I have a 1986 firebird and am wanting to drop my chevy 350 in it, will I run into any bolt pattern match up problems with the original Manual transmission? The car originally had a 2.8 V6 Should it match up together fine?
Thanks
Tim

Of course the bolt patters wont be the same, you would have to buy a bell housing from a V8 manual transmission. But the manual transmission wouldn't hold up to the 350, you'll get a day out of it, maybe 2.

even the factory 5 speed tranny for the third gens would break under the power of the 305.

so if you're going to v8 your car, look for another manual transmission altogether.

Also- isn't the car a fuel injected 2..8? Is the 350 carburated? don't forget to swap out the electric fuel pump. it'll over power your carb...

and there's the v6 springs on your car- you shouldl upgrade to a set of v8 springs that can handle the extra weight. sway bar too and probably the struts.

If you're on a budget hit the junkyards or ebay for these items. get some stock iroc or Trans Am ones. you can score them for cheap and be on your way

I hope this is helpful

Thanks for the info, what manual transmission would hold up to the 350?

Borg Warner/Tremec T56

Does the 1989 Trans-Am have a posi rear end...anybody know?
Thanks
Tim

Umm, most likely it does, but not all of them did. Hell you can get a corvette with or without posi if you wanted to.

actually i helped a guy swap out his 305 and he put in a 350 into his 86 bird and left in the stock 5 speed and hes been runnin the thing with stock tranny with a 350 for 4 months now and the thing is still haulin ass. this guy is no idiot he got a 30 on his ACT haha. and he knows his shit about cars.