Eric Skayman

Was considering swapping out my 2.8 for a 4.3 for obvious reasons.
Just curious on if I would need to beef the front end up, change the mounts and any other adjustments. I heard I would need to get a transmission that could fit a 350. Anything else I would need to change? Is the swap even worth it in terms of additional power?

project89

iTrader: (1)

v8 springs would make the front end ride a lil to high, ud prolly have to cut off a half a coil

v6 springs more then likley would ride slightly low

u would need to change over to 350 motor mounts, and yes u would need to get a v8 transmission, the 2.8 engine is a 60* engine and does not share the same bellhousing pattern as the v8 or the 4.3 v6


for the money u would spend u would be better off putting a turbo on the 2.8 it would cost u less and net u much more power and can be done for around 7-850 bucks

unless of course u have a carburated 2.8 then i wouldnt even bother

Eric Skayman

Thanks for the info, but I do unfortunately have the Carbed 2.8.
However, I was offered from a shop owner I know who has a 2.8 with fuel injection and he's asking 200 for everything. In this case getting the injected model and adding a few mods would be well worth it?

project89

iTrader: (1)

pass on the 2.8 , for slightly more money u could get a 3.1 or 3.4 out of a 4thgen which would be more power to start with.and u could swap ur carb onto either of those motors

i seen ur post in the v6 section so heres another reply

if u want to go fuel injected u would need a complete fi motor and ecm and harness, these should be easy to get from any junkyard

the only thing about the 3.4 motor is the intake on the 3.4 will not clear the distributor without some minor mods , but those minor mods include welding aluminum which ur average person cant do. so the easiest thing to do with a 3.4 motor is to grab the intake off a 2.8 or 3.1 and use that


one other option would be to use an aftermarket ecm like the megasquirt , u can get a megasquirt ecm and harness for 311$'s this ecm allows u to tune the car with a laptop.
but it will not run the emiisions equipment if u need those for testing

Eric Skayman

Can The 3.1/3.4 from fourth Gens can be swapped right on the old mounts?
Only issue I have with finding other motors right now is there are only two wreckers in my area and neither have any Birds with these small motors.
But I do have until this winter before I park my car for the season, so I'll definitely keep these in mind while I have the time to look around. Thanks for the info.

project89

iTrader: (1)

yes the 3.1 is a direct bolt in,
the 3.4 requires u to either change the intake(2.8/3.1) or modify it slightly
also on the 3.4 u have to reuse ur stock oil pan and front timing cover

as long as it is a 3.1 or 3.4 out of a RWD car or truck the motor bolts right in except as noted above about the intake/oilpan and timing cover on the 3.4

u can get the 3.1 out of any 90-92 camaro or firebird
and the 3.4 out of any 93-94 camaro or firebird
also look at some of the s series pickups and blazers as alot of the stock 2.8's were replaced with ht3.4's which was a replacememnt/crate motor
i do belive they have a blue tag on the valve covers that say HT 3.4 on them

Blue1990camaro

iTrader: (1)

yea im actually doing the 2.8 to 3.1 swap myself, id stay away from doing a 4.3 swap, 3.1/3.4 swaps very very easy