Thread: Turbo Trans Am Motor Swap

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I am planning to swap the stock tired 4.9 liter turbo motor (301 ci) in my 1981 Turbo Trans Am for a 350 Chevy. I'm hoping it will just bolt in since the 305 Chevy was also available in the Trans Am in 1981. The car has a 350 turbo transmission. Does anyone have any insight in this type of swap? I'm hoping it's pretty straightforward.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

I don't think the 301 is a big block Pontiac motor. It is a tiny little thing. I think is is common with the 265 Pontiac motor.

Also, I have seen pictures of the 1981 TA with the 305 Chevy motor with the battery on the same side as my 4.9 turbo (driver side (stock pictures), but all good information for me to look out for.

Any other input? Has anyone else done a similar swap? There are very few Turbo Trans Ams with stock 4.9 turbo motors. Most people swap. I'm assuming the 350 Chevy is a common swap.

Technically,(as far as I know) there is no big block/small block Pontiac engine. The same basic block/head casting is used for the 301/350/400/455.

As far as the most common swap around here anyway, is to use a Pontiac 400 (455 if you can find one). Here any way, you can pick up decent running 400s from full sized Pontiacs for next to nothing, it's a bolt in swap and the car definatly retains a much higher resale value.

Parts for the Chevy swap should be easy to come by. The Camero of the same era are the same platform, and the motor mounts, exhaust, oil pan etc will all bolt in.

Streets is right about the tranny, and you will need to pick up a Chevy tranny unless you have the Multi-Bolt pattern one in the car.

I have a dailey driver 81 Firebird (TransAm clone) that started life as a 4.9 car. It has a stock 400 4BBl from a 78 Catilina in it with stock manifolds. It runs an regular gas, get about 21 MPG on a good day and has never lost a race to even mildly modified Cameros, plus has a higher resale vale.

If it were me (and it ain't) I would stay away from the 403 olds, it's been known to break a rod or two. Better to stick with an all Pontiac setup. I like the idea of reworking the stock turbo motor but if you don't want to mess with it the 400 does just about as well.

Abe

The 400 should bolt in, all 81 trans should be BOP type ( buick-olds-pontiac ) and the 350 will bolt to it, the motor mounts from the 305 app should fit the 350.

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