Hey everyone, I recently traded my BMW to my grandmother for her beautiful 35th anniversary edition Camaro. She had some work put into this car mostly cosmetic, paint, bodywork, etc. This thing looks gorgeous but I'm looking for a little more power. It has the 3.8 v6 with the 4l60e, and I am thinking seriously about swapping a v8 into it. Here's a few things I'm wondering. If I didn't go with the ls1 would a 5.3 work? Can I use the same transmission? I'm not sure on a lot of things but since this is my first domestic car I would like to push my own wrenches on it! Any suggestions, feedback would be awesome!
thanks!

 

The easiest thing to do would be to find a donor car with an LS.
1998-2002 Z28 or SS.
There's damaged cars out there for sale with all the parts you would need for a swap.

 

best to sell this one and pick up a ls camaro. the time and money involved would be considerable. 4th gens are engine specific. transmission, k member, suspension, computers, wiring and with most driveline and rear end is different.

 

The easiest swap would be a 97 LT1 since the 97 did not come with a LS1. This is not like old school chevy swaps. The swap process is a hugh undertaking. Swaping to a different year engine and going from a V6 to a V8 means you going to be swaping just about everything electronic in the car. Probably 90% of the swaps that get started never get finished. People think they are saving money by doing a swap. If you add up the all the things you need and pay yours self min wage for hours and is way cheaper to just buy a LS1 car. Or better yet, Sell your V6, buy a LS1 with a blown motor in put a 5.3 in that.

This will give you an idea of what you are getting into.
https://camaroforums.com/forum/93-02...-thread-79265/

 

Thank you for the help and it's a 2002 my user name is a little misleading that's actually my birth year lol

 

the easiest/cost effective is what crabby said next Y2k idea about a donor car, but seriously just get LS car and b done...

 

Can't argue with that, yeah it's not like the old cars where a Chevy is a Chevy and swaps were easy.

 

yes while my swap worked out an in 6 weeks i was on the road ,but 2 years working out the quirks ,for the cost ,you mights well sell it an get a nice 2002 z28 ,you can choose used ,but i did not so for the cost i could have a 2002 ss then some ,but not as much power as i have with my oldshcool swap ,like craby said ,just shop till you drop to find a deal on the right ls car there out there ,dont have to over pay example is 2002 35th i seen this winter on CL had 59k miles very clean book value $6500.00. they were selling it for 6k ,most are selling cars like that for $12.000 an more ,i would be happy with what you got for now until you can affford the z28 ,its all about the look,as i get almost as many looks from my 99 3.8l as i do my 95 6.6L 406 ss look alike,never pay above book value.way to many people pay above book couse they got to have it ,shop an you wont have too,i would pay a few hundred above for the right car but not thousands,if i had it to do all over i would have just got the car i wanted a 2002 ss,wich i am still searching for the right one,but we have to be ok with where we are at today