Hello everyone, I need advice on what to do with my 1988 camaro. It is a stock 2.8l V6 but the engine and transmission are no longer with me. I have three options at my disposal and I can't decide which would bring me the most joy out of this car.

option 1. I can order the stock V6 and transmission remanufactured and install it, it'll cost me about 3500-3700 and short amount of time to get it the way I want if I don't make the engine look all fancy with chrome and junk. I would want to make it a dual exhaust and install a cold air intake. I want my car to be somewhat fast, don't care for a major hot rod. Just want it to be fun you know. I know this is going to be hard for a 135hp engine. I'm questioning whether the money is going to even be worth it in the end.

Option 2. I have a 1988 pontiac GTA that I bought for parts at my disposal. Ran when I bought it. It has a 305 and 700R4 I could just rebuild these and pretty much do a swap into my camaro but I've been told it would be sort of pointless since it is just a 170hp engine. I could of course have the engine bored into a 350 I suppose and get some more hp but the thing i'm considering is gas prices these days, granted I know the 2.8l is probably no better on gas than a V8. Another consideration is that i'm not very experienced with the electrical aspects of engines and swapping the ECM and all other things into the camaro is something I'm very wary of. I estimate this would cost me about 3000-3500 but much longer than option 1.

Option 3. Give up and sell everything to put towards a newer car or at least one that runs.

The camaro is my dream car and has an amazing interior. I've put a lot of money into it in vain thanks to a selfish and scummy customs shop that ripped me off about 6500 dollars. I haven't driven my camaro in almost two years and i'm so ready to have it back on the road. Can someone please lend me guidance on what would be the best path to take to have my car soon and enjoy it the most?

 

Unless you're totally married to the car you have, that option is the most sensible one. The other options are going to have you with way more money invested than the car is worth. You can buy a very decent V8 3rd gen in the $3k (or even less) range. I had a 91 with the 305. Sure it's not a monster engine, but better than the V6. Got 27 mpg on the highway too.

 

Everything for sale in my area is either broken down or a V6.

 

I side with '69. Putting 3500 into a "new" v6 just isn't worth it. Plus, I doubt it'll be that by the time you are completely finished anyway.

You've mentioned the Pontiac swap before. It is an option, and if emissions isn't an issue, converting to carb, ditching the computer (make sure the 700R4 you have is not VSS) could be an alternative. It will still cost you some money though.

It is very possible to find a 3rd, even a 4th gen with a V8 for less than 5K....no matter where you are located. By the way, you cannot bore the 305 into a 350....

 

What is "VSS" emissions isn't an issue in my state or locality. I have almost 2000 saved, and i've spoken with a transmission shop nearby that will rebuild the trans for 800-900 and a machine shop that will rebuild my motor for about 1000, but they also thought they were going to be rebuilding a 350 cuz at the time I thought that's what it was so i'm thinking the price may come down if parts for it aren't as high as a 350. I'm sort of married to the car emotionally and its resale value isn't an issue because if I make it run it will never be sold. I'm sorry, I didn't mean a 350, I meant a 327. Though Idk if the power gain would be worth the money. I'm not sure how much power that would add to it, if any. Couldn't I, if I swapped the pontiac motor and trans, just swap over the ECM and ECU into the camaro for fuel control? I know it'd be a lot more work but seeing as how I have all the time in the world and not enuff money it seems like, if it were possible and effective, that would be a better option than converting to carb.

 

$1000 Seems way to low for a rebuild. This is a 305 TPI? Roller cam and lifter is going to be $600-700. Heck it is easy to tie up $600 in a valve job. You still have not touched the bottom end. My guess the $1000 is for new ring and bearing only. My guess would be the price is going to rise a LOT once they get in there and see what is needed. Normal price for a decent rebuild on a 305 would be closer to 3K. In most cases it is cheap to buy a remanufacture engine then to have a motor rebuilt.

Why does the motor need rebuilt? Sure would make sense to run the 305 as is and find a L98 350 and put the money into that then just swap to the 350 computer. The 305 is a weak block, you can make them fast but then they just go boom.

VSS= vehicle speed sensor

Part prices are mostly based on Volume. My guess is the 305 part are not made at the volume the 350 parts are. Depending on what parts you need the 305 could cost more but I doubt it will be less.

You at the right time of year to sell projects and buy complete cars. If you are not doing the work yourself it will be a lot cheaper to buy something done Unless you are out of the US.

 

For what you're budgeting, an LSx swap should be a consideration also. A LS1/4L60 combo can be had for around 2500 and can be put in the car and made to run for another 1000-1500, it will give you a TON more power then any of your other options, you will benefit from a fuel injected motor that is newer, more efficient (read more mpg) and overall a better option

 

Every LS motor i've looked at, rebuilt and used, costs well over 2000, which is much more than my motor budget. I have considered it and would LOVE to have it but i just can't seem to find one in my price range.

I have been looking online and found a rebuilt 350 modified for street performance for 1900 and The only thing it's lacking on it is a carb and exhaust manifold along with alternator, PS, AC, etc.. I already have a 700R4 transmission that I can bolt up to it. This seems to me to be a much better alternative.

 

you'll have 3000 into that motor before you blink an eye buying all the accessories, headers and carb, just fyi

 

Another option although a fair amount of work is a 5.3....you can pick them up all day fully dressed all acc including fuse center, ecm, air ect around here 100k mi between $500-$800.......starting at 300hp you can get to 400hp pretty easy and cheap.....got one sitting on the stand as we speak for my 39 plymouth pickup