I need help... lots. I have an 85' berlinetta with a 2.8L and would like to put in a V8, carbed probably. I was wandering how i would swap that? Would i have to find a parts car and take out the v8 and emissions? What about getting the tach, oil pressure, and temp gauges hooked back up? Radiator? Transmission? Thanks for your help!

 

if you want it to be a factory type installation, it will cost you a lot. depending on the laws you have to abide by, just swap motor mounts, put on an aftermarket carb and distributor, eliminate using an ecm, put on aftermarket headers/ypipe/exhaust and don't use a cat unless you feel you have to, in which case you might need a smog pump. you might also need stronger springs in the front for weight purposes.

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'84 Berlinetta, LG4, 700R-4, starwars interior, no major mods yet

 

I've looked at your post 3 or 4 times now, guess I'll respond. If you want/need emissions, a donor car is the only sane way to go about it. There are a lot of parts that need to be switched, and taking the harnesses off of everything and pulling it all out intact and in one piece is the best way to do it (rather than trying to trace down and splice things in).

Is this your first car, or is there some other sentimental value to it? If not, my recommendation would be to sell the car and use the funds to go out and find a factory V8 car. You'll be dollars and ulcers ahead. I had previously done engine swaps in my '57 (2 that could be called real "swaps", including the 396) and two Vegas (4-cyl to V6), and I have to say the emissions-legal Camaro V6 to V8 was absolutely the hardest of them all.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. 2-1/2" cat-back, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 CC system w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback, restalled TC, Spohn SFCs).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).