Hey yall! I have a 94 and a 97 camaro. The 94 has a 3.4 V6. The 97 has a 3.8 auto. I much prefer the manual but that car overall is in worse shape and has features I don't like. Power windows and power door locks, leather, etc (I prefer manual windows and cloth). Is there a way to put a 3.4 5 speed trans behind a 3.8? I know I'd need things like a wiring harness and computer. Project won't happen soon but hoping maybe next year I'll be able to do it. Or would it be easier to put the 3.8 into the 3.4 car? The 3.4 car needs more body work but the quarters are more straight on it then my 97. My 97 has perfect doors fenders hood etc. I have a new hatch on my 94. And my 97 has a mint interior minus the dash. But my cousin has tons of parts from an old car he had. A 95 3.4 stick.

I'm just a 19 year old about to be 20 wanting a reliable daily. I don't like the 4L60 and I love to drive stick. I learned on stick my first truck was a 3 on the column manual.

TIA! -Paul

Ps new to the forum. Go easy 🤣

 

I have no first hand knowledge of this swap. I do know transmissions pretty well.

What we know:
Both transmission are WC T-5
The clutch's are not interchangeable.
Fly wheels are different
Hydraulic is completely different. The 3800 has an internal slave and the 3.4 has an external Slave release system.

Possible Problems:
What clutch to use? a 3.4 clutch will not bolt to 3800 Fly wheel and the 3800 clutch will not work with the 3.4 clutch release system.

If you found a work around for the clutch you would need to use the entire trans system. You should not have to get a new computer. It should be possible to program out the transmission error codes. But I have heard there are issues with the 96 PCM. You should talk to a local tuner or a online tuner.

You may want to look into selling your 3.4 5-speed and just buying a a 3800 5 speed. I say that because at one point the clutch slaves were breaking off the bell housing. This made the bell housing very expensive on Ebay. Like $300 ish. Next step would be to find someone parting out their 3800- 5 speed. Yards can be pricey on complete setups.

 

I see what you're saying. My only problem is my 3400 5 speed car is only worth its parts. The fiberglass roof is busted, the driver floor pan is rotted and its far from drivable. It might be worth $1000 on a good day which is what I paid for it. And it need tires, tensioner pulley, lots of other work including a windshield a dash and other trim peices as well as needing a new console. Overall it's a peice of crap.

I hate this automatic lol. I feel like a wuss just driving this car. But it's all I have as a broke 19 y/o with good mechanical knowledge (been working on / around cars since I was a little chap)

So that's why I'm looking into just doing the manual swap and saving as many parts as I can off this thing before I sell off the shell or scrap the car. The title is another situation too 🙃 I wouldn't be able to find a 3800 car worth going to get with what little money I could get from this 94. Even the windows won't sit on the seal properly. It does have a good trunk I need for my 97.

And I did the CKP sensor today. Found out the motor is from a 98-02. I knew it had been replaced. But the motor isnt original to the car apparently. Its got reman stickers all over the block. And i found the papers where it was replaced 30k miles ago. I guess theres a bright side lol.