Hello guys I'm new to this site and I have been trying to research this for about a week on this site and many others. There are so many opinions it's very confusing. Details of the car I've got. 1988 camaro 2.8L base. This car has a very straight and clean body with absolutely zero rust. The big problem is someone has hacked all the wiring under the hood. The car does run but won't start when cold. Instead of fixing this motor I want to do a swap. Yes I have read almost every thread in the swap section. I have a 96 gmc Sierra with a 4.3 and 4l60e. Originally I was going to drop this in thinking it would be as easy as a SBC swap but then I read otherwise. So my big question is what is the best donor vehicle and most common in pick a part lots? I live in northern va and there are several pick a part locations near me. I will be converting it to carb so I am not worried about the FI stuff. I'm really looking for a car I can grab the motor and trans out of and drop in the car. I am just wondering what the easiest vehicle to look for. Thanks in advance

 

I'm looking for either the 350 or 305 SBC with hopefully the 700r4 trans or 4l60

 

a gen1 350 v8. you will need starter wires, hei wires, and a few wires for the alternator.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm fine doing the alternator wiring and starter wiring and stuff. Ok so what vehicles had a gen 1 that is very common possibly with the trans I would need?

 

Your going to need a F-body specific transmission for the torque arm mount, unless you relocate that to the cross member.

A 1st gen small block came in vans, trucks, passenger cars, corvettes, boats, ect until the 90's, you shouldn't have a problem finding one.

 

Any V8 from a Chevy made since 1955

Any T700 /4L60 ( also called a 700R4 ) , the non electronic version of your 4L60 E.
You just swap on a 3rd Gen tailshaft housing that has the torque arm mount if the trans came from a reg car , truck or van

 

The T700 trans has a cable (the TV cable ) that connects to the carb linkage to control the trans shifts.( if you get told a trans is a T700 and it doesn't have the TV cable from the pass side then it is a 4L60E )

You will need a special bracket for the carb to connect the TV cable to and also some wiring to do so you can manually control the lockup convertor that is usually controlled by the EFI computer

 

0 in on a L31 350 yrs from 1996 to 2000 truck/van.You doing the research,I'm sure you have seen that as a common thread.Buy a Vortec carb conversion intake and HEI dizzy.

 

Awesome thanks for all the info! There is just so much different info about these swaps I wanted a more straight forward/ realistic swap for me. Thanks for the help

 

So with the vortec motor I need to change the flex plate to an older model engine and change the timing cover and harmonic balancer also?

 

Vortec motor's have a different flywheel/flexplate bolt pattern than an older V8. I believe they changed the bolt pattern in 87 (not 100% sure) when they changed the rear main seal from a 2 piece (55-87) to a 1 piece (87-98 i think)

But the flexplate from a vortec motor should bolt right up to just about any transmission.

Not sure if you would have to or would want to change the balancer and timing cover. I know the timing cover in vortec truck motors was plastic and had a crank sensor, which you wouldn't need.

 

Oh ok thanks for the clarification. I just kept reading on others swaps that they changed all that stuff thanks for all your help guys I appreciate it

 

Flexplate has to match the engine , not the trans

You can run the Vortec balancer and timing cover or swap to the earlier style ; your choice.
If you go to a early style balancer you need to remove the reluctor wheel for the Vortec crank sensor on the crankshaft behind the balancer

 

As long as the parts on the motor will work as it is I will leave it alone. No need to spending spending money on parts not necessary. I'm on a limited budget lol

 

The transmission behind a '96-'00 truck, aka "Vortec" SBC, would not be straight-forward, as it is the "E" version of the 4L60. You can use it, but you'll need a "TCM", "transmission control module", and the best choice there would be aftermarket. Aftermarket TCM = "very expensive", probably more than you'd pay for a Vortec engine & 4L60E.

 

I plan on bolting the motor to an older 700r4 or 4L60-no E. Pick a parts around here are $200 for engine as long as you pull it (they use a forklift to get it out to your vehicle). That's if they have any in the yard. When they get nicer stuff they usually pull the motors and trans and store them and charge a lot for that set up. If I can do the whole swap for under 1500 I'll be happy. If not I will probably just sell the car and get a v8 one. Thanks for everyone's input

 

Starting with a v8 car reduces hassle, but if you're gonna make it fast, then the final investment is similar.

 

No I'm not planning on racing or anything. If this 2.8 had a bit more power I would be fine with it. But this thing won't even get out of its own way lol thanks

 

I know you said "non v6 swap", but probably the easiest swap to get a bit more power and allow the car to get out of its own way is a 3.4 V6.

 

Yea I've read about that swap also. I would just hate to spend money and time and still have a v6 lol and I know the aftermarket is huge for SBC. I'm just waiting to come up with the money to do the swap. Right now I've got the steering column out of the car to put in a tilt wheel column. I ordered a Bearing kit for the tilt wheel column and I'll get all that put back in next weekend when the parts come in. I've been spending all my money on the rest of the car first lol brakes shocks etc