89 RS engine/tranny/rearend
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, NY
Car: 1989 Camaro RS
89 RS engine/tranny/rearend
i recently got my first camaro. 89 RS w/ a v6 2.8. im looking for the best engine/tranny/rear end combo to kick some @$$ with. i know i definatly need posi rear and will a chevy 427 fit? or should i stick with a 350? im new in the rebuilding game and if im gonna turn my car into a beast i want to do it the right way. any tips or advice would help. thanks!
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 43
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.
There are two stickies in the top section of this forum, one on V6 to V8 swap (primarily small block Chevy), and another on big block (BBC) swaps.
BBC is much more involved. No possibility of it being emissions legal. Cost is usually higher. Whatever is costs to get the engine in, plan on spending at least that much on handling the power.
As the V6 to V8 sticky says, there basically isn't any difference between V6 and V8 rear ends in any particular year. However, '89 was the year of the switch from 26-spline axles to 28-spline axles, which are much stronger. There is a tech article linked from the thirdgen.org homepage about beefing up the 10-bolt rear end, but a healthy 427 will grenade even a built 10-bolt. Aftermarket 9-inch and 12-bolt rear ends for 3rd gens start at about $2k, without brakes.
Although more expensive than a standard 350 swap, LT1 and LS1 swaps have their own benefits. Read those stickies as well. An LT1 swap, if you choose wisely on the donor car or take-out, can be done for about the same or little more than a 350 SBC swap.
There are two stickies in the top section of this forum, one on V6 to V8 swap (primarily small block Chevy), and another on big block (BBC) swaps.
BBC is much more involved. No possibility of it being emissions legal. Cost is usually higher. Whatever is costs to get the engine in, plan on spending at least that much on handling the power.
As the V6 to V8 sticky says, there basically isn't any difference between V6 and V8 rear ends in any particular year. However, '89 was the year of the switch from 26-spline axles to 28-spline axles, which are much stronger. There is a tech article linked from the thirdgen.org homepage about beefing up the 10-bolt rear end, but a healthy 427 will grenade even a built 10-bolt. Aftermarket 9-inch and 12-bolt rear ends for 3rd gens start at about $2k, without brakes.
Although more expensive than a standard 350 swap, LT1 and LS1 swaps have their own benefits. Read those stickies as well. An LT1 swap, if you choose wisely on the donor car or take-out, can be done for about the same or little more than a 350 SBC swap.
