I need help getting started with my swap, I want to put the engine out of my '68 (350 bored and witha 1/2 extreme street cam, about a 373, carbed with a 350 powerglide and a 2000 stall) into my '92(v6) and I need help figuring out what I will need, I did read the sticky on v6 to v8 but as far as I could tell it was for v6 to a newer v8. Any info you guys could provide will help greatly as I need to have this done by the middle of march, if everything goes well I will be shipping out in the middle of march on my way to becoming a Marine. Thanks for the help


-Daniel

 

About the only differences between a '68 engine and a later engine are attaching parts details, such as dipstick location (passenger side later, driver's side earlier), rearmain seal and therefore flexplate/flywheel type; and computer controls, which won't be an issue for you.

However, if it is indeed a '68 engine, you may have a major problem - accessory mount bolt holes on the ends of the heads. You may not have them. If not, you're asking for more hassle than you may be willing to tackle, unless you use all of the mounting hardware from the '68.

Personally, I think you'd be better off finding a different engine and transmission to put in your '92, and the best way to start is with a factory V8 donor car. Why are you willing to sacrifice the '68 for the engine, anyway?

 

Might be his pop's 68 and throwing in a better engine and giving the old one away? Once again, im gonna say this, there is no need for a v8 donor car. You need to change the mounts, clamshells, springs (this is optional, I run v6 springs on my v8), move the brake lines, throttle cable (which can be bought brand new for $14 gmpartsdirect) and possibly a radiator if you have a 2.8. There is no need to buy a donor car when all the parts to change yours to a v8. Unless you already have a donor, I wouldn't waste the money unless you could get it for under $300.

 

A '92 should have the driver's side upper radiator hose, so the radiator will work with a V8.

No, you don't "need" a donor car. It's just the easiest way to get the mounts, clamshells, springs, sway bar, throttle cable, transmission, hoses, alternator mount, AC mount & hoses (if you want to retain that), power steering pump mount & hoses, tachometer, et al, since you don't already have all that and you need all that.

 

Well, if you bought an engine without accessories, i'll agree. You don't need the sway bars, transmissions etc... The v6 ones will bolt up to a v8 and work. At least a manual, not sure on the 700r4's.

 

V6 automatics will not bolt to V8 engines.

 

I have the '68 (my dad and I worked on it for a long time) that the car is in complete running/driving condition but due to the body work that would be involved in restoring it, we have decided to go ahead and drop the motor in my '92 and it's the v6 3.2 I believe it came in an RS 25th anniv edition, and then buy a 2002 firehawk and dip into 9's street legal and use the '92 as a daily driver. So I should have all of the hard ware that I would need off the 68 right? we are going to either part out the rest or sell it as is.

 

Some non-3rd-gen related thoughts:

If the engine is the original in the '68, that car is worth more in one piece than it is in pieces. Get it on eBaymotors or in Hemmings Motor News and take the time to get the money the car is worth. Even with bodywork needed, it's worth more to someone than that engine is to you. Even if it isn't a numbers-matching engine, you'll probably do better selling the car than parting it out.

Give it a few months, then you can use the proceeds to get either a V8 3rd gen daily driver, or the parts to put a V8 into your '92.

What you're talking about doing to that '68 just doesn't sit well with this old fart.

 

I really want to keep my third gen I just love the body style and then my dad wants to sell the '68, I'll probably put it on ebay tomorrow all together, everything is there all you'd need for it is paint and carpet and the rest of the parts are there, just some assembly required. I am a mod on www.ls7power.com and I was thinking of dropping the ls7 in it as it'll be available this fall.

 

That makes a lot more sense to me that parting out an otherwise good '68.