Hi, i'm from the UK and i'm thinking about getting one of these Camaro beasts, but there arn't many places that specialise in them, so i'm just wondering if swapping an engine would cause any problems for an average mechanic?

Also, would it be hard to swap it out myself if i had all the tools, engine hoist, all the fittings and a few friends Would it just be a matter of A screws into B and pipe C goes into pipe D? Could you guys talk me through it?

And another question, would it be as hard to swap a 3.1 V6 to a 5.7 V8 (crate V8 or L98, aint decided yet) as it would be to swap a 5.0 V8 to a 5.7 V8?
Is it a simple 'take one out, put the other in' for a L98 to a GM crate or has the GM one got additional parts to be connected?

And my last question! When buying a Camaro as a project car (my aim is for it to look good and go real fast) should I look for a camaro with great bodywork, minimal rust/dents, or would it be easier in regards with the engine swapping to look for one already with an L98 in?

Thanks and sorry about the 100 questions Any help is appreciated.

PS. Anyone with a Camaro in the UK on this board?

 

Doing an engine swap isn't too bad if you know your way aroud an engine and the general "who's who" around the engine compartment. When the swap was done on my car a few months back, I had lots of help, but really it was not nearly as hard as I originally thought it would be. The worst part (as usual) is the wiring, but if you label the wires with masking tape or something, its not too bad.

I don't think it would be too hard to do alone, but i think it may be a good idea to have someone around while you are lifting it out/dropping it in just to giude it down or tell you if you are about to crush something.

But if you take your time, you should be fine.

For the V6-V8 swap, you'll need at least the V8 motor mounts and some other stuff, but not too sure what. Someone else here will know.

For the last question, think of it this way.... body work is typically alot more expensive than mechanical work, and most people can't do bodywork themselves. I would look for an IROC or a Z28 with good bodywork and paint and go from there. You may luck out and find an IROC or Z28 with an L98 motor, i don't think they are rare because lots of people have them here. Not sure about the UK though.