Was wondering why I havn't heard too many people doing the 3.8 swap. Is it the exact same thing as the 3.4? Not the turbo 3.8, im talking the ones that came out of the new firebird/camaros. Reason im asking is their is a 99 3.8 in the boneyard and the guy wants $250 for it. Has tranny, engine, console, etc... Only got hit in the back pretty bad. What tranny does this thing use? Could I use the parts from the 99 to put into my 91 and make it a fairly easy swap?

 

Not even close to the same swap. Project85 is going to do this, but hes pressed for time as he is in military.

Gotta fab up your own motor mounts, redo wiring, custom exhuast, custom air intake. Its not just a drop n drive.

 

Yeah, the 3.8 is a 90* motor, so it has to have the 90* transmission. means you have to do the motor mounts, Front X-member (maybe, have heard that it already has the holes drilled for the V6 and V8 in it), Seriously, if you're going to do all that work for just a normal 3.8, it's not worth it IMO. I think Project85 is doing an ultra-fun setup, so that's worth it.

 

Alrighty, was just curious.

 

what they all said

 

I'll ask this detail.
Motor mounts.
The FRAME mounts from the 4th gen easily swap into a 3rd Gen or even a S-10 series.
I did this for one of my 3.4 swaps. 4th Gen F Body 3.4 FRAME mounts into/onto my 85 Blazer FRAME for the 3.4, using the 1985 2.8 MOTOR mounts on the 3.4.
I can imagine the MOTOR mounts from the 3.8 4th gen will NOT work at all. 4th Gen MOTOR mounts are "different" big time!
Why not get the necessary 3rd gen 3.8 motor mounts from a supplier?
Rest of detail is way correct (wiring, tranny swap, exhaust, etc....)

 

The pass side bracket looks regular, it's the drivers side that's fugly looking. And yes, the bracket bolt pattern on the block is totally different than the 2.8~3.4 engines.

Ultra fun swap well, I did have most of the 4th genwires decoded, but then I went on a weeks vacation & well. you know how it is. Gonna review the 90% that I deceded & then delve into the 85 wiring schematics, the 88 schematics for the "new" gauge cluster, check my supply ofblack & colored electrical tape and then start into it.

 

For a Driver motor mount, how about using the 3.8 one used in the 2ND Gen FBody Firebird? Is that a reasonable option, perhaps more easy to locate than the one for the 3.8 in the 1989 Trans Am?

 

ked, I already asked/stated that in a PM to him. He said he checked and the bolt pattern to the block was different.

I offered to go assist him for a new engine

 

I replied: I gonna need the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ from teh 3.4 & tranny to finish the swap ( and get some of that Smirnoff when it's done )

 

How engine swappers do this.
They make a steel plate, drill holes for the "engine" side, put the engine "mount" on the "frame mount", lower engine, mark "engine mount" holes onto the steel plate on the engine, remove engine, drill required holes onto the steel plate, mount the engine mount, it's done.
It this a clue?
I saw this done on an old 1940's Chevy desiring to install a 1963 & later InLine 6 cylinder under that hood.
This technique is also shown in the JTR manual for installing a V8 under the hood of a S-10 series.

 

it's not just a clue, it's a shyt-hot good clue :yourock:

 

FYI,
The steel plate is NOT Tinker Toy thin.
Happy to pass along this tip!
In Street Rodder magazine, this was done in the May 2003 issue.
The place doing this swap was
Walton Fabrication
www.waltonfabrication.com

If ya also check with Dale, I'll bet he could ask any of the V8 into S-10 Blazer swappers for a pic of those to be made V8 motor mounts. That idea I've known about since 1990's a tip of my hat to Mike Knell of JTR.

Hey ya doing a Custom Swap, well, make Custom Motor Mounts!!!

Same idea as inserting a TH200R4/700R4 into early GM chassis. Many times ya just make the existing tranny mont, "slightly different!". How? Ya add metal!

When ya use someone elses ideas, acknowledge them for their brains, too!