Hi, this is my first car and it holds alot of sentimental value to me because it was the last gift my grandpa gave to my grandma before he passed away. On my 15th birthday, it was given to me by my grandmother, im extremely lucky i know. But now I'v decided that i love this car and never wana get rid of it and want to get a 383 stroker for it with 425 horse power. But one problem i have never done an engine swap and dont know exactly what i would need since its a v6 to v8 swap, please help me develop a list of all of the things that i would need to swap it, also what would be the best but wouldnt break the bank because i already am going to spend 3k on the engine, pretty much my life savings. lol. btw im only 17 and learning as i go

Thanks much guys,
Matt
3/16/09

 

Being in California, you'll have to make sure that you have full emissions on the car, 50 state street legal parts in the engine or it won't pass.

Best thing to do is take the parts list you want to use in the engine to a smog referee and let them tell you what you can and cannot do.

 

***edit:***... i didnt see California, im not sure how all the emissions stuff works

Well just welcome here, youll find ALOT of good information here!
Lots of people will tell u to use the search but ill throw in some little facts b/c i did the same thing in my camaro.

-The Swapping the engine will be the same as swapping any v8 small block Chevy into the car.
-Make sure u have another car to drive while your working on yours. I know small info but yours will probably be out of service for a while.
-A carb swap will probably be easiest to do and less expensive in the long run.
-If you do use a carb the easiest thing to do will be to come off your existing fuel lines and run a fuel pressure regulator with a return built into it. I have the Holley and it works fine.
-You'll need to go to advance and get a set of v8 motor mounts that bolt to the chassis and be prepared to spend a day cussing at them while your trying to take ur old ones out and put these in.
-As for tools the only thing besides normal mechanic wrenches and sockets and ect. would be a cherry picker to hoist your old engine and drop ur new one in.
-Plan what kind of exhaust you want to run, my long tube headers are nice, but they are a pain in the butt, plus the muffler shop will charge u alot more to run custom pipes, so go shorty headers.
-as for your transmission idk much about about the auto's ive never had one in a camaro and im sure someone on here can help u with that.
-oh and if u swap carb your probably best off getting an aftermarket ignition box, like msd, if your trying to save money id probably go with the summit box, and get an hei distributor.

long story short i bought my longblock 383 for 3k and spend another 2-3k on odds and ends, carb, intake, pan, ignition, headers, and so on. so be prepaired.

 

Clean86 that is the same thing i did with my first third gen. it was an 86 an originally a v-6 car and now has a 405hp 383 in it. mine is carbed and my dad is a mechanic so i dont have to worry about passing inspection so im not sure about smog and emissions. i would change the front springs because a v-8 requires a different spring rate

 

Thank you very much my uncle knows someone who iam going to talk to

 

Wow i wasnt planing on it costing quiet this much, 5 grand is a lot of money, im gonna have to save up alot longer. Thank you for your help

 

The little things will get you and add up quick. If its a long term project id say go for it. But if its your DD car id say hold off. The best thing to do, and i would do this if i had to do it all over again is buy a turn key engine. Youll thing there more expensive but for what youll pay later on, for the carb, ignition, ext. It will be worth it!