i recently purchased a 98 camaro with 42k miles on it for 3,200, a real steal, or so i thought. The 3.8 v6 seized up just yesterday, so now i'm faced with a prediciment (being a 17 year old senior in high school.)
i have 1500 or so left from the sale of my old beater, and i have a couple friends who's fathers are well connected in the auto industry (one has a uncle who owns a shop and said he could do the swap very cheap, which is awesome). My question is what engines will fit? i know ls1's and such, but i don't think i can afford that and all the parts. I would like a v8 with decent as milage; my v6 really didn't have too much power. What are some models i won't have to alter the trans or pay too much for that will fit my vehicle?
thanks

 

if you get a v8 you will need a tranny with it, along with a new front end susp. you could just get another v6 and mod it? plus you could save a little money.

 

u will be much better to stay with the 3.8. it is a very strong base to start with and can get to 275 hp with some proper planning. stock 93 lt1 has 275 hp so its nothing to scoff at. if u want a lt or ls get a z or ss. the parts needed to do the job right (change to v8) is long and costly.

 

especially if you in school, and if its your DD. i wouldnt go with the v8 unless you got 10 guys working on your car for .50 an hour + parts.

 

yeah, that's kinda what i was thinking
it is my dd, and i really have to get it running and everything done in 2 weeks
also, keeping a v6 means keeping decent gas milage
so will a lt1 or ls swap not require many new parts at all to make a conversion?
also, which years (aka, models) fit it?
(i've got a ton of room under the hood...., but jw)
thanks

 

the change is a very big venture. cheapest to buy a wrecked lt or ls car with a good motor and get the parts off it. the change can turn into a nightmare or not. u will need to change the front suspension, the front k member, the dash, the wiring, the ecu, the trans, many various modules and sensors, and of course the motor. oh and the driveline and im pretty sure the rear end and suspension is different to.

 

just get an engine out from a firebird or camaro...not too many other engines that are easier to put it.

 

ok, so i've decided to stay v6 overall. Much easier. While looking for a replacement though, i've come to realize that as far as 3800's go, they come in series 1,2, and 3. I found several nice ones locally in each model (i know mine was a series 2), but my question is what's going to be the difference in performance , moddability, and reliability of each one. Also, will they all fit relativly easy?

here's what i was looking at

series 1 brand new (probably talk it down to around 750)
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/pts/1433378154.html

series 3
probably talk it down to 400
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/pts/1428245924.html

a couple series 2's
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/pts/1417465601.html

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/pts/1416518909.html

thanks

 

check this out.
https://camaroforums.com/forum/93-02-general-41/project-l36-sleeper-40642/

 

thats a pretty sweet looking budget build, but i'm not looking at a build like that for a while
right now i'm just trying to get a stock engine with decent power so i can drive it
the mods will come later