Engine swap?
Fourth Generation Moderator
October 2009 ROTM
October 2009 ROTM
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The LT1 or the 3.8 you would need a doner car. We had one member sway a 3.8 into a LT1 car I am unaware of anyone doing a 3.4 to 3.8. Since the 95 are almost OBD2 system and the 96 up are OBD2 system I would guess a LT1 swap from a 93 to a 94 would be the easyer swap.
To answer your first question. No the 4th gen is not like your father's Nova. GM used to pride itself on the fact it could put just about any motor in any car. A 350 alternator bracket fit just about every car that came with a 350. That ended with the 4th gen Camaro. With the exception of the base long block most of the parts are for a Camaro with a 3.4 or a Camaro with a LT1. That is why we say you need a doner car. There are just to many parts. Sure you can find LT1 from a Caddy or a Roadmaster wagon but your going to need 150 other parts to make it fit in your Camaro.
We have said it 10,000 times its not worth the amount work. It was not worth it 5 years ago and its even less so now that even the V8's can be bought cheap. You can find V8 car with blown head gaskets for 1K and fix it in a weekend or two and have a car that is worth $2500 when your done and still have your V6 for a winter unit. Or you can pay $1200 for a doner car with a good motor spend about 150 hours worth and when your done it will be worth $1500. Non-Orginal V8 just do not sell. If you want the challange, If you want braging right, If you have some history and you need to have a V6 car for insurance reasons then by all mean have at it but. If you are trying to save money and you want to go fast the swap is not the way to go.
To answer your first question. No the 4th gen is not like your father's Nova. GM used to pride itself on the fact it could put just about any motor in any car. A 350 alternator bracket fit just about every car that came with a 350. That ended with the 4th gen Camaro. With the exception of the base long block most of the parts are for a Camaro with a 3.4 or a Camaro with a LT1. That is why we say you need a doner car. There are just to many parts. Sure you can find LT1 from a Caddy or a Roadmaster wagon but your going to need 150 other parts to make it fit in your Camaro.
We have said it 10,000 times its not worth the amount work. It was not worth it 5 years ago and its even less so now that even the V8's can be bought cheap. You can find V8 car with blown head gaskets for 1K and fix it in a weekend or two and have a car that is worth $2500 when your done and still have your V6 for a winter unit. Or you can pay $1200 for a doner car with a good motor spend about 150 hours worth and when your done it will be worth $1500. Non-Orginal V8 just do not sell. If you want the challange, If you want braging right, If you have some history and you need to have a V6 car for insurance reasons then by all mean have at it but. If you are trying to save money and you want to go fast the swap is not the way to go.
Last edited by Gorn; Nov 21, 2009 at 08:01 PM.
NOOO they be stealin' my bucket
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,200
From: Fort Brag NC (no longer in iraq)
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Back in the good old days you were able to put almost any engine in any car and not have to worry about to many complications(My dad put three engines in his Nova, a 305 then a 350, then a 454).
Is that possible with this 4th gen Camaro? Now im not talking about the V8s. I was wondering if there would be to many complications to drop, say a 3800 in the 93 base Camaro with a 5 speed? Is this easier then the v8 swap, or am I just a wishful thinker?
Is that possible with this 4th gen Camaro? Now im not talking about the V8s. I was wondering if there would be to many complications to drop, say a 3800 in the 93 base Camaro with a 5 speed? Is this easier then the v8 swap, or am I just a wishful thinker?
Long story short you will need to swap the wiring harness, ecu, engine, transmission, and i recomend the rear end. By the time you are done your going to wish you had just spent the money on a LT1 or LS1 car to start with.
April 2011 ROTM
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Tokeland, Washington
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well said gorn. are u a teacher? should be. i would have thought any 6 should fit but have learned from u guys its not that simple. lol.
The LT1 or the 3.8 you would need a doner car. We had one member sway a 3.8 into a LT1 car I am unaware of anyone doing a 3.4 to 3.8. Since the 95 are almost OBD2 system and the 96 up are OBD2 system I would guess a LT1 swap from a 93 to a 94 would be the easyer swap.
To answer your first question. No the 4th gen is not like your father's Nova. GM used to pride itself on the fact it could put just about any motor in any car. A 350 alternator bracket fit just about every car that came with a 350. That ended with the 4th gen Camaro. With the exception of the base long block most of the parts are for a Camaro with a 3.4 or a Camaro with a LT1. That is why we say you need a doner car. There are just to many parts. Sure you can find LT1 from a Caddy or a Roadmaster wagon but your going to need 150 other parts to make it fit in your Camaro.
We have said it 10,000 times its not worth the amount work. It was not worth it 5 years ago and its even less so now that even the V8's can be bought cheap. You can find V8 car with blown head gaskets for 1K and fix it in a weekend or two and have a car that is worth $2500 when your done and still have your V6 for a winter unit. Or you can pay $1200 for a doner car with a good motor spend about 150 hours worth and when your done it will be worth $1500. Non-Orginal V8 just do not sell. If you want the challange, If you want braging right, If you have some history and you need to have a V6 car for insurance reasons then by all mean have at it but. If you are trying to save money and you want to go fast the swap is not the way to go.
To answer your first question. No the 4th gen is not like your father's Nova. GM used to pride itself on the fact it could put just about any motor in any car. A 350 alternator bracket fit just about every car that came with a 350. That ended with the 4th gen Camaro. With the exception of the base long block most of the parts are for a Camaro with a 3.4 or a Camaro with a LT1. That is why we say you need a doner car. There are just to many parts. Sure you can find LT1 from a Caddy or a Roadmaster wagon but your going to need 150 other parts to make it fit in your Camaro.
We have said it 10,000 times its not worth the amount work. It was not worth it 5 years ago and its even less so now that even the V8's can be bought cheap. You can find V8 car with blown head gaskets for 1K and fix it in a weekend or two and have a car that is worth $2500 when your done and still have your V6 for a winter unit. Or you can pay $1200 for a doner car with a good motor spend about 150 hours worth and when your done it will be worth $1500. Non-Orginal V8 just do not sell. If you want the challange, If you want braging right, If you have some history and you need to have a V6 car for insurance reasons then by all mean have at it but. If you are trying to save money and you want to go fast the swap is not the way to go.
Fourth Generation Moderator
October 2009 ROTM
October 2009 ROTM
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,561
From: Eastern PA,
ROTM Winner's Club
No, not a teacher, Just an old man.
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