebird and the block and heads are a direct bolt in.

86 still have a carb?

[sharkey]

86 should be mpfi.

id go with trying ot find a used 2.8/3.1/3.4l from a rwd. you can use a 2.8l from a truck, you will however need to swap your intake onto it. the 3.4l swap would be the best power wise, however they are a little harder to come across and are likley more money than a 2.8/3.1

[Thrifty Joe]

hey thanks for the help. is there anyway to change the mounts.

[Thrifty Joe]

yeah mpfi

[ForcedFirebird]

86 should be mpfi.

id go with trying ot find a used 2.8/3.1/3.4l from a rwd. you can use a 2.8l from a truck, you will however need to swap your intake onto it. the 3.4l swap would be the best power wise, however they are a little harder to come across and are likley more money than a 2.8/3.1

Thanks Sharkey, I was asking to let him know if he needed to swap the intakes .

I have found sevaral 3.4's and they are about the same as 3.1/2.8's. The JY's want $350-$500 depending on if it was a known running/tested engine, or a u-pull it tyoe of place. The one I ended up going with has 120k on it, and the car was running (no smoke) and it was $400 shipped. I didn't mind having the miles because I knew I would be installing new bearing/rings etc.

[sharkey]

there is no way to change the mounts without building custome mounts. the difference is were the lugs are located on the block itself.

here i could get a running 2.8/3.1l for about $200, a 3.4l is around $600-800. the 3.4l , being a 3 year only motor, is a bit more rare, were the 2.8/3.1l are a dime a dozen

[Thrifty Joe]

will a 3.4 bolt up to the 2.8 tranny?

[sharkey]

the 3.4l is basicly a bored and stroked 2.8l. it will bolt right into the car, you put your middle and upper intake on it, injectors, fuel rail, and distributor in, and itll run off the stock computer.