Bluegrandbetsy

I was wondering if anyone has a v6 f-body and stayed with the v6 because i would like to keep it stock looking but with a little more power to amaze people with v8s. i have an 83 camaro with a 2.8 v6 and want to stay with the v6. any help would be great.

89rs454

Go with a turbo.

Tinbender59

Dude I hate to be cruel but ARE.......YOU.......ON.......DRUGS?????
the only way to make a v6 hang or even mess with a v8, is power adders, as in blower,turbo, NOS.... on and on the list goes. if you want to stay v6 with more power, look into a 3.4l DOHC, or a supercharged 3.8l out of a Grand Prix, otherwise you are just throwing money away, I personally have blown about 8 of those 2.8's they do not like to be pushed hard, sory to bust up your party!!!

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Seems like everybody's gotta learn "the hard way" "the first time"... Lord knows, I sure did. Sounds like this guy is about to bite off a big chunk of his own personal s*** sandwich.

Tinbender59

Project: 85 2.8 bird

ther are many threads in the 6 forum on this, and the late, great Karl has a Tech Article on the 2.8 - 3.4 swap boogie. I used it as a guide in one of my swaps in the old 85.

Bluegrandbetsy

No i am not on drugs. I was thinking about maybe swapping in a 4.3L out of and s-10 and maybe a stroker kit. i just want to be able to have the power and also the fuel efficiency.

7thdarkangel

A 4.3 would be nice. i currently have one in my truck. hauls pretty good (still waiting to put the 355 in it). you can put a cam in(if you can find a decent one) and turbo/nos.

7thdarkangel

Still... better off with a v8. More part availability and cost a lot less as well.

Bluegrandbetsy

Yeah but everyone and their mother has a v8 but really how many v6 camaros do you really see and how many with a performance v6 ?

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Sometimes things like that arent done for a good reason, there are many good reasons.

Mainly it will cost you more and your belief that the V6 will get better mileage is false.

jensen73110

iTrader: (4)

I'm a v6 believer (guy in the v6 section is running 11.1 sec 1/4 mile. that's decent!), but the '83 is not the best to start with. Crappy heads and crappy crank(?), if I remember right. Easiest engine swap in the world is a 3.4L. It can be done for $250, including the engine, but that'll only get you 160 hp. Then you'll need another force of motivation. My route is turbo. But even buying used & ebay, 300 hp will set you back about $1500.

If you just want power, sell your car and buy a v8 car. Easiest "swap" ever.

If you want lots of power & potential for cheap-ish, LSx.

If you want to be a little nuts and spend a little more, welcome to the club.

blue birdy 87

If i remember right the 4.3 is a hard swap. Read this thread below, depending on your wants you might consider a v6. Even though its proven that big powered v8's are easier

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/5...ocharging.html

Fallen2603

This guy actually did the swap:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...4-3l-swap.html

Not too much more work to make power with these than a V8. Ask Syclone/Typhoon guys. Or, you could check these:

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e..._engine_build/

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...l/viewall.html

Just providing information already out there...

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Have you done any considerable research as to what it actually takes to put a complete setup together using one of the 4.3's and a turbo ?

Especially compared to something that you can buy off the shelf everything, to bolt in and go with a good V8 ?

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

That 301 HP after installed in the car with the headers that wont fit (now you'd need custom)

will be more like 250 after installing all of the accessorys on it, they've got it there with NOTHING on the front and an electric water pump, compare that just to a bone stock LT1 that will do more like 320 HP on the dyno with everything, thats quite a difference, especially when you consider thats after a cam and head porting on the 4.3, and nothing on the LT1

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Caprice iron head LT1 (this is something I can run to the junkyard and pickup for $275 almost any day of the week)

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...d/viewall.html

We made a couple of dyno pulls to establish our baseline and were pleased with a respectable 282 hp at 5,300 rpm and 339 lb-ft at 3,800 rpm through the stock manifolds and cats.

Through stock manifolds (known to be a serious restriction on LT1's) and cats, it made 32 HP more than that 4.3 with its ported heads, cam, and electric water pump...

Fallen2603

Ugh...I'm just putting out information. It's his car and his choice of what he does to it. The more information he gets, the more informed choice he can make on what he wants to do with his car.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

And i'm just providing accurate information and often overlooked information which doesnt get highlighted when people do something like just provide a link to where someone made x amount of power with X engine, leaving out y, z, a,b and C involved in actually getting it into the car and working.

Things like where they put that vortech supercharger on the 4.3, people would often overlook the fact that they did so using 100 octane fuel, ended up popping a headgasket, as well as spent as much on the supercharger alone that an LT1 making equal power would cost...

Fallen2603

University of Hard-Knock's: Knowledge through experience, success through perseverance. We all have to learn sometime that it's never as easy as others make it look.

All that information is in there. If he reads it, he'll find it.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

You're right, I should just keep quiet and let him learn the hard way, rather than provide information that makes things easier for others.




And no, not all the information he needs is there, nor in plain sight.

Fallen2603

Swapping a V8 isn't exactly easy work, either. If he does a swap, he'll have a full project on his hands, whether he swaps to a different V6 or a V8.

Easier for you, maybe. Maybe not for him. An individual's values do not translate the same to everyone else.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Whats not easier here with a v8 swap, the same things are going to be needed for a 4.3, as well as several things that you have to deal with aside from the common issues for both.

And yes, it really is easy, everything needed is available, if he can turn a wrench, with a little research and sense it can be done in a weekend with just a bit of planning.

An individuals "values" ? thats a joke right ?

All of the exhaust side of the 4.3 will have to be custom made, whether it be a turbo setup, or headers, if turbo like the sy/ty stuff you suggested you'll also add intercooler piping and fabrication in there.

