Alright, I'm just going to come out with it.

I bought a 91 Camaro RS and drove it all the way back from NJ. I thought the V6 Engine had the best power I've ever experienced in my LIFE (probably because the only other cars I drove was an 01 Mitsubishi Mirage, and a Toyota Landcruiser).

Anyways, now I'm really power hungry and I want to replace the engine in the Camaro, and I'm a do-it-yourself enthusiast. But the furthest I've done work is probably changing the brakes and the oil. I want to put in a new engine, and it looks like the biggest suggestion for the third gen camaros is the LS1's...Has anyone else had any other successful swaps on their camaros, and if so which ones?

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

Drove it all the way from NJ to where? The answer may affect our recommendations.

LS1 is a good swap, but it is involved, and more expensive than a lot of other options. All sorts of swaps have been done by members, any usable advice would depend upon your intended use and budget.

 

Thanks for the welcome (this forum is HUGE btw, but most threads I searched talked about LS1 swaps for the Camaro 91)

Anyways I drove it all the way back to Illinois (expecting it to break down any second).

I don't have any budget right now, since I just used my savings on another toy (HD TV), so if anything I'd have to save it up. I would prefer something around the thousand.

But like I said before, I'm a do-it-yourselfer so I'd probably end up buying it off of eBay and rebuilding the block by hand so I could learn myself (constantly referring to the net for help).

So what other engines, other than the LS1 have been swapped in? Hope this info helps...

 

oh, and I would PRFER something with a gas mileage at least above 15, since I don't plan on using it as my primary car during winter (which is coming up) anyways.

I'd essentially want an engine for its power and torque, and maybe once every 4 months I might take it on a 5 hour trip on the highway to MI and back, but that's it.

 

Well, for the legal technicalities, any engine/system you put in would have to be from a '91 model year or later passenger car. In '91 & '92, GM f-bodies had either throttle body or tuned port electronic fuel injection. People have swapped those in in place of V6's numerous times - as the V6 to V8 swap sticky in the top section of this forum states, getting a complete donor car is the best way to go about this just so you have all the parts needed. Any of the TBI or TPI choices would provide good driveability torque and decent fuel mileage.

After those choices, the next most popular would be the LT1. It was offered in '93-'97 f-bodies, and in b-bodies (Caprice, Roadmaster, etc.) in detuned versions. While more of a bolt-in than the LS1 family, it is still more involved for wiring and the like. If you want to keep AC, modification to either the crossmember or the AC compressor mounting bracket is required.

LS1 requires more extensive mounting modifications, although the wiring changes are about the same as LT1. Both LT1 and LS1 will give excellent driveability (low end torque) and fuel economy.

If you haven't read the V6 to V8 sticky yet, you need to do that. A budget of $1000 will maybe get you about a third of the way through a standard small block Chevy swap (exhaust alone, if you don't use a donor car system, will cost you almost that much), much less through LT1 and LS1.

There are stickies in the top section of this forum on all 3 swap types.

 

I'd want to go with the tuned port injection rather than the throttle body.

I just realized this though, what if the original car doesn't have A/C? Would I be able to setup A/C if the new engine has an A/C Compressor?

P.S. I didn't know about any legal problems...are you talking about laws that apply to all states? Because I know in Illinois they don't require an emissions test on vehicles over '96, so would they know what kind of engine you put in?

 

Adding AC would be a fairly major job. Better have a correct year/type donor car for sure.

The emissions laws are Federal, not local, regional, or state. The Feds will blackmail local or state governments into enforcement based on air quality, but that doesn't mean you're exempt from the laws if it isn't enforced locally.

Say you expect to keep the car for at least 5 years - can you guarantee where you'll live in 5 years, or whether enforcement will come to your area in that time? Neither can I.

 

Heh ok good point (I was actually thinking of putting in a pontiac 455, but it just seems like a bad idea nevertheless). And I'm not a HUGE complainer w/o AC, just wondering...

I've already read the V6 to V8 Sticky, and it seems the best way to get everything done is to get a donor car, which isn't that hard since Victory Autos is pretty close to where I live and they always seem to have a spare Camaro or Firebird to part out...

Now I'm on the hunt to find an engine, and this one seems not that far:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=300261514964

But it looks like it's older than 1991? I mean personally, I kind of want to get this done ASAP, and since there aren't any regulations at the moment, I don't really mind....If you get the time, could you take a look and tell me if that is something worth buying, or should I set my sights on another engine?

 

there is alot of good info on this site, look around and you can figure out what you want to do. I sure did

 

What did you end up doing?

 

Look at his sig at the bottom of his post.Most people have them letting you know a little about them and or there car.Looks like he went with the LT1 swap and while he was at it bumped it up to a 383.It`s easier,from what I`ve heard,to start with a v8 car to do the swap but you can still do a swap.I`d recomend a basic sbc swap to start you off.It`ll be the cheapest way to go,you can make good power,and plenty of people are getting ewll more than 20 mpg out of moddified v8`s.Have fun.

 

So then a 350 SBC? So would you suggest buying this and then buying the heads and everything separately?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=300261514964

 

I would recommend buying from someone who has a clue. "The bore measures 4.10 on the engine." Better hope it doesn't.

If you find a TPI donor car, just use the engine in it.

 

He's right.... like usual. It says .030 over which would be 4.030, the says 4.1. The only feasible way to do a swap for under $1,000 is with a running parts car. I did a V8-V8 swap..... 305 to a 350, and i still spent $900 after building the engine to get everything the way i wanted it.

 

ugh ok, I think I'll stick to the v6 engine that's on the Camaro, but I really think I should rebuild it, and at least replace the exhaust (cuz it will DEFINITELY fail emissions).

Sp if I put in a new exhaust system now (I was thinking about true duals), would this conflict in the future if I did want to do an engine swap by any chance?

 

Check out the v6 boards.You can make some power with those engines or at least make them fun to drive.I know some guys who put tuebos on those v-6 f bodies making good power and they swear it`s cheaper than throwing money at the tpi v8`s.I`m not sure about true duals on a v-6,may loose power,check out the exhaust board.I know a single 3" exhaust is plenty for a v8 up to around 400 hp.I think youll be fine with a single.

 

hey sixty, i don't know if your still looking for a engine. but i have a 1991 camaro z28 with a 350 TPI motor
245 HP and 345 ft/Lbs
The rear end is destroyed on the car (frame and all) but its got good tires and nice rims (that i'm taking lol) and the 350 and tranny are still good. If you want we could come up with a deal? if so, reply to this, i'll subcribe or just send me an email or something, i'm on all day

 

I know, but I'm kind of a nut when it comes to squeezing every little hp out of the engine, that and the idea of true duals just sparks an interest...

So if I setup true duals on a v6, would they cause problems with a future engine swap? and how much would it cost for a turbo on the v6?
kinda just gave up, but still shot you a pm

 

350 would be easiest by far.