v6 to v8... should i?
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: tuckerton nj
Car: 1987 camaro,88 firebird
Engine: 2.8 v6,5.0 tpi
Transmission: manual
Axle/Gears: 3.47
v6 to v8... should i?
hey guys i figured id ask you guys cuz i trust you guys the most.. my budy has a carbed v8 with a modded cam,holly carb and intake with 50-60 k on the motor. hed sell it to me for 250 bux.. i have a v6 mpfi with a 5 speed.. should i get the motor and swap it? will it be a ton of work? or will it be cake.. can i use my 5 speed? i heard i have a t5 and its possible.. how much mods will i have to make in order to do this? is it worth it? is the motor alone worth it?
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Monroe, Nj
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 355 4bbl
Transmission: tko 600
Axle/Gears: 12bolt 3.73
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
i did that swap on the same car year and everything except it was auto(now manual). the t5 for a v6 is not as strong as one one for a v8 witch isnt to strong eather. you would have to buy motor mounts for the frame for a v8 and they have to be bolted up to the front holes on the k frame. for that year v6 and v8 radiators were different so you would need one of those. you would also need all new brakets for your accessories becouse the v6 has a serpentine belt setup
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 252
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From: tuckerton nj
Car: 1987 camaro,88 firebird
Engine: 2.8 v6,5.0 tpi
Transmission: manual
Axle/Gears: 3.47
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
what about the electricals. thats what im worried abt the most , aside from huge and strenuous labor
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: tuckerton nj
Car: 1987 camaro,88 firebird
Engine: 2.8 v6,5.0 tpi
Transmission: manual
Axle/Gears: 3.47
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
i can get the carbed 350 thats no problem. im talkin bout installing and getting it running and bolting everything up right.. is it as hard as everyone makes it out to be?
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,328
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From: Kitchener, ON
Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
If it's carbed, all you need is 12V and a fuel supply. FI setup would be much more challenging.
Not sure about the tranny.
Not sure about the tranny.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 252
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From: tuckerton nj
Car: 1987 camaro,88 firebird
Engine: 2.8 v6,5.0 tpi
Transmission: manual
Axle/Gears: 3.47
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Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,328
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From: Kitchener, ON
Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
Of course there will be wires for guages, and vacuum lines here and there. But it doesn't take much to get a carb running compared to 80 PCM pins in a wiring harness to sort out on FI.
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From: Evansville, IN
Car: 1992 Camaro RS 25th Anniversary
Engine: 3.4L v6 with a t3/t4 Turbo
Transmission: T-5 Conversion
Axle/Gears: 3.23 SLP Limited Slip
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
youll need a diffrent bellhousing for your trans, as well as diffrent springs for the front of your car
Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 122
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From: pennsylvania, united states
Car: 1985 & 1988 trans am
Engine: 350 tpi ; 355
Transmission: 700r4 auto; converting to 6 speed
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3:27 posi; 2.73 open
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
u will also want to remove the pump out of the gas tank i did the v6 to v8 swap a couple years ago it wasnt that bad but took alil time
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 90
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From: Monroe, Nj
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 355 4bbl
Transmission: tko 600
Axle/Gears: 12bolt 3.73
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
i didnt have to take my pump out.i used a mechanical pump and pulled fuel trew the return line. you can use the the ignition wires for the starter and the distributer
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Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 252
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From: tuckerton nj
Car: 1987 camaro,88 firebird
Engine: 2.8 v6,5.0 tpi
Transmission: manual
Axle/Gears: 3.47
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
oh god im screwed lol.. no matter wat ppl say it seems like i get lost..i take it i cant use the wiring harness n i got to use a makeshift harness?
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
Then buy a V8 with a stick. Plenty of them out there, I know most are Autos, but the 5-speeds are not impossible to find.
You will end up spending more and getting less converting yours.
You will end up spending more and getting less converting yours.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,402
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From: Sussex County, NJ
Car: 1994 Z28
Engine: 355 LT1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 252
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From: tuckerton nj
Car: 1987 camaro,88 firebird
Engine: 2.8 v6,5.0 tpi
Transmission: manual
Axle/Gears: 3.47
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
This is from another thread that I thought was applicable here. It has to do with buying a project car, but the same still goes for the swap you are talking about.
