yes it is a dumb question but what all would be needed as far as parts not tools needed to do a v6 >v8 (350) motor swap?? please a very detailed list lol

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/search.php

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=55316

the list by "jstcrzyengh" is that list of what id need? i dont know what 1/2 that stuff is-lol...

 

You need everything from the radiator on back to the rear end to sum it up.

 

it's a really hard swap. I think it would be a better idea to buy a camaro with a v8 already in it.. or your going to be swapping wiring harneses.. rearends transmission. it's not worth it

 

well is there anything that i could be getting now,like the "cheaper" stuff (motor mounts,wiring harness,etc) & be putting it aside til im totally ready to have it all done?

what i was looking for more in the answer was motor mounts,radiator,wiring harness,etc....like a list of the smaller things....

you can tell the search didnt really help me out any

 

yeah i agree with you it would be easier & probably cheaper to do that but around here trying to find a camaro in good as shape as mine is d@mn hard to do....like trying to find a needle in a haystack

my car has been in the family since 87 & theres no way that i would, could, or should sell it....sentimental purposes...

ive got too much money wrapped up in the paint jobs alone....but thanks for the suggestion

 

you dont need to change the rear end. it isnt a extremly difficult swap. i would suggest getting a V8 donor car, it will be well worth the money.

 

Especially when you don't know. The best things to have are a donor car, or a near by pick-a-part yard, or a daily driver while the weekend swap becomes the three month swap.
My neighbour and I are in a similar boat. He is going to put a 5.7 from a '74 Nova into an '86 Camaro. No money or space for any donor cars or whatever. Pick-a-part is nearby.
Because most of it will be wiring, the best thing is a volt metre/continuity tester.
You want to do it, find a way.

Mr Gettin' The Engine To Put In His T-15

 

thanks!! for some reason that embarrassed me but in a good way lol....

anyhow i need a list of the smaller things like motor mounts,wiring harness,etc to help keep the costs down,if it does...

ya'll are just telling me everything front to back but i need a more detailed list,please lol

 

look around the area for a donor car with a V8, even if its totalled, since you could probably pick it up for cheap, and in the longrun, thats the most complete and affordable way to get all the little parts. i think the reason why no one is giving you a list of parts is because it aaaaaallllllllllllll depends on what your going to do...

if your putting a carb'd motor in there, itll be different than a 350 TPI, or an LT1, etc. depends if its a standard car, automatic car, theres a lot of exceptions with parts.

if you get a donor car, you will be all set with all mounting hardware, accessories, accessory brackets, maybe brake lines that i know you need to reroute on the passenger side, etc. if you go buying piece by piece now and wait till you ahve everything, you're going to end up spending a LOT of money and having a hell of a time finding them when the V8 donor will have most of all youll need, considering its complete

but for general stuff, youll need the motor/induction, all wiring harnesses if your going that route, i think you need the V8motor mounts and youll end up moving them foward on the crossmember, accessory brackets and the accessories themselves, a V8 transmission, radiator and hoses, the right brake line runs right where the V8 motor mount will bolt up to, so youll have to reroute/get a new one, possibly new front springs from a V8 car, since the added weight might sag the front and be a little too raked, the complete exhaust system of your choice, you need to get a new tach since the V8 tachs are calibrated differently, some of the V6's got 342 gears in the rearend stock, so it might be worthwhile to keep it for now, you can reuse your driveshaft, although some might tell you to get new U joints if i remember correctly, i also remember reading of getting a V8 engine compartment harness, so the wires are long enough for the starter/alternator etc. depending on the donor car you can get, you have the ability of getting it all in one package.. im sure theres more, my mind is spinning now hah

hope that helped a little bit. have any idea/preference as to what motor/induction settup you want in the car?

 

thanks Makaveli....yeah i guess that is why no one would give me a list ......what i wanted was a 350,but now everyone is telling me to go with a donor car....this might actually turn into be a PITA lol...but see i wanted something to go with the hood

i just dont know anymore-lol...im not throwing my hands up & saying the he(( with it...ill figure something out...you guys are welcome to give me some opinions

 

dam, you signed up 2 years after me, and i only have 3 more posts than you. thats kind of funny hehe.

im sure youll come to grips with what you're willing to do. if the car has been in your family for so long, it might be worth it to keep it. good luck!

 

The V8 is the best part to start with

 

lol here is 516 now we are tired ...im trying to reach a goal of 1000 posts before the end of the year hope i can do it without getting the title of post *****


yeah i cant sell the car...its been in the family since 87...i dont know i really want the 350 but im not sure if its worth what you guys are telling me...maybe ill just put the money towards a new & crazy paint job or just get the SD update....who knows..ill figure it out,some how,some way---lol

 

Go for it, all the cool kids are doing it
You could always call one of our trusty sponsors, they sometimes have whole engine pulls, that have everything you need, including the wiring and all the smog stuff, and sometimes the motor mounts. And its prooly easier to list what you dont need, like the ac stuff and driveshaft.

