I have a 87 camaro with a tired 2.8L and a friend has offered me a 4.3L vortec v6. I need to know if the 5 speed tranny will bolt on ok. Also I am wondering how hard it will be to change all the wiring for engine electrical.

 

For the most part, swapping in a 4.3 is the same as swapping in a V8, because the 4.3 is based on the small block V8.

 

you "could" use the t-5 tranny you have, you will have to get a different bellhousing... any V8 t-5 bellhousing will do, you just have to get one with the slave cyl bracket or without depending on your application. The V6 tranny has a 16 spline input shaft. You could use a 26 which is better, and your choices of clutches is alot better as well.
So in a nut shell, yes you can use the tranny but not the bellhousing.

 

I am not sure about the vortec motor but i do know that the 4.3 uses the same bellhousing and trans that a v8 305 or 350 uses so skip it and drop in a 350 installing that motor isn't worth it. The 2.8 3.1 and 3.4 uses a different bellhousing all together and to make the fuel injection work will probably suck also. Just my .02

 

unless you get the 4.3 turbo motor that motor is sick.

 

A Vortec 4.3 would be a great swap into a 3rd gen.They are lighter than a V8,set back further in the engine bay,and make about the same HP as most of the stock V*s that came in these cars,and would likely get close to 30MPG to boot.Making it all the better,everything to bolt one in not exhists,but is factory GM stuff,just gotta know what to look for.

As far as the trans go's,get a V8 bellhousing.The mounts to bolt it in can be found in 88-98 V6 Chevy pickups.

Don't be discouraged on this swap,if it's a daily driver and not a dragracer,it'll be a good time.

 

The Vortec 4.3 is a great engine, they are powerful, get good mileage, and there are literally tons of them out there. They are based off the 350 so alot of parts can interchange. Pistons, valves, oil pump, accessories, bearings, rockers, pushrods, throttle bodies, etc.

PS-My pre-vortec Astro 4.3 TBI made 215 RWHP and was a mild build with swirlports on it.

I recently put one in place of the 3.4 that was in my GMC Jimmy. It doesn't have alot more HP in stock form, but the torque increase is incredible.



I bought a rear-ended insurance write-off with under 90,000 miles on it and used all factory parts to pull off the swap. The only non-factory part is the painless harness for the CPI 4.3 that came from Ebay.