I own a 1979 Firebird Formula that has a 4.9L v8 engine and is automatic. The engine has well over 300000 km's on it, and it is running terribly - so I decided to replace the engine. I found a friend's 1985 Buick Regal Limited that has a 5.0L V8 and is automatic also - he is selling me the engine because it works fine, but the transmission is shot. We took the 5.0L out of the Regal, and took the transmission off (since we're using the transmission in my firebird.) However, we seem to be worried about the difference in electical components. I was told that the transmission would fit (between my car and the buick's engine) and the mounts would fit, and everything would be fine.. but then we noticed that there are a lot of wires leading into the car from the engine in the Buicks, and the Firebird's engine is less cluttered, it does not have nearly the amount of wiring. Before we attempt to finalize this project, we would like to know how vital all of the tiny wiring is on the Regal. Are these all fancy sensors unneccsary to performance, or are these vital to performance/operation? Would we have to do something like take the wiring harness out of the regal and somehow splice it into the Firebird? Thank you for your help, I can give you more specifics if the situation isn't clear enough Matthew Housser
The 85 Regal most likely has the 307 Olds motor with the computer controlled Rochester 4 barrel. The swap is doable, since alot of the T/A's came with the 403 Olds motor. In 79 they werent using a computer yet on those cars, soooooooooo, your going to have to use the carb off the Pontiac 301 your junking, IF it had the 4 barrel, which is doubtfull, otherwise your gonna have to get a 4 barrel carb for the 307 Olds. All the extra wiring you see on the Buick is for emissions, such as the air pump and solenoids, charcoal canister purge, computer controlled ign. timming, computer controlled egr solenoid, etc etc. If your not worried about emissions, and have no inspections like we do in the states, then drop the 307 in, get a regular 4 barrel carb, a NON computer controlled distributor (Its still electronic, but it has the regular advance weights and vacuum advance) it will have to be taken off an Olds motor, but I dont know what interchanges. Honestly, you'd be better off getting a Pontiac 350, 400 or 455 and rebuilding it, then drop it in. Your going from a late 70's Pontiac motor, to a mid 80's Olds motor thats computer controlled. like I said its doable, but alot of hassle. Mark
The trans in the Firebird most likely has the BOP (Buick, Olds, Pontiac) bellhousing bolt pattern, Meaning any BOP engine will bolt rite up, the Chevy block wont, UNLESS the the bellhousing on the Firebird Trans has the universal bellhousing bolt pattern. I dont know if GM was doing the universal bolt pattern in '79, you can check the trans in the Firebird to see if it does. All other issues pretty much remain the same as far as electrical and emissions. Mark