The V8 is simply order the correct parts and bolt it together, theres no "individuals values" here.

Fallen2603

OP, I wish you luck in your future endeavors, whatever those may be, more power to you. Unfortunately, it seems that your values, what you want with your car, don't matter here. Cheers.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

No, what matters here is that he asked for HELP, not to be shown your quoted "University of Hard-Knocks"

He's obviously got enough sense to ask for information, unfortunately you dont have enough experience to provide actual useful information, and just throw out bits of pieces from magazine articles, virtually none of which involve the specified engine installed into a thirdgen.

7thdarkangel

My vote if you truly want to stay v6, get a 4.3 clean it up real good. All new bearings freeze plug ect. Put a pretty decent cam in it some dish pistons and complimenting heads. Headers if you can find them. If you want to go further, slap in a turbo/blower, a 150 shot and call it a day. Just remember, it’s your car do as you wish to it and don’t let anyone pull you away from your plan. If they do, just do what I do and kick them out of the garage.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Why is it you say start out with a cam and dished pistons ?

If you are going to bother doing a build on the engine you really should determined the power adder to be used before building, if its going to get gas then build it with something higher on compression, if it will get forced air then yes dished would be a good idea.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Also if you are set on using a 6, another option to consider is the 3800, bellhousing flange is the same as V6 thirdgens, and you can get an L67 all day for a few hundred $, get a newer one and have a good starting point with 36#/hr injectors, as well as matching programming to start with. Good bottom end that will handle some power as well.

thirdchance

While we are tossing ideas around there must be hundreds of new Camaros totalled by now...the ultimate sixer swap would be the 323 hp 3.6L V6. Thats would be a cool 3rd gen. Power, 6 cylinders, mileage and a real Camaro powerplant!!!!

89rs454

I would also love to see this, that beast in a thirdgen stock would run low 13 high 12 probably.I would trade my lt1

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

It gets less overall mileage than its V8 counterpart, would likely get less mileage than an LT1 swap, should weigh MORE than an LT1, as well as being larger externally making things more of a pita to work on.

Where is the benefit that would make you want to trade ?

89rs454

Hell yeah i would do the trade, if anyones dumb enough http://www.summitracing.com/search/P...7/?Ns=Rank|Asc sell it and get me a ls1 t56 combo and a few bolt ons. smart.

jensen73110

iTrader: (4)

Maybe you know something I don't, but why would an all aluminum v6 weigh more than an iron block v8?
Why would a 60* v6 be wider & longer than a 90* v8?

iloveacamaro

I daily drive a 4.3 3rd gen. I did the swap myself, the only thing I had to change was the computer... Aside from some exhaust work. I was driving an hour a day to work and back on less than 40 dollars a week if I stay out of it. Last weekend I took it to Miami from Seminole/Tampa area on a quarter tank. And the last time I got next to a vette on the highway I was with him until I had to shift to 5th. I have no complaints with my swap. But looking back, I would probably go with a 5.3 if I had to do it again.

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Because the cylinder heads are huge, its got 3 extra camshafts, lots of people end up surprised by things like this because they never think of it, just hear its got 2 less cylinders and think it MUST be lighter.

As far as wider, because its a DOHC engine again with huge cylinder heads, making it wide up top, just like virtually every other DOHC engine. I didnt say longer, though its probably similar in length.

rob 86 firebird

My opinion is ditch the 2.8 altogether! The 2.8 is the worst motor GM ever built. If you truly want to stay with a V6 would be to convert to a 4.3 however a V8 swap 350 would get better fuel mileage that either the 2.8 or 4.3. I swapped from a 305 to a built 77 model 350 4 bolt main and getting 16 MPG pushing 450 HP.

jensen73110

iTrader: (4)

Ah, good thinking. I was confusing it with the 3.5L. Still, Hot Rod says the 3.6 LLT is 370 lbs and the LS1 is 430.
And the LT5 easily packed 4 cams into the cramped C4 engine compartment.

And we are way off topic.

Project: 85 2.8 bird

the benifit would be that you could drive thru a puddle of water and not worry about the $300 opti-crap dieing.

dohc vc ohv, here's a f*rd rendition

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

How odd that down here in tampa with rediculous downpours i've driven around more than adequately enough to say that you are referring to hearsay, from people who lack the ability to maintain their vehicles, and then blame their lack of maintenance on a part design.

There are plenty of others who have actually owned them that have had the same experience.

Tinbender59

ARE YOU NUTS LQ( in a 240sx???? hang on to your hat boys, it won't be stayin on your head otherwise. LOL

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Haha, it makes need for a good driver, but its sure fun

Taken part in quite a few similar swaps, current one going on is an actual LS6, right hand drive converted 240sx, we've actually got the engine way further back than any off the shelf mount kit, as well as working on a set of 1-7/8->2.125->3" 4-2-1 headers

And stripping an LT1 4th gen this coming weekend to bolt it into a friends 240sx for some temporary fun until he gets the rest of whats needed for his 5.3, its an auto, but it'll do, we'll be strapping my bottle in and going to find out what it'll do.

But back to helping you, if you are still wanting to go with a V6 despite the many advantages of several available V8's, please let us know what you've got as far as fabrication skills, budget, timeframe, etc and it'll be easier to suggest a good route to follow.

Tinbender59

well now that is a horse of a different color. personally I have had ideas of a 4.3 in a third gen, it would have good power and should not have to labor to pull the car, that I will give you two thumbs up. but a 2.8-3.1 arguh!! poor design and not very durable.

I actually think that an Inline EFI 250ci say 70's and 80's vintage, running on a 4.3 ECU would be way trick. the 250 was capable of 25+mpg back in the day, with EFI ????who knows what it'll do????