The 3.8 is (and always has been) a 90º block. How do you get that to bolt up to a 60º bellhousing?

 

Here are some of the different bellhousings GM has used. THe first shows the Chevy and BOPC housing (BOPC has the dip at the top chevy has the point) The second is a universal pattern usually only found on PowerGlide's and some early TH350s. The 3rd one is the GM 60º pattern found on alot of smaller GM engines and the last one shows the bellhousing installed on an LS1 engine. Also want to note that the Dodge Dakota 2.5L 5sp 95-00 housings will fit the GM 60º engines, and some Toyota Transmissions.

Massey

 

He is right, with the seires 3.8 II motor GM switched it over to the 60º blolt pattern. In FWD cars the 3.4 and 3.8 can be swapped. It only makes sence, why have two V6 bolt patterns.

But I do not think they are interchangable in the camaro due to the different release bearing setups.

 

Here is a picture of a 231 with the BOPC bell. This one also has a distrubutor in the front of the engine behind the water pump.

Massey

 

Bellhousing Engines Chevrolet bolt pattern. Used on all Chevrolet V8's to this date. Also used on Chevrolet 90degree V6'sSmall Block Chevy, Big Block Chevy, 3.8L (229ci) V6 (not to be confused with Buick 3.8L), 4.3L V6
Buick, Olds, Pontiac, Cadillac (BOP) bolt pattern Used on all Buick, Olds, Pontiac and Cadillac's until the cars switched to Chevrolet engines.Buick, Olds, Pontiac and Cadillac V8's, 4.1L (255ci) V6, 3.8L(231ci) V6,
GM Small Corporate Pattern Used on Chevy 60 degree V6's, 4 cylinders and other FWD engines2.0L (OHV I4), 2.2L (OHV I4), 2.5L (OHV "Iron Duke" I4), 2.8L (60* V6), 3.0L (90* V6), 3.1L & 3100 (60* V6), 3.3L & 3300 (90* V6), 3.4 & 3400 (60* V6), 3500 (60* V6), 3.6L (60* V6), 3800 (90*V6), 3.9L (60* V6), 4.1L V8, 4.5L V8, 4.9L V8
GM Ecotec 4 Cylinder A late 90's GM 4 Cylinder used across several FWD car lines. An all aluminum engine featuring impressive technology and modern design. 2.0L, 2.2L, 2.4L
GM 4 Cylinder Pattern Unique to a select line of GM 4 cylinder front wheel drive engines.2.3L (SOHC I4), 2.3L ("Quad Four" DOHC I4), 2.4L ("Twin Cam" DOHC I4)
Cadillac Northstar Pattern A breed of Cadillac V8's that feature dual overhead cams. Some versions feature variable valve timing as well. 4.0L (Oldsmobile engine built by Cadillac and based on Northstar), 4.6L V8
Isuzu 4 Cylinder Used in cars and trucks such as the Chevrolet Nova and the Chevrolet S-10. This 4 cylinder from Japan found its way into a few GM vehicles. 1.6L, 1.8L, 1.9L, 2.0L


Here is an article I found on some website and I cut and pasted it here. It explains alot about GM bellhousings.

Massey

 

Now you're making it all the more cornfusing dragging all the B.O.P. specs into it!
My original point (to craby's response) was referring to the 3.4 and 3.8 (231) not matching the 5.7 Chevy bellhousing. Damn snowball effect!
But I didn't know the 90º 3.8 has a 60º bellhousing pattern. Gotta file that in the ol' gray matter. Now where should I put it, I'm runnin' outta room!!

 

wow thatll teach ya.

 

Heh, heh...I just hope my mental filing system doesn't start doing an "archival flush".
Out with the old....in with the new! Now, where were we? lol