Engine Swap Everything about swapping an engine into your Third Gen.....be it V6, V8, LTX/LSX, crate engine, etc. Pictures, questions, answers, and work logs.

V6-V8 swap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-08-2020, 12:48 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
TurdGen85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: USA
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 1985 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 4 speed auto
V6-V8 swap

My 85 camaro sport coupe has a 2.8 V6 and automatic transmission in it. It doesn’t run and needs a lot to make noise so I’ve got a 350 someone gave me and I have no clues how to go about doing it. It’s my first project car and my first engine swap. I know it’s gonna need a new radiator, fuel pump and other stuff like that. The only things I’m questioning is the wiring and the motor mounts. I’ve test fitted the 350 and right away I noticed the stock mounts don’t line up. And I’m concerned about how I’m gonna hook up ignition and the starting system to the factory harness if possible. Can anyone help?
Old 05-08-2020, 10:06 AM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (58)
 
Drew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Salina, KS
Posts: 20,309
Received 1,052 Likes on 748 Posts
Re: V6-V8 swap

"a 350 someone gave me" is usually a red flag.

Read the existing threads. Before you turn a single bolt, ID that engine better than "it's a 350", verify that it runs good, before you even think about swapping it. If it's older than about 1987, strongly consider getting a later engine. If the dipstick is on the driver's side of the block, I probably wouldn't mess with it.
The following 2 users liked this post by Drew:
T.L. (05-08-2020), WildCard600 (05-08-2020)
Old 05-08-2020, 12:09 PM
  #3  
Member

iTrader: (7)
 
88RS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 35 Likes on 32 Posts
Car: 91 z28
Engine: 305 tpi
Transmission: t5
Axle/Gears: lt1 10 bolt 3.23
Re: V6-V8 swap

Originally Posted by Drew
"a 350 someone gave me" is usually a red flag.
It's a lot better than "I bought an ATK tree fiddy" or "I went to the Autozone and bought me a tree fiddy."
The following users liked this post:
T.L. (05-08-2020)
Old 05-08-2020, 12:53 PM
  #4  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
TurdGen85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: USA
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 1985 Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 4 speed auto
Re: V6-V8 swap

It’s a vortec out of a 96 Chevy 1500. I had driven the truck when it was in and it runs good. It was given to me cause I had done a bunch of work for the guy and he was upgrading the engine in his truck so he gave me the engine
The following users liked this post:
Drew (05-08-2020)
Old 05-08-2020, 01:44 PM
  #5  
Supreme Member

 
ironwill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,034
Received 420 Likes on 301 Posts
Car: 1986 IROC Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Posi
Re: V6-V8 swap

Originally Posted by TurdGen85
My 85 camaro sport coupe has a 2.8 V6 and automatic transmission in it. It doesn’t run and needs a lot to make noise so I’ve got a 350 someone gave me and I have no clues how to go about doing it. It’s my first project car and my first engine swap. I know it’s gonna need a new radiator, fuel pump and other stuff like that. The only things I’m questioning is the wiring and the motor mounts. I’ve test fitted the 350 and right away I noticed the stock mounts don’t line up. And I’m concerned about how I’m gonna hook up ignition and the starting system to the factory harness if possible. Can anyone help?
This swap would be much more simple if you were pulling the engine/trans from another F-body; going about it as you plan here is going to be a daunting task. Can't really add much to what's already posted in the above-mentioned sticky thread on v6-to-v8, but possibly your biggest hurdles will be what you're going to do about a transmission, and how you plan to address the fuel/intake system and it's computer control.

GL with your project.

ETA:
You might want to start a project thread and document your progress; such threads are usually helpful not only to the poster, but also to anyone else considering such a swap.
The following users liked this post:
WildCard600 (05-08-2020)
Old 05-11-2020, 11:41 PM
  #6  
Moderator

iTrader: (14)
 
five7kid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Littleton, CO USA
Posts: 43,169
Likes: 0
Received 35 Likes on 34 Posts
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Re: V6-V8 swap

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

Yes, read the sticky. Covers the basics you need to know. For details not covered, feel free to post and ask.

Be aware that the V6 fuel line is on the opposite side of the V8 fuel pump.

You will have two issues to deal with: 1) the V6 to V8 swap itself; and 2) the fact the 350 is a Vortec engine. If you haven't yet, give up on any notion of using the '96 Vortec EFI. It isn't very good to start with, and would be a nightmare to install in a 3rd gen. Hopefully you don't live in an emissions required area. A non-computer carb swap is your best bet.

Don't be surprised if your 350 doesn't have provision for a mechanical fuel pump. They often weren't machined at the factory if the engine was destined for an EFI vehicle. If that is the case, you're going to have to rig up an electrical fuel pump of some sort. Don't be too intimidated, I had to do that in my '82 Berlinetta originally V6 for the LS that lives in it now.
The following users liked this post:
mecham84 (05-13-2020)
Old 05-13-2020, 11:56 PM
  #7  
Junior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
mecham84's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 78
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Car: '89 IROC, ‘91 Trans am Convertible
Engine: 305 5spd, 305 auto,
Transmission: 5spd/Automatic
Re: V6-V8 swap

I have 82 Berlinetta V6 that I’m debating putting in a complete 305 TPI V8 from a ‘90 trans am. Will the V8 trans mount just bolt up farther back?or will I have to weld new nuts or bracket? The only other thing is the gauges, I’m probably going after market for the guage set.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
camaro2.8
Engine Swap
13
10-18-2009 06:20 PM
kridgley
V6
10
06-18-2004 06:18 PM
TA76
Engine Swap
2
09-03-2003 02:13 PM
ssaiyan919
Engine Swap
15
12-12-2002 05:27 AM
STL1994
V6
11
03-22-2001 04:08 PM



Quick Reply: V6-V8 swap



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:21 PM.