I have a 1990 Camaro RS 3.1 v6, I have found an engine and transmission from an 1978 Type LT Camaro 350. What will need to be done to do the swap for both the engine and transmission and what will I need.

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

Engine - not much more than is mentioned in the swap sticky (move engine mounts, redo some wires, hoses). Your V6 has an in-tank electric pump, you will need to run a return-type fuel pressure regulator to drop the pressure down to a carb-friendly 4-6 psi. Are you getting all of the accessories with the 350, like carb, water pump, alternator, and power steering pump? You may need to get some 3rd gen V8 stuff from the parts store or possibly a junk yard (power steering hoses, thermostat housing, radiator hoses, etc.). I think the V6 EFI throttle cable can be wound around to hook up to the carb, but you'd probably be better off getting one for an '82-'87 V8 carb application.

The TH350 is shorter than your current transmission, which relocates the transmission mount and requires a longer driveshaft. The '78 transmission also won't have a way to mount the torque arm in the 3rd gen fashion. Your best bet here is to get on Hawks thirdgen website and look up their TH350 crossmember and torque arm mounts. For the driveshaft, you can either buy one from them, get an '82-'83 TH200C or 4-speed driveshaft, or have a shop build you a longer driveshaft.

 

I haven't actually gone to see the engine and transmission yet, supposed to go this weekend but when I talked to the guy selling it over the phone, he told me it had everything needed for the swap so i'm assuming it will have the carb, water pump etc. He also told me he currently has it in a shop getting professionally painted. They both have under 100k miles and the engine has been rebuilt since then so it has close to none on the rebuild. Its been sitting in his garage for the past 8 years and he started it every 3-5 months. I'm not doing the swap alone as to i'm inexpierienced with this stuff but want to learn. My buddy's dad is going to help me and he use to build and race stock cars. My reasoning for this post is that he is being stubborn about it and telling me I need things that my friend and I don't think is needed like change in suspension etc. I will post what comes with the engine after I go to see it but as to the driveshaft can you possibly send me a link to what your talking about? I need to get everything in advanced because I wish to get this done asap. the 3.1 v6 in teh car now has over 200k miles although the odometer reads 181k but the speedometer hasn't worked in quite some time. The engine has a slight tick after it warms up and a small oil leak and tends to idle at 2,000rpm. Other things i'm possibly doing to it is the front tires. I contacted the guy I bought the car from because he still owed me a spare tire for the car, the tire poped and fix a flat spewed out of the bottom. He gave me 2 P205 tires for the front, will that be fine to put on the car? I pelieve there are P225's on the back. Whats best for this? and lastly, the high beams don't even click when I pull back on it.

 

I would agree with your bud's dad. The V6 to V8 swap sticky lists the things I didn't in this response.

Personally, I wouldn't settle for an engine and transmission that old and old-tech. You'll miss overdrive more than you might think. There will be fabrication and swap parts purchases that you will not be able to avoid.

On the other hand, if you found a 3rd gen donor car with running V8, you could swap over everything you need from it to your car.

Some people say they kept the V6 front springs when they did the V8 swap, but they tend to remove weight like AC in order to make it ride acceptably. I think you'd be happier with V8 springs (I was - until I swapped in the LS1...).

 

So what if I can't find a donor car around my area, what would be the easiest v8 engine and transmission set to look for that wouldn't require so much extras. I don't have a lot of time on my hands, I want to keep the car and i'm hoping there is someway i can just take them out and replace them. I'm aware of the engine mounts but I don't know anything about transmissions.

 

I had thin tires and v6 springs SUCKED! Any kind of dip would slam the inner fender on the tires. Then I got 235/55/15 and they were even worse, so I would look for a set of springs. When I swapped a 350 in a camaro I just used a fuel regulator with a return and used the stock electric pump, worked fine.


Edit:

What are you using this car for, daily driver, cruiser?
I would look for a 700r4 transmission out of a 1983-1992 thirdgen, and get an electric speedo gear, because that is what yours is. I would also get the gauges out of a v8, because the tach will be wayy off. If I were you I would get a 1995+ "Vortec" 5.7/350ci block. These have heads that outflow any other stock sbc head, you will need a special intake with 1987+ stock heads though. 1987+ blocks have a 1 piece rear main seal, and can be easily converted to a roller cam.

 

Probably from an '88-'95 light truck. It'll be TBI, just get the harness and ECM at the same time. The transmission output shaft housing will need to be swapped from your current transmission. Minor mods from there.

You'll still need a full exhaust system, though. That's always a big consideration in the V6 to V8 swap.