1) Currently hve 79TA w 403 replace w crate chev 350 y or N

2)If yes what parts required to complete swap?
3)Will TH350 match up?

4)Is 400 better swap and same question as # 2

Any help in this matter qppreciated  

I would keep it all Pontiac and go with the 400 Pont. I did this swap and just needed the Firebird motor mount brackets and the th350 bolts up.  

Why not build the 403?  Look at that article from a few months ago, the guy made 520 hp on the 403.  That still can be a performance motor, I still have that engine in my 79 ***  

Dave, I'm with Rob and Jon on this one. The 403 can be easily built up to make great power (or swap it for a 455 Olds!) or swap in a 400 Pontiac. The SBC won't bolt to your trans unless you have one of the dual pattern trannys, lots of stuff to change to make a sbc look factory installed, wiring and accessories, starter, battery and alt on opposite sides, different overflow bottles. When you are done you still have a compromised car, it's nothing like it was originally and now it has less cubes than stock, not to mention your shaker scoop and air cleaner will only work with the Olds V8, even the 400 Pontiac needs a different shaker and breather. Sur the SBC is cheaper to build, but making it fit right isn't, unless you have a complete 305 powered TA to steal parts from. Then consider the fact that your car is worth less than if it had the original engine.
Steve  

dave as someone who has just done the 350 i perfered it just cause of the parts thing... you can build the 403 up to put that much hp out but you can do the same with the 350 and more options too... check your transmission to see if its universal and will bolt up... easiest way to do that is to see if the top of your tranny comes to a point on the bell housing... if it does you should be able to bolt it right on... as for the engine mounts go to jegs and get there number tell them you need camaro/firebird engine mounts and chasis mounts for a chevy 350... they will tell you the part number and you can order them its like 45-60 bucks and go morriso solid steel mounts...if you dont have the universal transmission too talk to the jegs guy about the bell housing adapter plate... they sellem and just bolt on... i would recommend the 350 like i said just cause of how easy parts are to get... no waiting a few days for them to ship in and you can hot rod the 350

-alex  

dave and btw the wiring accessories such as starter blah blah blah hook right up i didnt need to replace anything at all really except the mounting brackets and if you dont have the universal tranny bell housing adapter... sorry steve but i remember asking you this and you told me the same thing but i didnt need too lol anyways for things like fuels lines etc... if you put the new motor in you should replace the hoses anyways little basic things you dont need to replace but probably should O AND BTW PARTS AND STUFF MUCH MUCH CHEAPER!!!!  

and for the shaker hood comment for your scoop about not being as effective whats it matter if you are serious about hot rodding it and building a performance motor you can buy a tunnel ram off of craigslist for like 2-5 hundred bucks have it cleaned rebuilt etc and bamm you got your air flow issue taken care of if theres really one  

Guys, lets get a few items straight here. First my comments are almost always aimed at keeping a car looking and functioning correctly, hence my comments about wiring, shakers and accessories. Also, as the last year of the big engine Firebird, a TA with a 403 is worth more for resale with the original engine than a cobbled up small block transplant.
Nowhere did Dave mention wanting a max performance engine and besides tunnel rams and their tuning headaches (not to mention the legal hassles from the cops for "non-emmisions modifications" or "obstruction of driver's view") fell out of favor back in the early eighties! Besides most engine builders will agree that more streetable HP can be had with a modern single carb intake and correctly sized four barrel than with any so-called street tunnel ram setup. That's why they're cheap to buy- nobody runs them anymore!
As for starters etc. , Addacore says everything bolted up on his car, but his Bird had Buick V6 swapped in previously in place of the 400, when he put in a SBC, the starter will work, because the Buick V6 has a passenger side starter that interchanges with the Chevy, also his wiring may have already been altered during it's previous swap. The Olds 403 and Pontiac V8's all have a driver's side starter-different end housing and trans dust shield needed.  Yes almost all Delco alternators interchange (except the HD units) but the mounts are all different as are the A/C brackets (and possibly hoses). As far as fuel lines are concerned, the olds has a pass side fuel pump like the SBC so that shouldn't be a problem, Pontiacs however have the fuel pump and the fuel hardlines run along the driver's side of the car (thru the subframe, right to the fuel tank), most guys swapping a SBC in this case will run a 3/8" rubber hose in front of the crossmember from one side to the other, try passing inspection at an NHRA sanctioned dragstrip with that!
When it comes to parts and cost, it's not that much more expensive to build a Pontiac or Olds, just check Summit Racing for prices, and then consider that you can easily build the larger displacement mill to produce the same or more power (with more torque) with less mods, less rpm and friendlier gears. It may cost a bit more to build the engine, but you might not have to buy a higher stall converter, steeper gears and more than one carb!
Steve  

ya i forgot about that maybe thats why it was all easy for me... so as to say... "I stand corrected" dave i always told steve he never failed me when it came to advice i just have had way too much *** fun with my sbc but he is right about all that stuff everything was prolly already adjusted and sat up so when i got the sbc i could just pop it in... but to let you know about the tunnel ram steve i actually havent got in trouble for it yet and neither has my friends pops... he has a 69 camaro and its got one but for the tuning thing for it ya your definately 100% *** right lol if you dont have brand new carbs or even rebuilt ones its almost impossible to get it to scronize so ya... lol anyways ps my sbc turned out alright i just blew the oil pan gasket cause i didnt take care of the overheating problem but ya dave go with what you feel in your gut dude i got lucky with what i did and to be honest and i think everyone will agree with this which ever motor you pick or stay with for the matter can be performance built or stock and remain reliable... for awhile :-)