D
danny
it currently has a 305 small block
I have 1983 firebird and wondered how big of an engine can i fit in it?
M
Mark
350 is perfect...check with state emissions requirements, you might not be allowed to swap out a bigger motor? you might get stuck with another 305/350
anything bigger than a 305/350 and your going to have MAJOR problems with suspension and clearance problems
(actually a Big Block chevy will bolt right in, without any mods except exhaust and mabye some Minor hood clearence issues..
and the stock suspension will hold a BBC with an aluminum intake and water pump with No problems)
although the stock trans and rearend will be weak points ...
anything bigger than a 305/350 and your going to have MAJOR problems with suspension and clearance problems
(actually a Big Block chevy will bolt right in, without any mods except exhaust and mabye some Minor hood clearence issues..
and the stock suspension will hold a BBC with an aluminum intake and water pump with No problems)
although the stock trans and rearend will be weak points ...
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Dr. Sievers
New member
The answer to your question is as big as you want! Trick is how much money you got?
How about instead of going with bigger you go with more powerful and lighter. Just because it's big doesn't mean it's good. lmao. sorry dirty puns are my specialty.
if you have the funds a nice ls3 is great for modified power (forced induction) or if you prefer naturally asperated you can get the ls7. or if you really have to have the big motor there is always the everlasting 454ci. personal preferrence will really have to come into play for you though. what type of sound do you want, what type of engines do you have experience in? are you wanting fuel economy with this? what kind of work enviroment do you have to use? what kind of time restrictions are you on? all of these things play a key role in selecting your engine. Don't make the rookie move of just dropping in the biggest block you can find. More often than not, the people that do this, regret their decision. and don't take the smiley face offensively I just really wanted to put it in a thread and have no reason to yet
81 Grand Prix
New member
I know someone how had a 454 in one with no problems. My advice would be build a 350 you can make a lot of power with the 350. A big thing is having the right gears in the rear end. Some 3.42 or 3.23 would make the 305 get up run. So throw a built up 350 with around 400 hp it would be a little scary.