Hi, I right now have a 2.5l engine, and I have been thinking of putting something a little better into it. Should I put a 3.1 so that I can still use my 700R4 trans, or should I put in a 3.8 turbo.

The way I see it either way I have to change just about everything.

Thanks

 

whoa, lets think, umm.... a smaller non-turbo or a larger turbo engine. umm.....TURBO. Maybe a better question would be if you caould turbo a 3.1. Those enignes are everywhere. Personally I would like a 4.3 if I have a V6.

 

If you decide on the 3.8 turbo, good luck. It would be a killer motor. Just remember though, that GM had a hellofatime trying to get it to work. It was not an easy task. That may be why they didn't keep making them. I mean, I know that they were an anniversary edition, but if it was all that, then they should've kept making it. You would certainly have a unique car.

I like camaro6spd's idea of the 4.3L. Put a supercharger or turbo on that and you would really be the talk of the town while you filled the road with tire smoke. That 262 is a stout motor. I'm surprised not more people us it for a different kinda setup, other than a 350.

 

Well, maybe I should have asked the question a little bit differently. Should I take the quick and eazy (and yes cheaper) way and put in the 3.1 or should I put in the engine I want the 3.8 turbo.

You see my other car is dying and I really don't think that it is going to last long enough for me to find all the part that I need to put in the 3.8 turbo. So I am thinking of put in the 3.1 and then looking for everything I need to put in the 3.8. Then when I find the everything for the 3.8 I will have to do another motor swap. It just seems like a lot of work. Does anyone have any better ideals?

Ofcourse, putting a turbo on a 3.1 that would be interesting too.

 

I would go with the 3.8 Turbo without a doubt. You will need the TTA heads, TTA pistons, a turbo crank and rod set, a set of TTA headers, and engine mounts. That covers the main things

------------------
87 GN
89 RS
85 Toyota 4x4

 

If you are going to do an engine swap, why do all that work and only have a V6? The fuel lines, and throttle cable will already be compatible with a carbed V8 engine. I mean, the 4 cyl tranny won't even bolt up directly to the V6 so you would at least have to change the bell-housing. The costs would be equivalent to putting in a V8, because I'm guessing you don't want to put in a carbed v6 so you will need the V6's computer, wireing harness, and fuel lines because of the pressure that will be necessary for the fuel injection. You will also have to change the fuel pump as well. After all that work and cost, you could probably do a carbed V8 much cheaper. In fact, I have a 305 and 700R4 tranny I'd sell you for $400 (the tranny was just rebuilt). All you would need then would be motor mounts, V8 springs, tranny mount and drive shaft and radiator and those parts could be found at your local junkyard for under $200. If you are doing the work yourself, you could do this for a much more reasonable price than putting in a 6 cyl. And if you are talking about a 3.8litre swap, you're talking about WAY more cash to make it work. If you get a slightly warmed over 305 you could get into the 14's without too much expense.

Just my $.02 though.

Chris

 

i would do all that work to only have a 6

do you not know the potential of these motors? id take a nice TTA over any other thirdgen no matter the engine....

just my .04 cents.

 

I'd drop a turbo 3.8 in anything over a sb. carb or fi or anything...

How could you get such mild part throttle manners and fuel economy with a motor that kills anything in it's path at wot?

It's a very hard swap though, mostly because of the plumbin'

 

if you're all about keeping your original tranny, get a 3.4 liter out of an early 4th gen, and put the 2.8/3.1 mpfi system on it. At least it will be a bit faster.

if not, just do a v8 swap.

 

I don't even want to think of how expensive it would be to do that swap to the 3.8litre turbo engine. I would love to have that too, especially compared to my L03. Has anyone ever done the 3.8 turbo swap? And made it a reliable performer? I'm not talking about your sister's cousin's brother's uncle (that could possibly make that person your dad! ) but I mean a real world example of that being done. I'd love to see pics, but I've just never heard of that swap working out right.

Chris