Hey guys hows it going. As you see and know I have a 1991 V6 3.1 Chevy Camaro RS. I have a blue RS that has 127,xxx miles. I love it and it looks very good outside and inside, it runs very very good. Well check this out.....

....I had taken a drive to my aunts and next to her parking lot was a 1987 Chevy Camaro Z28. Its a white and gold one and I was talking to the girl and her boyfriend about the camaro. They got a 350 V8 in that thing, standard. Alot of chrome the in engine dept....looks good. But the wiring in there suck....I mean really suck! The inside looks like crap, but has power windows (even though I dont know if they work). Well over all it looks like crap but it has a 350 in that thing (she was telling me that a year ago her and her brother put it in) and the car has about 165,xxx in it.

....Well to make a long story short they said if I would like to make an even trade once there done fixing the car. I said that sounds like a pretty good idea, they got my cell number and all but I dont know if I should. I do cause....well come on its a V8. Not a 305 but a 350. My 91' looks very very beautiful compared to theres, but again they got a 350 and I got a 3.1. I want to add more juice to my baby but sadly to say but theres just not much you can do to our V6's.....unless you want to spend thousands and thousands of green.

I just want to know what you guys think and I would really really like some feedback........help out guys, please, I dont know if this would be a good idea or not. I'm kind of confused at the moment. Thanks people.......

 

If they took the time to do an engine swap i would think it would look good. I doubt its a 350. Its probably a beat 305. According to this site 350's didnt come in that year car with a stick.

Also like you said theirs not much you can do to these v6's without spending alot of money. So why would anyone in their right mind put a 350 in a 3rd gen then trade it for a v6 car?

Like you said your car looks very good so why trade it for a pos? Just because its a v8 doesnt mean much, like you said about the wiring, imagine the internals of the motor!

If you really want a v8 swap one into the car you have now. Its not that hard to do.Then you dont have to deal with someone elses half assed wiring job either.

I could have bought a v8 car i dont know how many times but i like my car, i just hate the v6 so thats what im doing.

BTW just curious but what type of setup was on the v8? Carb? TPI? etc....

 

Kinda depends.. would you consider theirs reliable? Is yours reliable? Will that thing pass tucson smog? Is it the actual L98 or is it just a carbed 350? Are you willing to invest in a project car? (regardless of how well they fix it up, murphy says they'll do something wrong. It *will* be a project at some point)... It's only 4 years older, chances are it has potential, but it really all depends what YOU want for a thirdgen. Also, engine bay chrome is nice.. but has absolutely no bearing on the quality of the internals.

 

Well thanks guys for the imput. I have been thinking and thinking about this.

br()bert - to answer your question, Yes its a carb. Well from looking at what I had saw I'm very sure its a V8 350. Br()bert I think I'll take that advise you had said....about the swapping engine part. I dont think I would like to mess with anyones half fast BS. I guess I just thought that would be one of the fastest way in getting the sound and power that a V8 has.


TechSmurf - Now to answer your questions, If I would consider theirs reliable....I would have to say no after checking it out and seeing how its just sitting there. Then after seeing how the inside was it now makes me wonder if they even change the damn oil. You got a point on that part (I didn't realize that...so I thank you on that).

Now if mine is reliable....hell yeah it is. I take it to Douglas and back over here to Tucson with no problems what so ever.

Will that thing pass tucson smog - Very good point on that part. To answer that...NO it wont. They told me that its regestired in Douglas. Something about they wanted that crap off....who knows why,........so thats a big problem right....lol

If the actual car is a L98 or Carbed....its a Carbed....but like I said, crappy crappy wiring....

Are you willing to invest in a project car - I have been with what I got now....all for what?.....just to make a V6 RS look fast but still runs the opposite as to what a V8 runs. But I do thank you for that.....I now ask myself if I'm willing to start all over.....great question and once again thanks.

My question to you - If you had a very good looking inside and outside V6 3.1 Camaro and if you given an oppurtunity to be able to swap Camaros with someone that had a V8 350 camaro would you do it?????????????????????????????????????????????

 

After theyr'e done fixing it?

Never buy into someone elses project.

I would just keep the sixer. No need to trade a good car away for an older one in worse condition, even if it does have a bigger motor.

Just save your pennies and buy a V-8 car. I doubt they could ask much more than 2000 - 2500 for a car like that.

 

Certain conditions would have to be met, personally. One, the motor would have to be more than a plain old carbed v8. L98 with the TPI unit still intact, LTx/LSx, or, if carbed, a crate from a very reliable builder. Two, if it's got a 5 speed behind it, I'd be making sure they did the swap right (either the engine swap or the trans swap, because one of the two isn't stock) ... clean wiring is a good sign, but if you're an electronics techie like me, it's a moot point.

