I'm looking for a new 3.8L for my 2002 Camaro, I know I can easily find one in the junkyard from a fwd car and it will work but I don't really want to have to change those parts so if anyone has a 3.8 out of a Camaro or if anyone can point me in the right direction to find one it would be greatly appreciated

 

dont think you will find it hear ,but you can check out for wrecked cars low miles 3.8l engines,if you want a new remaned engine camaro,there on ebay for like $2450.00 shipped if you car is worth it ,an many other used low miles ones like 59k for $1000.00 ebay,soneone can tell you the many cars the 3800 would work from the 3800 2 is supposed to have like 20 more hp too,from like an 07 buick ,from 400.00 one up ,they are going to fit pretty much the same

 

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

Of course craigs list.

One thing to keep in mind, If you are installing a 15 year old motor you really should replace the lower intake gaskets. These gaskets a known issues and sitting and not running for a while is bad for them. Most junk yard motors have been sitting, not running for months. If you are doing the lower intake anyways you are already 70% to switching to a FWD motor. Forget the extra HP you could be buying an 2008 motor with 30,000 miles on it for half what you are going to pay for 2002 motor with 125k on it.

I have read threads where guys got FWD motors with under 20,000 miles for $400.

 

just found one near me still in the Firebird, 128k for 500 but thinking he will go for 400, now I know you just said I could probably found a newer one for close to that price but I have been looking for fwd cars and haven't had much luck. so do you think I should go for it or just keep looking? Also, it's not in a junkyard just some guy parting out the car so he said he will start it and everything for me

 

its hard to say with non running engines most come with 6 month warranty i would get one with warranty of 1 year atleast ,that guy if it not running ,i would not buy it ,if it is like gorn said an engine siting like that should replace the gaskets,the ramaned i think come with a 2 year warranty

 

What year? If you can hear run? $400 is a good deal. If it was me I would do head gaskets and intake gaskets.

When I did my project 96 I did not do head gaskets but that was a 7 year old motor with 48,000 miles. Once you get passes 10 years 100k you should really think about it.

Doing head gaskets in the car is a big back breaking job, On a pulled engine with the intake off that has not blown a gasket or over heated it an hour job with a beer in one hand. It is also the only time I tell people machine shop inspection of the head is not really required, assuming you find no signs of coolant in the cylinders.

Make sure you grab the shop manual from the manual section and you will need a torque angle gage. They are cheap and worth it.

 

its a 2002 firebird, the guy said i could hear it run before he took it out of the car, i plan on changing the gaskets

 

you need to contact a larger salvage yard. i picked up a 96 3.8 series 3 with 60k miles for 400. great compression, heads looked great.