Hello all,

I have a friend who has a mint GSLSE for sale with a seized rotor. I've been researching a 350/T5 swap and am wondering what are the expected costs with this project. Here is my breakdown so far of what I think it'll cost. Let me know if this is realistic or what needs to be changed (this helps the wife know what I'm getting I to)

$1100 GSLSE
$600 86 Firebird (350/T5)
$1475 deluxe swap kit (w/ power steering)
$500 exhaust
$250 contingency (carb rebuild kit, tune up parts for motor, misc fluids)
$3675 TOTAL

Thanks for the input!

 

rebuild 13b $1500 to $2000. Install, done. Drive

 

I thought about that but to get more than 250hp from a rotary, I'll need to spend way more than a 350 swap. Easier aftermarket parts and more reliable and better mpg.

This is part of the research and if it's not as affordable as I'm thinking, a 13B rebuild might be the better option.

 

I have my doubts about an old, tired, carbed 350 getting better mileage than a 13b.

That being said... You'll likely blow through your contingency on misc. nuts, bolts, hoses, that one part you didn't notice was missing when you bought the car, etc. Also, 3rd gen's have notoriously weak transmissions for the tq output of the 350. While you have **** tires it won't matter as much, but any 350 3rd gen with a manual was a swap (either the motor or trans). And while parts are everywhere for it, shearing gears makes things a bit more expensive.

My swap has overrun costs and I had an estimate that went into expected nuts, bolts, sheet metal, welding material, etc. There is always something you forget to take into account, or you lose that little brown bag with $30 in JIS grade 10.9 nuts/bolts, etc.

 

If you are ever near The Dalles, I'll take you for a ride in my car and you'll forget all about that rotary nonsense.

 

My 84 FB GSL-SE LS1 project is nearing completion and I have approximately $4500 into it. I completely agree that the little things start to add up!

LS1 and 4l60e-bought a 98 Trans Am for the the swap and sold parts I didn't need to keep. Into the engine and trans for about $1500. I would have gone with a 5.3 liter had I known the capabilities at the time but it is what it is.

I have about $500 into various mounts and eventually did the second gen subframe swap.

FB with a dead rotary was $650 but a solid GSL-SE.

Radiator, hoses, drivelines...it all starts to add up fairly quickly.

Hope to test fire mine this weekend.

Best of luck with the build.

Oh, this is my 12th RX7--11 1st gens, 1 2nd gen. 3rd V8 powered FB, 2 with 383s and now this one with the LS1.