Back from the dead!! (Yayyy lol)

Serious question though, has anyone actually done this and can comment on how hard it is to do the swap? Whether or not the computer acts as if it has the original engine.

Also, since the S3 internals are a bit different, can it be cammed with the S2 parts, or are they S3 specific? Can I also bolt on my pacesetter headers to the S3?

I really just want to make sure this is foolproof with the S3. Thanks for your time

 

When I did my swap in 09 I could still find low miles 3800 from Camaros but even then I found people on other websites that have done the swap to S3 with pictures. Last time I looked at his thread I think musicman was using a S3 3800

 

Hello all,
I am new here. This thread is a wealth of useful information, but I am hung up on one thing. The post says that a 95 engine is different from the rest, so don't use one unless you have a 95 car. Well, I do have a 95 car and want to know if I am limited to a 95 engine. I am looking at a deal on a 1997 3800 Series II in a LeSabre. Will all my Camaro specific parts off my 95 3.8 fit on the 97 engine? I apologize if this has already been specifically covered. If so, I couldn't find it.

Thanks

 

Don't understand if the say the 96 Camaro v6 is the same engine as the 99 Camaro v6 then why is the head gasket sets a hundred dollars more on 99 then 96.

 

the block and heads are the same. intake is different on the 02,,, maybe the 01 too.

 

You are getting bad pricing from somewhere. The headgasket KIT cost a little more because of the change in the intake and how things bolt to it, the headgaskets themselves are exactly the same. The most expensive head gasket kit on Rockauto is $165.00 for the 1999 while that same kit for the 1996 is $133.00.

The plain (no kit) headgaskets are the same part numbers for 96 and 99

96 On the left 2002 on the right. 96 had less hood clearance, intake changed in 99 to take advantage of more room. The also changed things like the EGR mount. All the 96 parts fit on the 2002 motor. I did the swap 6 years ago.

 

I'm late to the party but the 96-08 3800 is the same basic block and head. What changes throughout the years is specific to the car it was bolted on, or in other words the top portion of the engine (and the accessories) were modified through the years. 95-99 used the same intake plenum, LIM and EGR valve among other small things. 2000-2002 had a new intake plenum that also converted the Camaro from cable throttle to drive by wire throttle. 2003-2005 were still 3800 SII engines but found in FWD engines. 2004 and 2005 specifically got some of the S3's changes. Then 2005-2008 brought us the S3, found only in the W body cars. Those do require more work to fit into a Camaro but they are still the same head.

As far as the HG goes between 96 and 99, that might be a seller error. The head gasket should be the same PN for all S2 engines. IF it's a full kit, it may bring gaskets specific to that year.

 

Trying to decide if my Cammie's engine is worth a rebuild or replace. Love the car but an engine replacement is pretty serious. Mechanic told me there was "metal in the oil" and she doesn't hold pressure… Not really sure what is going on beyond that but not driving it for now.

 

cost way more to rebuild. pick up a series 3 from as new a car and you can.

 

YO CRABY! (how ya been?) I not familiar with how to get started on that? Start calling yards? Do you have any idea what it should cost for that type of an engine replacement? I'm sure prices could be all over the place.