 

This swap will be a PITA, but not impossible. People put 350s in Fieros, so it has got to be easier to do in a camaro.
You do want a V8 donor car. The closer to your model year the better. If your car is auto, then you want a auto and if its a stick you want a stick parts car. You don't need the engine since you want to put in a 350 anyhow, most v8 thirdgens are 305s.
Here is a partial list of what you will need.
Radiator
Intake Setup (carb, tbi, or tpi)
350 motor of your choice
Full Exhaust
V8 Transmission
V8 motor mounts
V8 Driveshaft

You can find a parts car for 400-500 dollars with everything you need. One last piece of advice, go with a carb to start off with. Wiring up the fuel injection will be a PITA.

 

I'm starting this swap early next week, is absolutely nescessary to swap the driveshaft and exhaust? 86 Firebid V6, 91 RS 305 donor

 

yeah do u have to change the whole exhaust system?? i just got that new exhaust system back in like april-may

 

usually people bolt on a 3" exhaust system behind their V8 as one of the first bolt ons, since it sounds good and all. you can run it through the stock catback, and get a cutout or somethin, its up to you. but if its a stock 2.25 inch intermediate pipe, its going to be pretty small for a V8, i would think.

its up to you, haha.

im not sure about swapping driveshafts, i didnt think you need to, but not positive.

 

don't make me post pics of my v-6 to v-8 swap LoL and then the links to the vids or me running it with the stock rearend, springs, shocks, the only MAYJOR things you need is to worry about the fuel hook up the motor mounts being moved up and the V-8 700R4 trans.

oh by the way my stock radiator from my 3.1L V-6 works just fine with my 305 (its the 2.8L that won't work.

 

you do not have to change the driveshaft if you use a 700r4, t5, or t56. the rear end does not have to be changed. the springs do not have to be changed, but they SHOULD be.

wiring is not a huge deal as long as you have general knowledge, and have the wiring diagrams.

 

the v-6 springs are better for drag racing if you ask me.... the alot better for weight transfor.

 

You may be able to get away with keeping the driveshaft, but I heard the V6 is weaker and belive me you don't want to get killed over it. 4th gen V8 driveshafts interchange and they are aluminum. If you can find one at a junk yard that would be your best bet.

For a 350 I wouldn't keep a V6 radiator. You can, but then again you are asking for it. If you overheat the engine, you may crack your block. There is a little difference between a decent 350 and a mild 305 in terms of cooling requirements.

As for exhaust you can keep everything from the cat back. Everything in front of it has to be changed. This may hinder your motor though by being too restrictive. An aftermarket V6 exhaust will be better than a stock V8 setup. You will need V8 manifolds or headers though.

Most of these parts are dirt cheap at a junkyard, and it would really bite to tear up your new engine or your camaro to save a few bucks.

 

first off the V-6 radiator (on a 3.1L v-6 only) is the same as the V-8 the only thing different is that the on the V-6 there is only a single fan. on the V-8 there are two. my v-8 runs no higher then 180º with the v-6 radiator and single fan.

as for the drive shaft the v-6 one will be fine unless your planning to be putting out mad HP like around 450 plus.

as for the exhust your right you will need to change the headers and y-pipe but keep in mine that most after market headers have 3" collectors and on the v-6 you have 2 1/4 pipes. now would be a good time to swap it all over to 3" all the way back. the faster you can get the exhust out of the motor the fast you can get air into the motor.

as for getting junk yard parts remeber you get what you pay for. the only thing i get at the junk yard on my swap was the motor mont bukets (not the motor mounts them self the bukets that mount to the motor not the car)

 

My camaro is a V8 and it only has one fan. It came this way from the factory. Not sure about the 3.1 radiator, never looked at it. Was just going on what I heard.

It would be the torque on the driveshaft that I would be worried about. Not having any idea of how big of an engine she is putting in.

The collectors are not a problem. I agree it would be better to change over, but with the hedman shorties and y pipe, the y pipe is only 2 1/2 or 2 1/4. Collector reducers are cheap and sometimes you have a choice. She seems to be wanting to save a few dollars and this is where she can.

Nothing wrong with parts like driveshafts and as you suggested the hard mounts from a junkyard. I think a new or rebuilt transmission would be great, but it seems like she is on a budget so its out of the question. The rubber motor mounts, fuel line, etc should be new though.

 

yep money is the issue...only making minium wage-money is tight especially with bills!! im tring to save as much money as i can on this project but im not trying to do it half-azzed...i want it done right along with saving money too....im looking at a 350 carb----one day!!!!!!

 

If you can get some knowledgeable people to help you. The tools to do the swap are really cheap. It would really cut down on the cost.

 

ok so i got another question for you all....im also looking at getting a STB (strut tower brace),ok i got 2 questions about that...i know go to the suspension board...but it doesnt really have to do with that........