I stand by my opinion. Whether you like it or not, you get more car for your money when you buy a V8. This far down the line the price to get into a nice V6 isn't going to save much money over a decent V8.
After you put a decent V8 (not a junk 305) into a V6 car you're going to have spent enough to be in nice V8 thirdgen territory. You can spend $1,500 on a V6 Camaro, then another $1,500 on a V8 and related parts, and have a hacked together V8 Camaro with soft suspension, V6 gauges, base model interior and body. Or you can just spend $3,000 and get a Z28, Iroc, Formula, Trans Am, etc. Shop around and find a nice Z28, Iroc, Formula, or Trans Am, and you'll save more money in the long run. Spending a couple grand more in the beginning for a car with nice paint and no rust will save you a $3,000 paint job.
I'm sorry if you take it personally because you own a V6, but I'm not going to stop suggesting the easier, more cost effective route to people asking what they should be looking for. Being on a budget is all the more reason to save your money whenever you can, wait, and buy the right car when you can afford it, rather then buying the first POS you can afford and spending a fortune and years tacking it back together.
After you put a decent V8 (not a junk 305) into a V6 car you're going to have spent enough to be in nice V8 thirdgen territory. You can spend $1,500 on a V6 Camaro, then another $1,500 on a V8 and related parts, and have a hacked together V8 Camaro with soft suspension, V6 gauges, base model interior and body. Or you can just spend $3,000 and get a Z28, Iroc, Formula, Trans Am, etc. Shop around and find a nice Z28, Iroc, Formula, or Trans Am, and you'll save more money in the long run. Spending a couple grand more in the beginning for a car with nice paint and no rust will save you a $3,000 paint job.
I'm sorry if you take it personally because you own a V6, but I'm not going to stop suggesting the easier, more cost effective route to people asking what they should be looking for. Being on a budget is all the more reason to save your money whenever you can, wait, and buy the right car when you can afford it, rather then buying the first POS you can afford and spending a fortune and years tacking it back together.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 252
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From: tuckerton nj
Car: 1987 camaro,88 firebird
Engine: 2.8 v6,5.0 tpi
Transmission: manual
Axle/Gears: 3.47
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
yeah. its just a thought.. i mean i might just use this. the mechanic room under the hood is rather sexy.. although nothin beats a chevy v8 rumble lol
Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 122
Likes: 2
From: pennsylvania, united states
Car: 1985 & 1988 trans am
Engine: 350 tpi ; 355
Transmission: 700r4 auto; converting to 6 speed
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3:27 posi; 2.73 open
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Monroe, Nj
Car: 1987 Camaro
Engine: 355 4bbl
Transmission: tko 600
Axle/Gears: 12bolt 3.73
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
i started my swap when i was 16 and it took about 4 months becouse i didnt have the money all at once. so how hard can the swap be. i also did subframe connectors becouse the motor is a 355 i built with about 400 to 450 hp
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Re: v6 to v8... should i?
guess i got lucky. got a v6 87 from the scrapyard for 300. interior is in near mint condition except headliner and center conosle lid. got a 350/trans for 150 that had a cracked block
. then i got another 350/transmission for 90 that seems is good
. going carb and will have lots of parts to part out and sell when it is done.
300=car
240=engines/trans x2
60=edelbrock intake
50 maybe=gaskets/seals
40=elgin performance cam
?=ground effects and bumpers still looking for side gfx at about 75 now for front and back bumper and chin
-----
CHEAP+ Paint and body work might cost me 500(step dad gettin ready to open paint and body shop)
basically if you want a v8 in there and u can get it cheap, do it just plan on lots of down time. you don't have to buy thousands of dollars on new parts
. then i got another 350/transmission for 90 that seems is good. going carb and will have lots of parts to part out and sell when it is done.300=car
240=engines/trans x2
60=edelbrock intake
50 maybe=gaskets/seals
40=elgin performance cam
?=ground effects and bumpers still looking for side gfx at about 75 now for front and back bumper and chin
-----
CHEAP+ Paint and body work might cost me 500(step dad gettin ready to open paint and body shop)
basically if you want a v8 in there and u can get it cheap, do it just plan on lots of down time. you don't have to buy thousands of dollars on new parts
Last edited by sand1303; Nov 17, 2010 at 07:03 PM.
