I just bought a 1986 Camaro with a 2.8 V6 and i'm wanting to swap with a 350 V8.. I have been reading on the forums about the switch but what i was wondering is.. if i buy a 4bolt main 350 v8, would i have to buy motor mounts to get the engine to bolt in, or would it go right in without any modifications? I was also wanting to a run a 350 Turbo transmission, didn't know much about that tho, was wondering what all would have to be done with that as of mounting.. any feedback would be great!

 

not sure about the motor mounts but as for the tranny i just did that swap and i bought the b&m changeover kit it was like 80 bucks through summit. it comes with everything to mount the TH-350 in your car all you need to buy is a trans mount thats like 6 bucks. then you need to get a new torque arm bushing its like 12 bucks through summit also. if you have a 200R4 tranny now then your stock driveshaft will still work but if you have the 700R4 tranny then you have to get a new one or get yours lengthened. If you go witha new one Spohn sells one for this swap for $325. any other questiond about this just ask.

 

would getting the driveshaft lengthened be cheaper than buying a new one? i'm kinda on a tight budget.. as for the 350, i'm not sure weather to go for carbeurated or fuel injected... i mean i know going from a small v6 to a v8 is gonna cut my gas milelage, but i know a friend with a carbed 350 in his truck thats stock, and when he opens the throttle all the way, u can damn near watch the gas gauge drop...

 

not sure about the price on getting the driveshaft lengthened i havent got that far yet so I havent checked around. I just swapped in a carbed 383 in mine and im in the process of hooking everything up now so im kinda learning as i go and ive been doing searches on this site trying to find out as much info as I could. I think i got everything down on what to do now i just gotta get my lazy *** out there and do it. theres some good info in one of the first couple categories in the "engine swap" board about going from V-6 to V-8 you should check that out.

 

have you got a motor yet? are you gonna build or buy complete?

 

Which part of the motor mounts are you asking about? The engine side is absolutely different between V6 and V8, and most likely the V8 engine you get won't have the mounts on it (or the likelihood of them being the right ones is slim). The chassis side, I've seen arguements both ways, but the listing appears to be different between V6 and V8, even if they look the same. Regardless, you have to move them on the crossmember, so that's a good time to put in new and proper.

If you find a driveshaft out of an '82 or '83, it will be the proper longer length to use with a 6" tailshaft TH350. If I was going that route, I'd get the Spohn TH350 crossmember, rather than a conversion kit like the B&M.

 

so motor mounts will have to be made?

how much time and cost could this take?

 

No, they dont have to be made. You go to the partstore, and ask for the engine mounts for your year of car, only with a V8 instead of a V6. The holes are already drilled for the mounts to be bolted in. You will need to reposition your brake line that runs across the kmember. The easiest way to get the mounts off, is to use about 18inches of extension and a 15mm swivel socket for the top two. On the bottom one on each side a 15mm wrench, bent just a little, does it right. Took me about an hour and 15 minutes, with my brothers help.

 

Again, there's an engine half and a crossmember half. If you go to a parts store, you'll get the crossmember half.

Reports vary as to whether the engine half "clamshell" is available from the dealer - personally, I've never tried. A junk yard that knows what they're doing may be able to get the proper part from another application. However, it is the same regardless whether '82-'92 Camaro/Firebird V8, so if you got a set from one of those cars, you know it'll be right.

 

I went to the auto parts store and got the crossmember mounts for a 82-92 camaro. I went to the junkyard and pulled the "clamshell' ones that mount to the motor out of a 78 chevy pickup truck that had a 305 in it. mine mounted up just fine. Chevy parts are very interchangable.

 

The ones that mount to the engine are definately available. I called the dealership to see about a new set, and was told they could have them in 48hrs and they would be 94 dollars and some change. Forget that. I went to a trusty local junkyard and got them for 10 bucks.

 

thanks for all the input guys, guess i can start looking into finally starting this project, i'm still kinda new with alot of this stuff, so i'm having a friend that knows alot about this stuff help me out.. hopefully we have a good run.... thanks alot..