Im wondering how much this would cost? I dont know much about cares so give me options rather than asking questions lol

 

Crate motor with new trans and a rebuilt rear to handle the extra torgue. All the odds and ends you need. All done by a GM tech at full shop rate. Lets guess about 60 hours @$75 per.

$4500 in labor
$2000 crate motor
$1200 new trans
$600 rebuilt rear
$800 misc stuff
Total $9100.00

Or you buy a wrecked 3rd gen with lowmiles for $500 and change it yourself

$500 doner car
$200 to repace some of the wear parts and hose
Total $700

You can pretty much fall anywhere in between those two numbers.

 

A new crate engine is always a good bet, you can get a basic 350 from summit for less than 2 grand. It sure ain't a powerhouse of a motor, but will be a step up from that six. Like gorn said, you can do it cheap, expensive, or anywhere in between.

 

Ya I would probably end up doing it professionally since I dont know jack **** about cars.. question though what you think estimated MPG would be if I got that 9000 set up and how many horse? Im not looking to spend more than 9k on my car.

 

For people that do not do their own work its always cheaper to sell your car and buy one that is already in the correct configuration. For around 4K you can find a decent late 80's Z28 with a 305 TPI that will get 24 MPG higway and have 220 HP. I do not think you could come close to those numbers paying someone to do it. Plus you could sell your car to drop the 4K price even more. Heck for 2K you could find a fixxer upper and learn as you go.

There is no one part of the convertion that is hard to do, there can be so much time consumingwork. Lets say your V6 is a 87 with a 2.8. Pulling the engine is the easiest part of the job. You have to change the transmission cause the V-8 will not bolt to a 2.8 tranny alsoif youare converting to a carb you will have to remove the gas tank and change the sendingto get rid of thehigh pressure fuel pump. Well to pull the tank you have todrop the rear.If you get a crate motor you will have to find all the brakets and figure out all the vacuum systems. Even if you found a shop that will work for $45 hour and you bought used stuff you would have a tuff time beating 4K and if you did I don't think you would hit 24MPG without Fuel injection. NAd that my friend is a whole different level of upgrading.

 

the car has fuel injection installed already

 

The fuel injection systems are another thousand or so, because you would need the stand alone kit. A small carb wouldn't be too bad I think. But gorn has a point, you'll be better off with selling it and buying one with the motor you want. It'll be cheaper. But if you're ok with spending 10 grand on it, you'll have a brand new car basically, aside from appearence.

 

ya it was my dads car and he passed it down to me. He kept it in very good shape and hardly ever drove it. It only has 20,000 miles on it. Its a beautiful car. So I probably wont end up selling it.

 

If the car has that value to you, I would forget the V8 swap (to many problems and expenses). Just restore the car and get in great shape as good looking cruiser. Those car never were performance models.

 

I would leave that car be. I think you would regret any convertions. IMO A 20K car with the orginal driveline would be worth more then the car with the $9,100 engine swap. IF you really want to play with a V8 car buy a seprate one.Take the V8 out on friday night and beatthe crap out of it. OnSunday take out your dads car go over to the park and wax it in the shade, becarful not to hit any pot holes on the way.