what i want to know is if i can swap my 2.8 in my 84 camaro with my 3.9 v6 dakota engine? if this is possible, what else would i need??(transmission, etc.)

Atleast this is a new question. It would all need to be fully custom...
Motor mounts
throttle cable
depending on years, speedometer
wiring its ecm system
getting correct fuel pressure
suspension springs
driveshaft length/splines
trans mount
torque arm mount
trans linkage (auto or manual)


if I was going to go thru all this work, id put a 360 in it... or a hemi!!! Someone along time ago was trying to stuff a v10 in a thirdgen.

^^^^^^^ i agree, V8+ if i was going to go through all that

bmr track pack would take care of the torque arm issue, and a donor car would help greatly w/the other things. fab up some motor mount brackets & a tranny support.

other than the uniqe factor, why not use the 4.3 from a S-10 or blazer? hell, like they said, for the amount of work, just go with a bigger engine. Drop a 400small block or somthin...

Ive actually thought about this. A TBI 4.3 would not be hard work if you use a camaro transmission, you can use should beable to use the camaro TBI wireharness, camaro TBI throttle body/cable. Who knows about motor mounts. Would just have to redo the prom with the fuel/timing/etc charts from an s10.

But again, a TBI 4.3 isnt all that in the power department, just something different to make people go "huh?"

well a 4.3 uses the same motor mounts as any SBC so thats why the idea always gets pushed aside. Everyone always says "if you go that far, why not go all the way..."

why would u put a dogde engine in a GM car

Damn good question,why not throw a 2.2 turbo in there while your at it?...lol....... Or a 2.3 turbo lima turbo ford motor in? Hell,either would be faster than these pathetic 2.8's that chevy should be shammed/whipped/beatin and fired for producing!!!

ROTFLMFAO!!! i cant even beat my brothers civic with this thing so I know what you mean

you do realize that there were off road racing 2.8's that put the V8's in the same class to shame right?

Do you even realize that there have been quite a few 60* V6's that have gotten 400+ HP? yes in street cars...

Maybe you REALLY ned to think about what you are saying, cause that comment just makes you look like a total fool.

The 60* is a GREAT motor. It can also be modded to make a GREAT power/weight ratio/balance street car.
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If you cannot beat a stock civic, that is a personal problem you need to fix yourself... my 3.1 5 speed could beat ALOT of 305's...

This is probably why I don't bother on the V6 board, but the thought of using a Dodge 3.9L really raised my brows.
It wouldn't be worth the hassle to put in.

And what color is the sky in your dream world V6sucker? 60* V6 motors are just peachy in Cavaliers and sunbirds, no arguements there. They will get you from A-B, even quickly in a light Sunbird. But they have no place in a muscle car like a Camaro. None whatsoever.

The 2.8L needed to be put in the camaros for all the guys who want the looks of a sports car, but have no 'mojo', or money. They still make sports cars with "the base engine", usually a V6, and sell tons of 'em.
The 2.5L DUKE, was the shame of GM :rofl:

I never once said that the 60* was a killer motor. But it CAN put down impressive numbers, especially for it's displacement.

There have been NUMBEROUS 60*'s that have put down well over 400 and even almost 500 HP. I do not care what you say that is impressive for a motor that size/displacement to do.

And sorry to tell you, I have not considered the camaro a "muscle car" since the very early 70's, untill it got the LS series motors just recently.

So just what color is the sky in your world that you call the 3rd gen a "muscle car"?

My outlook is this, if it does not come with at least 400HP from the factory, it is certainly NOT a muscle car. Sure a engine swap, or a serious build later and any (and I do mean ANY) car can become potent... but if the strongest thing it got was what 280ish HP from the factory... my god there are V6's out there that have gotten near that from the factory.
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too bad they run forever without ever being touched...