Anyway, I'd honestly just start looking at buying something. Sierra Vista has *cheap* cars.. same with the rest of Cochise County. This question falls into the rare catagory of "You live here. If you look, you *will* find stupid cheap deals." I picked up my '88 for 800 bucks running with brand new goodyear eagles all the way around. The primary problem with it was the TPS wires shorting on the valve cover after the engine warmed up.. move the wires, no more problem. GF's firebird, 83, LG4 (yeah, eww), runs, drives, needs tires/paint/interior/tlc, picked it up on a whim for $200. Similar deals are out there. Go find one rather than trade your baby off for someone else's problem.

 

As noted, in southeast AZ, "pennies" was the more accurate part of that statement... max offer would be closer to 500 unless they proved it was worthy of more.

 

Here in Oklahoma, people seem to have the notion that they can sell their cars for whatever the hell the feel like. As such, you see some high dollar turds floating around here.

For example, I remember seeing an 89 IROC for 1700 dollars. Paint was bad and it had a rod knock.. cmon now.

 

Don't get me wrong, we see people trying to sell stuff way too high as well.. it just doesn't sell.

 

So how about this..

This is what I think I got back from your guy's imput. Which once again I thank you guys for leaving me your info toward doing the swap and not doing the swap.

One - basically dont do it....

Second - Do the swap (engine) later on in time to a V8...

Third - Just buy a V8 Camaro (thirdgen ofcourse)....


Now this is something that I would need to put some thought to.

 

It does sell, here where I live. Thats the whole problem

 

Engine swap is a hassle, and might cost you more in the long run than a V-8 car, depending on how cheap you can pick up a motor and driveline parts. Buying a V-8 car is your best recourse

 

Crap I was affraid that some one would say that. Well we all know that its harder then hell or expensive as hell to juice up a 3.1 V6 camaro. And doing an engin swap is alot of work, time, and money. I guess I should just look into a V8 Camaro. It just sucks cause I put so much time and effort as well as money into my baby.


Basically its hard to let go. But I do hate it when my baby looks hard and good but does not run or sound hard!!! EEEEEEEEERRRRRRR
Dont get me wrong I'm very responsible when it comes to driving and all, but I for once would just like to feel and hear a V8 then a small V6.........



ahhh Damit!!!.............I guess I should look around for a V8. I just thought it was a pretty good idea with that offer I was given (swapping cars)....its not all the time someone gets that kind of offer. But yeah why would I want to start all over and fix someone elses crap. I guess you can say my next mission is to find an IROC-Z or even a Z-28. My first mission was to get a thirdgen Camaro

 

People ripp out the puny v6's and throw in v8s all the time. The dificulty(sp) depends on alot of things. Like what induction your going with etc. For example im going from a 2.8 to a 350 tpi which i have converted to carb. The motor has no emissions crap at all. I also took off the smog pump and all the lines going to the exhaust manifolds. If i went emissions legal with the TPI yeah it would be harder.You may spend as much on the motor swap as you would on a v8 car but if you dont wanna get ridd of your car then the money is well spent. I like my car too much to get ridd of it but i also got a good deal on a motor/trans.

If you want a little more power and dont wanna take on all the costs of a v8 swap maybe a 3.4 is a good choice for you. Thats really the most simple swap you could do.

 

Any of you guys check out the gas prices lately 1.95 around here and thats the cheap stuff, I dont know about all of you but I am damn glad i have my little v6 slowmaro, Rather be going slow in style than going somewhere fast but being too broke to buy anything, just my input, thanks
Mitch

 

Their isnt much difference between the v6's and v8's thanks to gearing.

 

Well, you gotta realise, those big V-8s dont work near as hard as our V-6s do.

I dont know about you, but I have to wind her out just to pass people quickly on a 40mph road. Normal driving makes my V-6 guzzle gas.

 

Better yet how about this. I'll be very very very patient in waiting for a cheap super charger or even turbo to come around for our V6s. But once my patient runs out I think I'm going to scoop up some info on the swapping threads.



If any of you guys are in the Tucson, AZ area and want to swap your V6 Camaro for a V8 Camaro let me know. I think I'm going to pass on this oppurtunity.

 

You could just do what I did and buy another car and still keep the first one... Why have one when you can have TWO?

Too many toys are nice, but too many toys are too many toys all trying to suck on your wallet for parts, gas, maintenance and whatnot. I got my hands full with three cars right now. If you could afford it, get another V8 car and keep your nice car as a daily driver or whatever you like.