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
And with that you have basically a base model v8 without an overdrive transmission that you could of easily bought for that price. I paid 800 bucks for a 305 TPI 5-speed Trans Am that was in descent (easily drivable) shape.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 66
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Re: v6 to v8... should i?
there is always those hell of a deals. you don't always have the money to put up all at once either. i am not saying a swap is the only way to get a v8 but my finance train makes tons of stops. i never have a lot of money to play with at one time. amorget what did the interior look like in your 800 dollar car? most of them i have seen cheap on craiglsist are trashed inside
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
Besides being red (blech) it was in descent shape. It wouldn't call it perfect, but every piece was there and in usable condition.
Deals are why you shouldn't swap in a V-8. Drive the V-6, save, and buy a V8, sell the V6. Besides, interior is WAY cheaper then mechanical and an entire interior swap is way easier then replacing an engine. Also, I can drive my car with basically no interior... I can't drive it with basically no engine.
If you can come up with 300 for a shell and 400 for an engine/transmission you can come up with 700 some dollars at once as you can't drive the shell or the engine/transmission separate, so owning one or the other is no different then having it sit in a bank account.
Deals are why you shouldn't swap in a V-8. Drive the V-6, save, and buy a V8, sell the V6. Besides, interior is WAY cheaper then mechanical and an entire interior swap is way easier then replacing an engine. Also, I can drive my car with basically no interior... I can't drive it with basically no engine.
If you can come up with 300 for a shell and 400 for an engine/transmission you can come up with 700 some dollars at once as you can't drive the shell or the engine/transmission separate, so owning one or the other is no different then having it sit in a bank account.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
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
My criteria for a V6 to V8 swap:
1) Get the car for free, and the body and interior are in immaculate shape;
or:
2) The car has sentimental value (Grandma bought it new, gave it to me for high school graduation; she only drove it to the grocery store once a week and to church on Sunday, had it in the dealer every 3 months for maintenance and to fix anything that was wrong).
Even then, I would skip the Gen I V8 swap entirely and go straight for the LS1/T56 or LS1/4L60E swap. But, I'm biased because that's what I finally did.
1) Get the car for free, and the body and interior are in immaculate shape;
or:
2) The car has sentimental value (Grandma bought it new, gave it to me for high school graduation; she only drove it to the grocery store once a week and to church on Sunday, had it in the dealer every 3 months for maintenance and to fix anything that was wrong).
Even then, I would skip the Gen I V8 swap entirely and go straight for the LS1/T56 or LS1/4L60E swap. But, I'm biased because that's what I finally did.
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Re: v6 to v8... should i?
everyone has a different situation, my car was almost free and the v6 was knocking. i bought it to play with anyway. my stepdad has a paint and body shop so i wasn't worried about the body condition. and my interior is near perfect. i already have a v6 mustang that i drive now so this is just a project car and a toy that i can do little at a time as i get the money. hopefully by middle of 2011 i am driving it. paint might not be done but i will have him do the body work for sure before i drive it.
another plus to the v6 to v8 swap is the rear end gears are already bigger aren't they? i haven't rotated a tire to see for sure but according to the techboard the v6 had bigger gears than the z28 or iroc
idk, i say if you will enjoy doing it and be able to say you put a v8 in there yourself go for it. i like doing the work myself and my stepdad built a couple of hot rods so i can learn stuff from him while i am doing my swap. if you aint gonna enjoy lots of work on it then just buy a v8
another plus to the v6 to v8 swap is the rear end gears are already bigger aren't they? i haven't rotated a tire to see for sure but according to the techboard the v6 had bigger gears than the z28 or iroc
idk, i say if you will enjoy doing it and be able to say you put a v8 in there yourself go for it. i like doing the work myself and my stepdad built a couple of hot rods so i can learn stuff from him while i am doing my swap. if you aint gonna enjoy lots of work on it then just buy a v8
Last edited by sand1303; Nov 17, 2010 at 07:06 PM.
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
There is a difference between you and most people. You had your stepdad to help. If you are by yourself it is totally different.
V6 can have better gears as they never came with 2.73 or 3.08s, however plenty of V8s got 3.42 or 3.23s. V6s also have little chance of having a Posi rear end.