This is a hoot, two GM enthusiasts arguing! This reminds me of the time we put a SBC 355/TH400 with a lil juice into a 1986 Mustang. All the Ford guys gave us crap until they went home with their tail tucked neatly between their legs. Ran 11.8x motor, 10.3x on the button (87 pump gas). This might be a fun mod, just not to many people on TGO would like to see it.

this argy makes me wanna do teh 3800 swap in a third gen again, only w/donor dash& harness. also makes me wanna put a turbo ecotec in a chevette. that would be killer!!!!!

dodge 3.9s=the geyness

v6s make just as good as a performance engine as any v8.. example, Porche 911 Turbo (444HP 457TQ) granted its an H6 and not a V6 but the fact remains its a 6, and the 3.1 and 3.4 has been known to make close to if not more than that with a turbo...... (and I know a V8 can do it N/A but thats also with double the displacement.)

I still dont see a point in trying to put a dodge v6 into an Fbody.

why does everyone jump on peoples crap when they want to do something? everyone gave me crap when i said i wanted to put a nissan rb26tt into a thirdgen and that was long before ff3 was even thought of. the 3.9 magnum is a very good engine. why not try it to do something different. i may be buying another 3rdgen and dont know what im puting in it yet but it will be 6cyl or less and around 400hp when im done. you dont have to be a metoo v8 camaro. i have seen some 2.8 and 3.1 camaros destroy times in autocross put down my vipers and vettes. sure its not gonna be a 10 sec car but lighter = faster. how about those jap 4bangers laying down 3-500hp at the wheels on turbo?

back to topic i say talk to some guys on dakotausa.com then start measuring stuff and go from there. good luck

Didnt mean to step on any toes although I can see how my post might have set a few people off,sorry about that guys.

V6sucker,I'm sure your 3.1 5 speed can get out of its own way with haste but I'm working with a '89 2.8 A4 that's box stock w/ 136k. I dont have the time/money/space to do an engine swap and I was more or less told that a grand or more could not even make my F-body beat a box stock 4.6 stang. I did a little research when I bought this car,thinking oh hey,v6 economy but its a Firebird,a Firebird man! It's obviously no vette but its a Firebird,it should be pretty snappy eh?!?!?..... Wrong. I've had my rear end handed to me against cars my TC T-bird would ****ing laugh at! (Only prob is my TC dont look near as good as this firebird does!)

I dont doubt that these 60 degree V-60's can lay down some high numbers,but you show me an engine that wont do the same with enough work. From what I've herd,the 2.8 needs a helluva lotta work to put those numbers down however! That's work I cant do......... I'll keep the car,and I've already laid down the plans and cash for a CAI,underdrive pulley set,pacesetter headers and a dynomax exhaust (on top of a rebuilt suspesion/tires/brakes) and more or less praying this car can out match my 2.3 turbo coupe T-bird but my hopes are not very high lol.

Beautiful cars though. I've always had a soft spot for camaros and birds,and no offence dude,but not once have I ever considered the camaro to NOT be a muscle car. Never really had a brand fetish,I just love cars that go fast and look good doing it. It was either this or a 91' Camaro RS 3.1 but wasnt in as good of condition as my Firebird but I dont wanna swap in any other motor mainly cause I'd like to keep it original. Plus if I can ever make it fast enough,after a race,I would LOVE to say.... "no,its just a 2.8 V-6" .

if your soooo worried about getting yor a$$ handed to you again, save that mod money for a v8 ride. or get another core & build it right, and then save up for a new tranny.

The fact's are this...
GM used the 60* V6 in off road racing and it was a top performer.

The 60* reacts VERY well to even what most would call "simple" mods.

A few persel spent what 12-1500? on a turbo system on the cheap to get numbers that are VERY respectable.

No one has said that you need thousands to put togeather a turbo system, it simply is not true no matter what you have been told.

I have personally worked in imports (1991 GST Talon - one of my old vehicles). I spent LITERALLY 900? if that on parts and had a FWD that was more than capable of 400+ HP. And yes it handed quite a few local yokal red necks their a$$. I sold it to a guy in St Louis and he got it running low 11's in the 1/4 with the parts I had in it.

My point is simple, using the best parts is not the best choice. You have to use the parts that go togeather best, and sadly most often a pile of "the best parts" often can be outperformed by a group of cheaper parts that work off each other to compliment the whole package.

I've got $700 in turbo parts for my car, and have MAYBE $200 to go. I'll keep you guys posted in my 660 thread (link is in my signature).