2.8L bolt pattern, someone should be shot!

I recently purchased an 86 firebird from a buddy. It "Sports" (lol) a 2.8l v6. Now what we both didnt know was that the 2.8L does not share the same bolt pattern with the rest of the GM motors (especially the 350). Is there another motor that shares the same bolt pattern as the 2.8L or can i change the bell housing on the tranny. also if i am able to change the tranny bellhousing, will the tranny hold up behing a 350 (mildly hopped up of course). Honestly i just want a 350 in my firebird, but i cant afford to build my motor and source another tranny for the car. if i do keep the 2.8l, what kind of performance mods can i make...........just want a fun car! thanks i know a lot of questions...but maybe you'll can split them up or maybe a motor genious can answer them all...either way......just need a two or three or four cents put in on the subject!


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2.8L, 3.1L & 3.4L V6's have the same 60* mounting pattern. V6 tranny behind a 350 isn't the best choice. 4.3L V6 & all Chevy V8's have 90* pattern.

To the 60 degree V6 pattern you can add the Northstar V8.

Bogie

Probably the main reason it is different is so you DON'T put a V8 in front of it and shread it on the spot. They put weak trannies behind weak engines...it's a cost thing. It's been a long standing thing...so quit your *****in' and swap the engine/tranny like you're supposed to.

haha, they didn't put the t5 from the 305 infront of the 350 because it wasn't strong enough, i don't think the 2.8 tranny would do much better.

If you are on a seriously depleted budget like most of us are look on craigs list.org and see if you can find a wreck with a 350/350 combo or something and swap it into the fire-chicken..

Sam

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I have tried most all of it and now do what is known to work..

The SBC is not the only GM motor. BOPC have had a different bolt pattern for decades. As for the 2.8 V6, since it is a 60 degree motor instead of 90, the traditional V8 bellhousing would have required a much larger face at the back of the block. Since the 2.8 was originally designed for transverse FWD mounting in the 1980 X-body cars, the larger bellhousing would have complicated packaging. This is called the GM Metric bolt pattern and is common on many of the newer GM engines

As for other motors that have the same bolt pattern, all the 60 degree V6 motors (2.8, 3.1, 3.4, and 3.4 DOHC) bolt up. The Series II and Series III 3800 Buick V6 motors (including the 3800 S/C) bolt up (yes, these are 90 degree motors). The Northstar/Aurora motors ALMOST bolt up. There is one bolt hole that must be moved and the top of the bellhousing must be modified to accommodate the starter motor that is mounted in the valley under the intake.