I just got a 97 RS with ground affects and t-tops ZO6 wheels that is in really nice shape from the original owner. It has the 3.8 and it smokes and and their is some antifreeze in the oil the dipstick is milky. I am not sure if I should pull the motor apart in the car and just try head gaskets. Or pull the motor and look at it all and maybe do head gaskets. Or pull the motor and find another 3.8 and just put it in. What you think is my best route to go. Also will the 3.8 and tranny come up out of the car with the hood off or does it have to come out the bottom.

Please check back to see updated pictures and to try to help me when questions come up. Thanks

 

A short block for a 3.8 won't cost a lot as there's an abundance of them. That's what i would do anyhow (That's what I DID do, rather haha).

And take the motor out the bottom it's so much easier.

 

Were did you locate your short block or did you buy it from a local junk yard.

 

Antifreeze in the oil can have a chemical reaction to babit on bearings and make every bearing fail if it is in there to long. So if you want to save the motor you need to not wait or drive it. I have also seen guys redo head gaskets only to have the bearing start knocking a week later.
You can get a long block from a FWD so there are allot out there. To go out the bottom you need room. Two car garage and for a day to two you will need the whole second bay. It can come out the top but I think you need to take a lot of the motor apart inside the car. Pulling the manifolds looks like a big job but I have not done it this way.

Somewhere I have a nice step by step I found on the net for the LT1, Its pretty much the same for ours. If you PM me an email I can send it to you.

 

I am not worried about the room I just dont have a lift yet I have plenty of room I have a 30x40. I have seen antifreeze last in the oil for weeks and I have seen it last years but my luck sucks so really don't want to chance it. Would like to find a long block or a short block for a good deal what year and model motors will fit even fwd cars.

 

bump
Still looking for what years fwd motors will work I don't care about switching parts around. Also anything you guys are upgrading right away for more power and to save time later.

 

This is the motor you would get if you went to a dealer and asked for a new motor. I assume the list of cars that it will fit will also fit our cars. You are looking for K in the vin number.

http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...D&ProdID=96139


Most junk yard will tell you they will not fit. That is because they are talking direct bolt in not long block. Also check out Music Man’s L36 thread. He did the whole port and polish engine build thing.

You want reseal the intake regardless of the miles. It you buy an older or high miles one I would do the head gaskets also. Maybe the rear main while its out. If you are planning to put headers on it now it the time. They are a bear with the motor in the car. I

 

Thanks that is the list I was looking for I figured atleast intake manifold and maybe head gaskets also. I have a truck I have to replace a motor in know for someone else so I should have it done buy sunday then start on the camaro. About the intake is what I figured while I call junk yards and they say it will not fit. So I am going to look for K vin. I am finding 80,000 motors for about 600.00 so I am trying to find even a tad less miles but that may have to do.

 

I got luck on mine. I found a 2002 Camaro with 48K on it. $650

Don't forget to vote for
https://camaroforums.com/forum/rotm-2009-82/october-rotm-voting-6-cylinder-any-year-43010/

 

Okay guys instead of making another post. I am ready to do the motor swap.

I have a really good freind that just got a 99 camaro in at his work body shop that was wrecked and he offered them a price to buy the whole car.
They accepted and know he has the car with a really good running and sounding 3.8. He called me and told me I could have the motor. They are going to put a v-8 in it. But I can't have the motor till they get all the front pulled and straightened back out. But in the mean time I also got a 2 post lift installed in my garage. It has 150K but we are pretty sure it has been replaced eveything looks very very nice. Everything looks like it is not very old. But once he gets it out we can check the numbers to see what year or more about it. Were are their any numbers to check what this motor really is?