May 7, 2010
will a 1974 small block chevy engine bolt into a 1979 trans am?
trans am now has a 1979 4. 9 301 small block with automatic trans; will the 1974 chevy small block (from an impala) bolt in place? i will be switching the tranny to a turbo 350 also from the 74 impala. can i use the same transmission crossmember and the motor mounts that are now bolted to the transam's front subframe? How about the oil pan from the impala- can i reuse that in the transam- will the pan from the impala clear the suspension and steering linkage ? How about the driveshaft? If you have any websites that shows/ tells me what needs to be done that would be helpfull.
Filed under Engines by on May 7th, 2010. Comment. 
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Comments on will a 1974 small block chevy engine bolt into a 1979 trans am?
you can drop engine and trans in using the same cross member may have to change the mounts,oil pan should be ok drive shaft from t/a should work if the diameter of the yoke is the same
hope this helps
Yes a Chevy 350 will fit into the engine bay of a 79 Pontiac Trans- AM but will not bolt up to a Pontiac 350/400 transmission the bolt pattern is different.General Motors did make an universal 350/400 transmissions that bolts to the Pontiac & the Chevy engine, but sound like you are changing transmission also so that should not be a problem for you .you should be able to use the cross member from the trans am and the motor mount bracket on the Chevy engine should fit into the Trans- AM motor mounts,sometimes they my need to be moved on the cross member,and the holes are already there from the factory to move them that car came with different engine options from the factory also the oil pan should also fit and clear the suspension and steering linkage the drive line should also work as long as both transmissions are the turbo 350′s short shaft ( output shaft housing length ) http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/tech/hppp_1003_1974_trans_am_supermatic_transmission/index.html
No it wont just bolt up unless you get the correct motor mounts.
everything else will work.The driveshaft will also work I believe the 301 was backed with a 200 metric transmission.so using the same driveshaft won’t be an issue.the only car that needs a special oil pan i think is the chevy II.
Yes but you will need to change a couple things.
The engine mounts bolted to the crossmember is diff for the two engines. You need a set of v8 mounts for say a 1979 camaro.
Keep in mind the camaro and firebird are almost the same car, so what ever worked/fit on a camaro will fit on the firebird.
The 301 had the fuel pump on the drivers side IIRC and the chevy v8 has it on the pass side. So you will need to do alittle re routing of your fuel line
The oil pan on your 350 will work and clear fine.
If your using a th350 trans (short tail version) the driveshaft will be the right lenght, the trans crossmember and mount will be the same.
Its a real easy swap to do