V6 can have better gears as they never came with 2.73 or 3.08s, however plenty of V8s got 3.42 or 3.23s. V6s also have little chance of having a Posi rear end.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 27
From: Sanctuary state
Car: 67 ******mobile
Engine: 385 Solid roller
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 4.11
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
Good advice there. No swap is easy or cheap....start mickey'ing wiring and the car is going to become freinds with a flatbed and will pizz you off...then youll sell the car. So sell now get somethign that doesnt need all that.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: plattsburgh, ny
Car: 57 chev 2dr sedan - 57 chev 3100
Engine: the car is a 350 the truck is a 383
Transmission: both turbo 350s
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
looking to sell a 2.8L V6 if anyone is interested. It had 93k on it and was taken out and a 350 was put in. I am new to thirdgen so if you know of a better place I can post this I will. Looking to sell it whole or part it out. Its fuel injected out of a firebird. selling parts or whole cheap. upstate NY
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 258
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From: Niagara falls,ontario
Car: 84 firebird
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700r4 stage 2 shift kit 2500 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
lol sooo just do lots of research before you decide...best thing drive it for awhile then sell it buy a v8 or a fourth gen with an ls1 lol Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
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
I assume you guys mean, "Sell the V6 car and buy a V8 car."
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Niagara falls,ontario
Car: 84 firebird
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700r4 stage 2 shift kit 2500 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Car: 1988 camaro
Engine: 2.8l, need a v8 swap
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
im 17 years old still in school, and when im not in school im working my minimum wage job, but i love working on cars.. ive had every class at school i can take, and plaining going to college after i graduate... i have an 88 camaro v6, i tarded a bike for over summer, its in good shape enterior is good everything works, its an automatic also.. i was looking into doing a v8 swap.. thats what brought me to this site.. ive learnt alot already reading everyones blogs... but i dont know enough yet, i have a ford ranger to drive while im working on my car, by the way it has 78k miles on it, im not sure what to do just yet...
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Niagara falls,ontario
Car: 84 firebird
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700r4 stage 2 shift kit 2500 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
im 17 years old still in school, and when im not in school im working my minimum wage job, but i love working on cars.. ive had every class at school i can take, and plaining going to college after i graduate... i have an 88 camaro v6, i tarded a bike for over summer, its in good shape enterior is good everything works, its an automatic also.. i was looking into doing a v8 swap.. thats what brought me to this site.. ive learnt alot already reading everyones blogs... but i dont know enough yet, i have a ford ranger to drive while im working on my car, by the way it has 78k miles on it, im not sure what to do just yet...
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Parkersburg, WV
Car: 84 Camaro
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4 from 87 Camaro
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
I agree with you AmorgetRS, but I swapped mine for the fun and experience, plus I had a southern body that was solid all the way around. I also bought a complete V8 camaro with frame-damage that I drove to my house for $200. I used everything off that car to make mine like the V8 models, including the gauges although I had to do a little bit of home-made wiring to get them all to work.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Re: v6 to v8... should i?
i am looking to do some thing similar in the account of i have an 88 iroc with frame damage the car was in great running shape untill a truck lift gate destroyed the front end (let go and came down on top of it) up till the rad bent the front right frame down trashed the hood and fenders as well, but motor and the rest of the drive train is in tact. i was wondering if it would be a good idea to put it in a 92 v6 with a motor that makes a lot of noise and i think its on its way out. like every thing is in the 88 donor car is good and the body of the 92 is immaculate interior is more than acceptable as needs to be cleaned i can get the 92 for 300 bucks. i have all the tools and a car as a daily driver (98 Cherokee 3 inch lift 31 inch tires) so time is not a factor. oh and as well should i swap the rear end as well to get the right rear end ratio would be sweet to cuz its disc brakes in the back. so what do you think
Re: v6 to v8... should i?
Since you already have the 88 IROC and have deemed to beyond repair, go for it. Since you have a complete project car you won't run into most of the problems with a true swap. You aren't really doing a V8 swap, you are doing a body swap. Personally I'd plan on swapping EVERYTHING off of it, including the dash and interior wiring, just to save yourself the headache of trying to make it all work together.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2
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Re: v6 to v8... should i?
thank you for your input AmorgetRS but why do you say no Camaro305SB what is so wrong
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