Engine SwapEverything about swapping an engine into your Third Gen.....be it V6, V8, LTX/LSX, crate engine, etc. Pictures, questions, answers, and work logs.
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ok so heres the deal i got a 83 6cyl with and auto trans and im thinking of doing a swap... im debating on weather to stay 6cyl with either a 3.4 or 3.8 or go 8cyl using a 350tpi lt1 or ls1..now heres some things to keep in mind
*the car is a daily driver
*i would like to have the best gas milage i could get
*i want to do performance at the same time
*im planning on a type of boost most likely turbo
*the trans will be changed as well as the rear
so this is my dilema...im trying to do this on a budget. i want a low compression motor even if i gotta build it that way. some of my main concerns are cost and difficulty of swapping.
One thing is for sure, with a turbo it basically means more gas. Usually when you want to build a engine you have to look at two sides. Gas mileage or Performance. Im not sure what transmission you have right now, but say you have a four speed. If you swap it, most likely you'll switch to a 3 speed, which doesnt have overdrive, which means less gas mileage also. You basically have to pick on or the other.
well i currently have a 3 speed i was thinking of switching to a 700r4 or somethign of the sort (im still doing research this car is my first car set up like this) or the other possibilty would be a t-5 t56 i know that i will loose gas milage with a turbo set up but ide be happy with 16+mpg
Another thing to look at with those 6 cyl. cars is that they are alot lighter in the front end. So different springs and struts will be needed.
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I have a 355 with a very large cam, 64cc heads, and am running high compression. With my th350 i average around 14 mpg on the highway with 3.73 gears. So even with a setup like mine its not that bad of gas mileage.
Last edited by strokermotor91; 10-19-2006 at 05:06 PM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Why are you swapping? And strokermoter91, turbo doesn't mean more gas unless your stepping on it a lot. Ask daves_12sec_v6 and he'll tell ya that on his turbo 3.1 Camaro he got BETTER gas mileage after the turbo. I'm sure he's not getting that at the track for sure but then again he's running 12's! I'm getting ready to do a turbo on my 'bird also(88k mi). Yor name says "stroker" is that because you plan on stroking later? A 355 is a 350 bored .30" over. I'm sticking w/V6..........Turbo set up is in the works
Last edited by firstfirebird; 10-19-2006 at 08:59 PM.
im swapping because i got a tired old 2.8 i mean i could swap to a 3.1 3.4 or 3.8 or the other idea would be 350tpi which is what i think ide go with if i was swappin v8 due to the cost like i said i want good gas milage and power i like how theres people getting 20mpg on twin turbo 350s
I went through the same thought process with my 2.8L. Turbos are very cool, but my estimate was pushing $8K for the whole system which included beefing up the engine. I went with the LT1. Horsepower to dollar ratio was a lot better.
like ive said b4 im doing this on a budget also i jsut cant decide tpi or ltx lsx....for what im planning whats the pros and cons. i want fuel injection still
like ive said b4 im doing this on a budget also i jsut cant decide tpi or ltx lsx....for what im planning whats the pros and cons. i want fuel injection still
spengines.com has a 295hp 2005 5.4 liter w/4l60e trans, roller cam and lifters, ecm, wiring, ALL accessories, y pipes and cats for $3450, I don't know what budget your working in, but they might help...they also sell ls1, ls2, lt1 etc.
LT1 with a T56 and 4.10s sounds like what you're looking for. Newer technology than TPI, decent highway gas mileage, and budget-able if you find a donor car.
If you're planning on serious horsepower for whatever you chose, save up for a 12 bolt or 9" rear.
basically it comes down to lt1 or tpi.... tpi would be cheaper and easier to find but lt1 is more advanced as far as the electronics its a matter of finding the swap now
basically it comes down to lt1 or tpi.... tpi would be cheaper and easier to find but lt1 is more advanced as far as the electronics its a matter of finding the swap now
What is cheap to you? If we knew your budget we could help a little better...
Why are you swapping? And strokermoter91, turbo doesn't mean more gas unless your stepping on it a lot. Ask daves_12sec_v6 and he'll tell ya that on his turbo 3.1 Camaro he got BETTER gas mileage after the turbo. I'm sure he's not getting that at the track for sure but then again he's running 12's! I'm getting ready to do a turbo on my 'bird also(88k mi). Yor name says "stroker" is that because you plan on stroking later? A 355 is a 350 bored .30" over. I'm sticking w/V6..........Turbo set up is in the works
3.1L turbo o.O Where do the parts come from for that? Custom made? kit? or donor engine? I might be about to buy an engineless 2.8l '89 RS and will probably drop the 3.1L from my current car in(same engine as 1990 camaros had), but am unaware of parts for adding a turbo on, but if I'm still gonna be stuck with a gutless N/A v6 a while would be nice to know if there are reasonable upgrade options without an entirely new engine.....
I went through the same thought process with my 2.8L. Turbos are very cool, but my estimate was pushing $8K for the whole system which included beefing up the engine. I went with the LT1. Horsepower to dollar ratio was a lot better.
I'm pretty sure the best dollar to HP ratio in a third gen when taking mileage into consideration is the 3.8 Buick turbo option.
Search these forums and you will see what I mean. The 89 Turbo T/A was the best example of getting it all that the 3rd gen world produced.
You can recreate that on a budget.
You start with a used running GN engine and trans (with ECM) because that setup will not cost you 8 grand!!
You put the setup in your car (with some mods for the motor mounts) after you have put new head gaskets on and dropped on some 88-90 VIN code C front wheel drive 3800 heads. Those heads were used by Pontiac to put the GN engine in without having to mod the heater core.
Once you're running on used parts ( and driving appropriately KNOWING THAT YOU ARE RUNNING USED PARTS) you can start building up your inventory of speed parts, upgrades, freshly rebuilt engine and trans parts, and the like.
I admire what the guys here do with the 60 degree V6 engines, I really do. But I don't think dollar for dollar it beats the Buick engine. I do think it is a wonderful alternative to the V8 because you will never get the great mileage that you can with the 6. I just think the Buick's larger displacement gets you the awesome mileage along with the power more cost effectively than the small ones do.
You could do this with the GMC Syclone/Typhoon 4.3 turbo platform as well, but there are more GN setups out there. Even the 84/85 GN platform would work well in your car and they are just getting cheaper because everyone who wants Buick greatness goes for the 86/87 sfi intercooled wonder and throws the rest of the Hot air Buick stuff under the bus. You decide.
My guess is even with a used GN motor/trans, you'll be so happy that you'll never look back.
