Hello, I have just bought a 2002 v6 Camaro. The only reason i went for the V6 is because i am a new driver and my parents wouldn't let me start out with a v8. I picked up a GREAT condition one for a nice amount of money that I took a loan out for, and well I am not looking forward to just going out and buying a V8 in a year or so, because this thing is spotless. So this is my question that I have been doing some research on and haven't found anything to helpful. What is the easiest/cheapest way to swap my 3800 series 2 v6 engine to a V8? an ls1 or lt1?

I would really like to hear from someone who has done the swap, and know all of the issues I'll see doing this. Also the price to do it... Or if someone knows a good guide to do this i would like to see it, i haven't been able to find one but i might have missed it!

thanks!
-Jim

 

subscribed!!!! im also interested

 

Just open up the V6 secection V-6 to V-8 swap is the first sticky. Read through that. What your going to find out is unless you are a mechanic with a fully shop it will be cheaper to sell your V6 and buy a mint SS then it will be to swap a V8 in there. Even if you are a mechanic you will still need to buy a almost complete V8 car to get all the parts you will need.

Question is asked about 2 times a week. We have very few member that have done the swap and as a general rule they are the first ones to say "It aint worth it" That is unless you are doing it to learn.

 

^^^^ listen to the man gorn. u can get some good hp from the 3.8.

 

Ok, i have been searching this for about 2 weeks, so i just wanted to ask this myself because the answers I've seen are up and down. Also nearly non of them are from people who preformed the swap. My cousin told me last week the swap is nothing and it will cost around 4k when it is all done, he preformed the v6 - v8 swap on a 79. I just wanted to get some answers about the 4th gen swap. Still any other opinions are appreciated here!

 

The reason you find a lot of questions, but no responses by someone who has done it, is because once they find out all that is involved (both time and money) they come to their senses and don't do it. It's a lot less work and expense to sell the v6 car and buy a Z28.
A v6-v8 swap in a 79 is a cake walk by comparison, because the frame accommodates both and the car doesn't have engine specific electronics. The way the 4th gens are set up is a totally different animal.

 

well this is a very bad find, i kind of forgot to take in the fact that all the newer cars are a lot more pain in the butt to work with. Guess I'll just do some work to the v6 engine, make a real nice sleeper. Sorry everyone for another pointless thread about a question I can tell you are all tired of hearing!