hi,
I have an 82 camaro with a 2.8L V6, and a automatic transmission.I would like to put in something better though. Would a 3.4L work for me or would going to an 8 be cheaper.with the 3.4 i dont need a new trasmission right?
and with the 8 I will need a new trans. ,and computer,anything else?

 

The 3.4 would be a lot less work (basically bolts in) and probably a lot less expensive than a V8. The 3.4 will run circles around the 2.8, close to the low-ball 305's, but not like a 350.

The "anything else" list for a V8 is much longer than the list you started. Check recent posts on this forum to get an idea just how much longer.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, TBD heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

are there any good performance parts out there for a 3.4L ?

 

can someone post that anything else list for me?

 

We do this every couple of weeks, but here goes again.

Radiator; a/c hoses; tranny cooler lines; radiator & heater hoses; radiator fan, all brackets for p/s, alternator, a/c, smog pump; front engine mounts; front springs; front brake line on cross member; transmission; fuel lines; air cleaner & attaching pieces; electrical harness; charcoal canister hoses & valves; ECM (if you go with an emissions-legal swap); throttle, TV (or kickdown), and cruise control cables; power steering hoses; power brake booster hose and other various vacuum hoses; tach. Plus all sensors and other equipment attached to the engine such as starter, carb, distributor, water pump, fuel pump, pulleys, oil & temp sending units; and the complete exhaust system (heads to rear bumper) for the V8. I probably left something out.

Since yours is an '82, you'll have the TH200, which is shorter than a TH700 (but the same length as a 6" tailshaft TH350). If you want the overdrive, you'll need a shorter driveshaft, torque arm and transmission crossmember, and will have to "fabricate" the back two mount holes & nuts for the crossmember, and you'll need a different shifter.

The only sane way to do this (especially for an emissions-legal swap) is to get a V8 donor car. You have to really like your V6 car to make it worthwhile.

 

well I just checked checked the VIN decoder on this web site and it says my car is a Z28 with a 173 ci v6 lc1. are there z28 's with a v6. And whats the biggest or best engine to drop into my car without having to change everything and what can i do to make it perform better (it's hard to find v6 performance parts right)

 

The VIN decoder said my donor car was a Z28 - it clearly was a sports coupe.

The 3.4l is the best bet for ease of installation. Check out the V6 board for more power ideas.

NO2 will give more power to anything.

 

okay I am going to get a 3.4L engine, can anyone recomend a good one that i could find at a wreckers (what car/van will this engine come out of)and would it be hard to use a newer fuel injected engine?
thanks

 

also would a 3.8L work?

 

Same problems as putting in a V8.

 

One thing to always keep in mind:

By the time you actually get a 3.4 into that car and running, you could have taken the same money, and dropped it on a Z28. Plus, you wouldn't have had to do all that work and deal with the downtime and problems. And, when you want to get your next car, you'll have one that's worth more than the V6 upgraded one would be worth.

Consider upgrading the car rather than doing the motor swap.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

okay,
what is my car worth right now?
and what is it worth with a 3.4?

 

one of the problems is that i have been trying to find a 350 but none of the wreckers in my area have any right now, but they do 3.4's and 4.3's. How does a 4.3 compare to a 305 or a 350 ?
I think I can get a 4.3 w/trany cheap,or a 3.4 cheap

 

What RB & I were trying to tell you gently is that it is rarely economical to upgrade a V6 car. I thought I got a good deal on the V6 car ($200) and rear-ended V8 donor car ($850). I was still thinking that two months into the project when I was cleaning up the V8/tranny on the driveway in preparation to stab it, when a neighbor drove up in the '87 350 TPI Firebird he just bought for $950. Sure, he spent another $200 on tuneup and injector cleaning, but he was running when I still had a few hundred dollars left to spend and about 6 more weeks of work before I was driving mine.

A salvage 3.4 might make it worthwhile. The 4.3 would require basically the same things as a 350 or 3.8 (work, parts changes & expense-wise). The 4.3 is a 350 that's missing two cylinders, in other words, a 262. The original SBC in 1955 was a 265.

 

What RB & I were trying to tell you gently is that it is rarely economical to upgrade a V6 car. I thought I got a good deal on the V6 car ($200) and rear-ended V8 donor car ($850). I was still thinking that two months into the project when I was cleaning up the V8/tranny on the driveway in preparation to stab it, when a neighbor drove up in the '87 350 TPI Firebird he just bought for $950. Sure, he spent another $200 on tuneup and injector cleaning, but he was running when I still had a few hundred dollars left to spend and about 6 more weeks of work before I was driving mine.

A salvage 3.4 might make it worthwhile. The 4.3 would require basically the same things as a 350 or 3.8 (work, parts changes & expense-wise). The 4.3 is a 350 that's missing two cylinders, in other words, a 262. The original SBC in 1955 was a 265.

 

The best bet money-wise would be a salvage 3.4.

 

time isnt a problem for me right now or the work, also i have access to a garage and all of its equipment. also got my car cheap ,and it has a great body and interior.My only consideration is the cost of the parts to do the upgrade. getting another car is not an option for me becuase i dont have that much money.I just want to know if there are any BIG difficulties in doing the swap, or if it should go easily.(I think i will do the3.4) but are there any mods I could do to make it perform better, other than NOS?