 

LOL...now that sounds like a damn good idea....lol

:lala:

 

It's pretty cool being able to choose what to drive... Well, it will be even cooler once I get the Firebird running decently anyway.

Oh, and just a note, you got to factor in insurance costs, regristration and safety checks into your yearly budget for all your vehicles. I'm only paying a grand every six months for three cars, and that will drop apreciably once the wife's GP is paid for. After that thing is paid off, she wants an LS1-powered Trans Am.

 

Well maybe you have problems with your v6 giving you enough power but I got a kid so I'm always putten' around town so i usually get a decent ammount out o fmy tank.
Mitch

 

When I bought my 90 Firebird V6 new. I was waiting for the motor to burn up. To move up in motor size. After many other cars later is still kicking with 165K on the clock. I have to say that this car with the 3.1 in it is very reliable. In order to cure my V8 blues. I went out and bought a 89 C4. Currenly the C4 is getting ready for a 420ci and the 350 out of the C4 will be waiting to go in the Firebird. I'll will try not give up my F-body with out a fight.

Like eveyone is telling you keep the V6 as an every day car.

BTY: Good luck on you decision

 

keep the v6 car trade your computer for the v8 car

 

Hey guys the chick who owns the V8 Camaro wants me to come over and give it a test drive.....


This should be intresting...

 

ok...i didnt read the entire post...but i believe i read enough...i have a '92 firebird with a 3.1 and it looks awesome...but its no v8...personally i would not trade straight up...i would probably ask if i could have a mechanic look at the car or a friend that i really trusted and that knew what they were talkin about...it would be one thing if it was an original 350 with no swap or anything...but personally...i wouldnt want to deal with someone else's swap...you never know what they exactly did when they swapped...hell, a person could say they rebuilt an engine...does that mean all new internals, or just some new gaskets? bottomline: i'd say keep the 6...and buy an 8 later...

 

Alright guys check this out. For those of you guys that remembered that I was finally going to test drive the standard 1987 Chevy Camaro Z-28 V8...well all I can say is ........DAMN is it fast!!!

After driving it in the Highway and around sharp coners I was impressed. Once I was done test driving it I took a peek under the car for any leaks...nothing. So that was pretty good. It was loud.....gave me a little chill. My car sounds like a kitten compared to that damn thing.



Now that I now how good it runs I was just thinking about all the replys you guys had given me, which by the way are very helpful. After thinking and thinking even thinking while downing some beers I came out with this....I'm staying with the V6. Dont get me wrong, the V8 is one powerful machine but I just fell in love with my sixer and the way I turned it out. I dont want to start from scratch on someone elses crap. I just hope later on in the long run someone can for once come up with a turbo charger or somthing like that for a cheap price. But like I said......I'm staying with my baby..........

 

congrats on keepin the 6...and remember...you could always ask to borrow the car....

 

Thanks for the comment.....

 

Heh,
Stay with the car that you have now and give it the good old TomP tune up. Basically, keep it more as a eventual collector car (hey, they don't make them anymore), and use it for cruises and whatever else. For extra power, find another third-gen and make it your other project. Heck, what's wrong with two Camaro's or Bird's? *grin*

-Dan

 

Hey guys...

Do some of you guys remember that I had said that girl wanted to swap camaros?....well she just called me yesterday all pissed off asking why I didn't swap camaros.....she kind of freaked me out. I had told her that I was talking with some people as well as put some thought into it.....I just told her flat out that my car last longer on gas......lol.....she basically told me two words that a very special to me.....



But damn is she pissed off. But once again thank guys for your comments and impu in this matter.


entrig00
1991 Chevy Camaro RS V6 3.1
Stock baby

 

Their must be somthing wrong with it and now shes pissed because shes stuck with it

Keep your car if nothings wrong with it.

and Buy a v8 car.

 

Hey br()bert....

Thanks for the reply...I'm pretty sure that theres something wrong with that car. Yup, I'll keep my baby.....who knows maybe I'll just pull a br()bert and swap my engine?

 

I wasnt the first and im sure i wont be the last. But if you do go that route be sure your ready for it. At times i just wanted to walk away from my car and leave it all there. Mostly because of the damn motor mounts. Easiest way would be to buy a smashed up v8 3rd gen. The amount of bolts and nuts you find yourself needing is crazy!

Either way good like with your car and watch out for them lunatics!

 

She got all huffy that you turned the deal down? Like you were required to do the deal, yeah right. Tempted to see if any friends she has knows the dirt on that car, just to prove that you might have got burned on it.