#1)what is the difference in the "Camaro STB" by edelbrock? & the difference in the "Engine Bay/STB"? the one by edelbrock has a thing on the top of it,looks something like a roof trussel-lol-best way i know how to explain it....& the second one doesnt have that on the top--ive seen alot of this kind at TGN~i'm looking in jegs magazine under suspension of their summer edition,pg 162

#2)if i get whichever one you all say is better,that wont effect the 350 carb that im thinking about getting will it? i mean will there be room enough in the engine compartment for it without it interfering with the new engine/hood??

i hope im explaing this well-lol......

 

well if you go with a carb your not goign to be able to have a STB unless you get the one that monts on tbe rear firewall and the on the towers, the reson beeing is that you need room for an air filter. what i would do it just get the good old wonder bar and the ws6 sway bars. thats what i did :-D (still have to put then on but i have them!)

as for the hood. the bigest filter you can get is 3" i have 3" on my can its hitting the liner under the hood but the hood still locks in place will out force.

 

steel driveshafts from v6 and v8 thirdgens are exactly the same

i run a single v6 electric fan on my built 350, and i could make it run 160* all the time if i wanted to, i used to run it this temp, but now i turned the fan switch up to 170*.

 

I bought one (Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace for TBI/carb.) but in the rush to get it I didn't check that it wouldn't fit on cars with the A/C on the driver's side... does any one want to buy it? $120 takes it!

 

u dont want to do it half assed a swap is very expensive most of the time and if u do it half assed that means that half way down the line it will break and u wont be able to even drive it and u will have to pay the other half the second time depending on how much u allready have i would say the swap would cost 1500 to 2000 no matter what so if ur gonna do it half assed dont even bother

 

Will probably need V8 springs as well.

 

GO FOR IT!!!!!! I just swapped a 350 TPI into my 2.8 firebird along with the radiator, tranny, driveshaft, rear, springs, computer, and gauge cluster. This was my first swap and I completed it in two weekends with a donor car that was wrecked(not drivable but still startable). It really isn't that tough just need a little basic knowledge of cars and take plenty of breaks to go to the computer and look up anything you are not sure of on these forums. Good luck if you do decide to swap.

 

 

Since there has been long time since you posted this thread i want to ask now if you have done it? if yes: How does it run?
Are you happy now?

 

no sir not yet....maybe after Christmas

 

i've done the swap, and i love it. third gens have the provisions for a V8 already, so the swap can pretty much bolt in. my car used to be a 2.8 automatic, now its a 350/t5 combo, it drives awesome!

my car has t-tops, custom sfc, eibach/kyb suspension....the car drives and rides as smooth or smoother then most factory v8 cars.

well worth it IMO

 

I did this swap (3.1-5.7) over christmas break in my sister's garage - although I did it the extreme hard way. I didn't have a donor car, so I had to piece everything together. I had never actually seen the TPI in anything but pics, so details were missing. Finally, and the most troubling, I tought myself about engines at the same time I did the swap. In fact, the heaviest work I had ever done on any car before the swap was changing my speedo cluster. I also did 95% of it all by my lonesome . I found that the factory service manual and this site's search button were the best tools I had.

It was a major pain in the butt, cost waaay more than buying a Z28 of the same year (if I could have found one within 3 hours away), and led to many frustrations. But my car was payed for, 100% mine, and was the first car I bought on my own from finding it to paying off the loan.

Was it worth it? DAMN STRAIGHT! I LOVE my new engine, and I would go through the whole thing over again. So, if you love your car that much, you have enough drive ('scuze the pun), and you are creative enough with swearing, go for it! If you need anything specific, feel free to email me, and I'll reply asap.


P.S.
You don't strictly need to change the V6 springs, but to give you an idea, I gained 1" of ride height by changing from my V6 springs to Eibach Sport springs. I also got a much smoother and more stable ride. Your choice! My driveshaft and rear are the same from the V6, and I haven't been killed yet.

 

You dont have to change the rear end.For a 305 its fine.

 

90-92 all use the same radiator whether it be a V6 or V8

i left my stock V6 springs...........car seems to handle better now, strange i know but true

didnt change my rear but i am looking into a 9 bolt or a 12 bolt
(V6+V8 rears are the same but are ****ty no matter)

 

mine sure as hell does too... also the v-6 springs are better for drag raceing IMO

 

i had brand new v6 springs w/ new shocks and struts in my car when i did my swap, the car handled ok. but after the eibach springs and KYB strut and shock combo went in, the car handles much better, and also hooks up much better. and yes, 10 bolts suck, not even worth trying to make them better imo

 

i cant get lowering springs cuz my exhaust is too low

if anything i need rear end spacers to jack up my rear a little to give me some more clearance

also i didnt notice any change in ride height when i dropped the motor in

 

what kind of exhust do you have? 4" all the way back??

 

true dual flowmasters under the floor pans with long tube headers

they exit on the side of the car

its 2.5"

 

Okay I have a question. Since there's been a lot of talk about springs when swapping from V-6 to V-8, I would like to know: is there is any difference between V-6 and V-8 REAR springs on these cars?

 

nope

 

and no difference between 3rd & 4th gen rear shocks.