Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 11:44:07 AM

Title: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 11:44:07 AM
is it possible to swap in my 1988 tbird a 350 big block or a 396?? I am not sure because its a chevy engine... can someone clear it for me.. thank u
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Tbird232ci on August 10, 2005, 11:47:11 AM
there is no such thing as a chevy 350 big block, have fun with that

you can put any engine in any car, just need to have fabwork done

why do you want a chevy engine?
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 11:59:23 AM
umm there is such thing man.. maybe i just go my words mixed up but so it is possible.. thanks a million.. 0o0o because i really want power in my ride.. i dunt think a standard 5.0 will do it.. do you have any suggestions?
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Haystack on August 10, 2005, 12:08:30 PM
you could easily make around the same power in a 5.0. If you are that worried about it, get a 302 with a kit and make it a 347. Then you have an engine with 351 internals and the weight of a 5.0 with lots of power.
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 12:12:02 PM
o0o i meant long block my fault man.. o0o thanks alot for da info Haystack :)
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Thunder Chicken on August 10, 2005, 12:16:44 PM
Since when was there a Chevy 350 big block? There are Oldsmobile 350's, Pontiac 350's and Buick 350's, but I've never heard of a 350 big block. You're probably thinking of the Olds 350 "rocket", popular in the late 70's. It's a dog.

As for puttinig a Chevy engine into a Ford, I'm against it not only in prinl but in practicality - a 5.0 will easily make as much or more power than any 350 ever hoped to and it's much lighter, and will bolt right into your car and onto your tranny (if you don't already have one in there). The aftermarket support for the 5.0 is enormous as well.

If a big block floats your boat a 429/460 will fit your engine bay with readily available adapters (there are a few members of this board who have done it) and again will easily make as much or more power than a Brand X big block.
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Thunder Chicken on August 10, 2005, 12:19:07 PM
...and a long block is simply an engine with cylinder heads on it. If you've got a running car you've got a long block in it already. A short block is a bare block with only the crank, rods, pistons and cam installed.
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 12:27:38 PM
ok then wat can i do to my stock 5.0 then to make it have more power then a 350 since you said its possible.. I would gladly appreciate some knowledge plz...
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Bird351 on August 10, 2005, 12:33:47 PM
I guess their answer depends on whether or not you're going to respond like this again:

http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?p=33309#post33309
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Tbird232ci on August 10, 2005, 12:37:13 PM
the power you make depends on the money youre willing to spend

youre going to need to convert to HO, using an HO computer and injectors, then you can go over to trick flow, or holley that sells heads/cam/intake kits, and just put it together and have it tuned
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 12:49:33 PM
how do i go over to trick flow or holley.. i dunno wat that is
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Tbird232ci on August 10, 2005, 12:53:19 PM
summitracing.com

Trick Flow and Holley are both brand names, they are distributed by most performance shops, Summit Racing, and Jegs
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 12:59:15 PM
o0o thanks alot im familiar with summit racing..
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Funky Cricket on August 10, 2005, 01:40:00 PM
you are not "familiar" with summit racing. You heard thier name on a show once.
If you were "familiar" with summit racing you would know what kits are out there for a 5.0, cause they have a huge section under "mustang" or "Ford" that would have the products mentioned above.

you can't just ask, "me want m0r3 p0\/\/3r, tell me how". You have to "read" and "research" on what is out there and decide what you want to do.
magazines, forums (please read them first, before posting, it's only polite), AND asking the same question repeatedly won't net you different answers.
Please read the following sites for basic information.

http://www.coolcats.net
http://www.google.com
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: cougarman on August 10, 2005, 01:46:12 PM
Just sell your Tbird and buy a camaro with a "350 big block" and you will be happy. ;)  :crazy:
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Red_LX on August 10, 2005, 01:48:23 PM
This guy definitely sounds like a carburetor person.

dang that fuel injection is tough!
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 02:28:15 PM
Quote from: Funky Cricket
you are not "familiar" with summit racing. You heard thier name on a show once.
If you were "familiar" with summit racing you would know what kits are out there for a 5.0, cause they have a huge section under "mustang" or "Ford" that would have the products mentioned above.

you can't just ask, "me want m0r3 p0\/\/3r, tell me how". You have to "read" and "research" on what is out there and decide what you want to do.
magazines, forums (please read them first, before posting, it's only polite), AND asking the same question repeatedly won't net you different answers.
Please read the following sites for basic information.

http://www.coolcats.net
http://www.google.com


no need for being sarcastic.. i did research man i want peoples opinions now dats all.. wow wat is it wit some people they get annoyed when i ask questions.. why do u think this site is here for man... wow kinda slow n yes i iv seen da site for summit racing not just talked about on tv alright.. i just want info from people .. not all written down info is correct ok.. sorry to get u pissed or somethin man jus askin..
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Funky Cricket on August 10, 2005, 03:37:10 PM
Quote from: tbirdera
ok then wat can i do to my stock 5.0 then to make it have more power then a 350 since you said its possible.. I would gladly appreciate some knowledge plz...



