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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Hi, I'm completely new to this site, and I don't really know that much even though I'm taking auto in my high school. Right now though, I'm getting an 89 Firebird with 2.8L V6 engine, but I want to switch that out for a 3.8L engine instead. I've thought about switching to V8, but I thought that would take too much work and would be too expensive for me. So I decided to try and get the turbocharged 3.8L instead. Anyway, what I'm asking is, a rough estimate on how much it would cost me to do this swap. I can probably do the swap myself with the help of some of my friends, but I'd like to know how much it would cost if I wanted it done in a shop. Just a rough estimate would be okay. And about a guess of how many days it might take too would be nice.
Also, this swap sounds like a good idea, right? Not really all that sure, since one of my friends keep trying to convince me to go for the 5.7L V8 engine, and then maybe add a turbo if I have any money or time left.
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^ Why don't you consider slapping a turbo on the 2.8 V6 (Click Here, then Click Here)? Come join us over in the V6 section, as there are plenty of guys over there that will help you get started in your new venture....
-Rob
__________________ 1998 Trans Am: Mystic Blue w/Tan Leather, Automatic, T-Tops, Daily Driver.... 1990 Trans Am GTA: Black w/Black Leather, 5-Speed, T-Tops, Few Mods.... 1989 Trans Am TTA: White w/Tan Leather, Automatic, T-Tops, Garage Queen.... 1986 Chevy Camaro V6: Blue w/Black Cloth, Hardtop, 355-TPI Swap, 700R4, MS-II....
A 3.8 turbo WILL cost more than a V8, but since you already have a 2.8, you should check out what there is going out with the guys turboing those. It's pretty impressive in my opinion.
Hmm, alright, I'll try just adding in a turbo to my 2.8 then. And I thought a 3.8 would be cheaper cause of the amount of work and other parts, since I tried looking up prices for new engines and they're all starting prices at about 800 or 900 dollars from the 2.8L to the 5.7L, including the turbocharged 3.8L
I'll try putting in a turbo then. I just wanna be able to beat my friend's 86 or 87 Camaro with 350 engine. Not sure how long it took, but I think he said he was able to go from 0 to 90 in just a few seconds, from one stop light to the next.
just so you know, putting anything besides another 2.8 or a 3.1 in your car is going to cost alot of money. turbocharging anything is going to cost a lot of money. but plenty of people swap v8s, turbo 2.8s and put the turboed 3.8 GN setups in these cars. nothing is impossible just check out the rest of the engine swap thread and the v6 thread for other opinions.
Well you have to do some research and find out what turbo will best fit your needs for what you want to do with the car and how long you want it to last and how much power you want to make.
then you go buy a turbo that fits your combination, and then the fabwork starts!
Unless you are particularly attached to your car or it's in fantastic shape, your best bet is to just find a v8 car to start with. If you do want to keep your current car no matter what, it would benefit you to spend some time just researching for yourself. Asking questions like this only gets other peoples opinions as answers (like mine), research it yourself and develop your own opinions on what is best.
A 3.8 turbo WILL cost more than a V8, but since you already have a 2.8, you should check out what there is going out with the guys turboing those. It's pretty impressive in my opinion.
A junkyard 350 swap is about as cheap as it gets, I got my shortblock for $45 from the local you-pull-it, a complete motor would have been $129 from the same yard but I wanted aluminum heads.
