I have '91 RS V6 camaro and am planning on doing my first engine swap ever this summer. I have the possibility of buying a '94 suburban for cheap to pull the engine, tranny and whatever else I need out and then sell off the rest. My questions are not necessarily technical, but some are to an extent. Because I'm going from a V6 to a V8, I am assuming that I will have to change my registration, insurance and maybe title as well. I'm not so worried about this as getting the car to pass emissions (because the car is not 25 years old). Right now the check engine light is on in the Camaro, but I haven't bothered to check the code because I knew I would be replacing the engine and it's not worth it to me to put any money into this engine. They seem to be **** about the check engine light being on here (my fiance's lexus had check engine light on, and they wouldn't let her even take the test)... maybe I'm just not familiar enough with the system, but I am assuming they would be just as picky about the engine not necessarily being hooked in to the warning lights on the dash. Will I need to have this all sorted out by that time? Should I grab as much of the dash electronics and emissions equipment off the Suburban as possible?

A couple other more technical questions: Will the manifolds on the suburbans engine fit into my car, or will I need to buy headers. Headers will probably be my first engine mod anyways, but I was hoping to just get the engine/tranny in for now and then start a build later. I don't know if the engine is TBI or Vortec, but will either have trouble clearing the stock hood? Another mod possibly... I love cowl induction and my hood needs a little work anyways.

I will try to keep you all updated on what happens. I don't have the Suburban yet, but it's not going anywhere for a couple months... but if anyone needs truck parts or wants a new project... let me know. It's in good shape (originally from Southern California), so none of the rust problems you might typically see. Or if you need a great paper weight, let me know if you want the V6 that's coming out.

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

The V6 is worth about $75/ton.

Technically the truck engine isn't legal to put in a passenger car. Different standards were used for passenger car vs. truck emissions.

The truck exhaust manifolds won't fit in a 3rd gen. They stick out too much.

The truck dash stuff isn't going to be of much use to you.

Used to be in Colorado a check engine light on or not operating was cause for failure. They've changed that to merely note that the light is not on or not operating. OBD II is read directly from the computer, so the light is moot.