Though not unpolite here, this is a very uneducated and open ended question. You obviously haven't done the research on the potential of one of the most popular engines ever made.
You didn't ask for an opinion,  "I was thinking of moving to SEFI, and was wondering what problems you had when converting to mass air with the SO engines".

Me want power, gimmie, isn't an intelligent question. but being the nice guy I am, i gave you not only good advice, but a place to look for parts, and 2 good resourses of information on our cars. Ones that I used freqently.
yes i did it sarcastically, only becuase you still haven't learned how to use the info that is handily provide on any mustang or 5 liter site/magazine/catalog/tv show/ ect...

You come to ford site, asking a silly question about a chevy engine, and from you previous posts this appears as trolling.

I am not trying to be mean, or grumpy, just trying to provide information you, in a way that is humorous to others on the board  :giggle:
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 04:24:34 PM
ok im not askign question on da engine i was asking if it is possible to swap it in my 88 t bird. n u didnt gimme anything to help me out wit ur just bein a jerk n sayin search google or coolcats i been there done that n already did that... ur a joke man if u aint gonan help me.. shut it man  :evilgrin:
Title: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 04:25:58 PM
like i said wats da point of reading if spoken werd is better.. not all written things r correct .... ur just lazy to help me out
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Funky Cricket on August 10, 2005, 04:27:23 PM
sure, you can put what ever you want in. It will be a ton of work and alot of fabrication.
you just are very sensitive and ask silly questions, so I picked on you a bit, if you can't take a bit of a flame, you are the that should shut it. geez.

 :flame:  :crazy:

 :sorry:
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Bird351 on August 10, 2005, 04:33:22 PM
..and we have our new IGAH..
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Haystack on August 10, 2005, 05:20:17 PM
no no it is the same one
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: tbirdera on August 10, 2005, 05:28:29 PM
wtf nah i aint ur new IGAH get a life man ,,, n i aint sensitive u act like such a child saying  so search go search .. just shut up bird51 ur such  a scum bag shut up
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Ether947 on August 10, 2005, 06:09:47 PM
i'm amazed you got as much help as you got just now. if you want a chevy bb in your bird here's a little insight as to what will be needed. custom motor mounts, custom exhaust, custom trans x-member, custom driveshaft, custom hood, custom fuel system... the list goes on. if you don't have the skills to do these custom mods, then you will have to pay someone which will not be cheap. so even if you got the engine and trans for free it would still be cheaper and more practical for someone of your skill level to stick to your basic 302 h/c/i/ (heads/cam/intake) combo.

i'm kinda regretting typing all that because i'm sure this thread will be locked as soon as i am done.:rolleyes:
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: 5.0willgo on August 10, 2005, 06:14:28 PM
Quote from: darkthunder
i'm kinda regretting typing all that because i'm sure this thread will be locked as soon as i am done.:rolleyes:

Thought I'd help you out. :hick:
 :locked:  :locked:  :locked:

But in reference to this issue. Wasn't there a thread before about putting a chebby motor in one of these cars? I'm too lazy to search.
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Bird351 on August 10, 2005, 06:22:11 PM
Quote from: Haystack
no no it is the same one


This one is much more of a crybaby than IGAH, I think.

I second:

 :locked:  :locked:  :locked:
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Chuck W on August 10, 2005, 07:15:00 PM
Quote from: tbirdera
like i said wats da point of reading if spoken werd is better.. not all written things r correct .... ur just lazy to help me out


Well, what do you think the forums are?  Spoken word?  Try written...just more real-time.  Hell you can't believe everything you read here either.

Do you believe everything that someone tells you? 

The only one lazy here is you....get off your ass and do your own ed research..as in R-E-A-D.  Maybe then you can form more educated questions, and then maybe you can get some more helpful replies...
Title: Re: 350 big block or 396
Post by: Thunder Chicken on August 10, 2005, 08:27:18 PM
Right, this one has gone on long enough.

Tbirdera, a very simple answer to your question: A stock speed density HO conversion, plus a mild aftermarket cam (one compatible with speed density and with your flat-top pistons), 65MM throttle body and custom exhaust and headers will make your 5.0 as or more powerful than the TPI 350. The stock HO 5.0 produced 225 horses, while the TPI 350 produced 230-250 (depending on whether it was in a Camaro or Corvette). With the minor mods above a HO 5.0 would easily match if not top that. If you do it right you should be able to do the above for under $500 including the exhaust. Coolcats has plenty of info on the HO conversion, as does this forum if you search for it.

If you want to keep up with the LS1 Camaro/Firebird (which is not a 350, nor a small block) you can do so with heads, intake, cam, injectors, mass air, etc. You can even buy kits, such as the HOlley SysteMax system that will propel you beyond 300 horses. Be prepared to spend some money, though, as the kit costs $2500 and you still need to upgrade to mass air, get a bigger MAF, etc...


...but it would still be cheaper than buying an LS1 and easier than installing a chevy engine/tranny, and you'd have a far more powerful engine for your trouble.

To use the old phrase: Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?

Now, enough of this foolishness. :locked: