I've been doing my research and it seems to me that if i pull a 2.5L from a 88-92 S10 along with the engine wiring harness and computer that i could put it in an 85-92 V6 Camaro 5 speed fairly painlessly. I would have to get some exhaust piping bent up but I think otherwise it would go in well. Anything I'm missing? And is there any difference between World Class and Non-World Class 5 speeds externally that would cause issues? I already know the 2.5L isn't fast but I want a Camaro that gets fairly good mileage and I enjoy a good challenge!

Thanks

 

I went form a 89 v6(2.8) to a 90 v8(5.7) and everyone said why waste your money, why don't you just go out and buy one already done. They did say, at least your putting in a V8. But to go backwards.... Your crazy man! lol
Do you really think that your going to get better gas milage with a four cylinder pulling all of that weight?

 

That's exactly it, your strain the engine pulling the heavy car, and your mileage will go DOWN. And you'll have no power.
That's by far the worst idea i've ever heard. Sorry.


Also, the bellhousing mounts is such that your NWC or WC T-5's won't bolt up. Input shaft is wrong as well I think.

 

you know there were some 2.5L 4 cyl camaros and firebirds right? you might try getting one of those, since they should be fairly cheap, a good option if you want a nice looking car that's somewhat good on gas without the swap. it's certainly easier.

If you just wanna try it and do something different (different is good) I imagine it could work, you might even be able to get some of the 2.5l parts from the thirdgens that will be compatible with your S10 motor (i'm not sure if it's the same block though, you'd have to check) and a plus is you can get them cheap from someone swapping a 4 cyl out.

You'll need to know the transmission's bolt pattern (it's 60 degree if you are using the one from a V6) and the one on the engine if it's different they won't mate up, and you'll need a new bellhousing. if the input shaft is different you'll need a new tranny.

The other things to look into are engine mounts and oil pan since these will probably need to be different for ground and hood clearance.

the other thing to consider is weight, these cars weigh a ton, literally... and then some so using a small motor taxes it and kills mileage a little, as it is the V6's are underpowered, a 4 cyl is even smaller and will have to work extra hard to move the car, it's something to think about....

good luck with your swap....

 

I am aware that there are 4 cylinder Camaros from the factory, but so far they are scarce to find around here. Also, I wanted a the updated 2.5L that had roller lifters and the distributorless igniton system along with what else is was updated by 1988.

I believe all the 60 degree V6's and the 2.5L are the GM Metric pattern, somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

There are two different major blocks, front wheel drive, and rear wheel drive, and basically all of the same type, IE, RWD should be interchangable for fitment.

As for oil pans, they are surely available aftermarket or ebay or junkyard, same with engine mounts and exhaust manafolds if necessary.

And as for weight, I intend to gut anything I don't need such as AC, power windows, power locks, excessive insulation, etc. I know it still won't be fast, not nearly in fact, but if I don't need to slow down as much to take corners, I don't need as much power to accelerate either. This is just supposed to be a daily driver and I'm tired of my Blazer not taking corners or stopping well, things a Camaro is obviously designed to do.

 

I don't know spesifically what the flange pattern is on the bellhousing pad, but I do know that the 2.5L takes a 8 1/4", 26 spline clutch disc while the 60 degree V6 is a 9 1/8", 14 spline disc.

The cheap solution to the Blazer not stopping well or taking corners well is to sell it and buy a Cavalier

 

I have a parts car at my work. S-10 4cyl.

That car is so slow 0-60 in 4 days!

If you want to do it, good luck dude! Turbo it :P

 

AutoZone and Napa show that the S10 2.5L and the Camaro 2.5L having the 9 1/8 14 spline clutch like the 2.8L Camaro. It's posible AutoZone is wrong but not Napa also.

The other reason I want a Camaro is I hate front wheel drive, so no Cavaliers. Nothing wrong with them, I just don't want a front wheel drive.

 

why not keep the V-6 in there? I believe the 4 and 6 get similar mileage.

 

I had a 4cyl mustang once. I bought it for $100. 1988 Lx Slower than a sleeping slug and got good mileage.

 

According to fueleconomy.gov the 4 gets a good bit better mileage. 22% or so and I've these numbers were a little low.

Link:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/compx...Field=Findacar

I actually already have an 87 Mustang V8 and I don't like it as a driver. And Chevy is really the way to go.

And like I said, I would like to do it.

 

Please dont turn your camaro into a *****. Its just not right.

 

Adding small amounts of acetone to your fuel is said to increase gas mileage 15-35%. I've never looked into that much but it sounds better than trying to do an engine swap that no one has done before, if you're just doing this for gas mileage.

You're going to have to figure out S10 wiring, firebird/camaro wiring, exhaust/headers/manifolds, throttle cables/brackets, what do for a transmission, power steering lines, coolant hoses, maybe fuel lines.

There probably isn't much of a weight savings, if any, to swap it in. If this was a really advanced 4 cylinder, like something thats all-aluminum, etc, then maybe.

 

i have the 2.5 camaro and they are rare my buddy is a camaro freak and he told me there is 5 in record right now but they do get good gas milge and mine has alot of power i can burn out in to the midle of 3 gear the my car has more power then the 2.8

 

I had an 85 2.5 bird; it was crap with an automatic. I imagine a standard shift will be somewhat better.

You can still buy motor mounts for it to mount your S-10 engine in there. The trannies swap between the 4 and the V6.

Look up mantapart.com and go to the quad 4 rear wheel drive S-10 swap section. You'd be better off doing that than the duke!

Good luck!

 

Incorrect.
There is a few more differences to the bell housings.
90 degree. They are motors like the
scb350 way back in the day till 96
4.3 all years. All of these use a 3/8x16 thread bolt. with 9/16 head
Then they have the slightly different bell housing bolt pattern
And they are the generation 3 v8s. like the ls1 ls2 ls6 ls7 lq9 ( 6.o truck) lq4 ( 5.3) etc. These use a 10mmx1.50 thread bolt 15mm head

Then the 60 degree v6s like the 2.8l camaro 2.8 fwd, 3.1 fwd 3.4rwd 3.4 fwd 3.8 fwd. The rear wheel drive use 3/8x16 9/16 head threaded bolts that come from the rear. The fwds use 12mmx1.75 thread bolts with 18mm heads. 5 form the rear and one from front. The dowl pins between the two are in different spots. The fwd uses large hollow ones that the bolts go through. The rwd uses the typical 1/2in solid.
The i4 motors are like the 60degree, but not the same. The top two and lower two bolts come from the rear, but the middle two, come from the front. And uses the same dowel pins as the fwd.

 

Wow. This is the worst idea I've ever heard. I mean really. You're going to spend all this money on swapping in a piece of **** engine, when you could have bought a early 90's Honda and got 40 mpg AND kept your camaro.

 

did you succeed at this swap it sounds neater than all get out!

 

I think by today's standards, an Ecotec from a Solstice / Sky, especially the turbo ones would be a nice interesting swap.

 

yeah my thoughts, a few years back a buddy got stuck with a 4 banger turbo mustang because the rental place was out of sedans. we expected it be pretty gutless but, were pleasantly and mildly surprised.

 

Just so everyone knows, that website is now a swingers' hookup website... Or maybe it always was, and the original poster was just trying to clue-in like minded individuals... I'm not judging anyone.

Just beware, because I opened it in front of my wife, who had some pointed questions for me! Luckily, she has a good sense of humor!