amaderojr

I have a 98 camaro with a 3.8 just sitting around and it has less miles and more power than the 2.8 in my 89 camaro. I was just wonder how i would go about doing the swap, is there anything special i would need to change, and how hard is it to do?

Maverick H1L

iTrader: (8)

I'd guess custom engine mounts plus a PCM for your transmission (I'm assuming the 98 is an automatic). Then you would need to tune the PCM. The exhaust should be almost identical, as is the trans mounting, but you may need to heat the exhaust in a couple of spots to get it to fit right.

The worst part would be the engine mounts, exhaust, and the PCM rewiring. You could make the 3.8 an OBDI system and use a chip from something like an Oldsmobile 88 or LeSabre with the right PCM. I don't think Project is on here anymore, but I think he may have at least attempted the swap if not completed it.

Formulized94

To me, I would think the 3.8 and 2.8 mounts would be very close. At most I would think you could make some engine mount adapter plates. I would like to do a 3.8 swap on my berlinetta, but the work required to do so is almost the same as putting an ls in the car...

CanadianCamaro

I've heard that due to the width of the 3.8 it won't fit easily in the engine compartment, but by swapping out the heads with ones from a FWD 3.8 it will work. Now that may only be if you want to retain your A/C...

duffer26

same heads in the fwd and the rwd

and iff people can shoe horn a 454 in theas things the 3.8 is no issue

Maverick H1L

iTrader: (8)

Keep in mind that the 3.4 from a 93-95.5 F-body fits right into our engine bays and that a 3.8 is nothing more than a 305 (or the Buick equivalent of a 305) with 2 cylinders chopped off. Also, don't forget that the 3.4 was replaced in 95.5 with the 3800 used from then until production ceased in 2002. It'll fit fine.

:edit: It's possible you're referring to a 3400 DOHC, which pretty much doesn't fit.

amcpherson1504

I am doing this same swap in an 1989 firebird, pretty simple. use pockets examples from the lsx engine swaps for your wiring, build your own motor mount brackets, custom exhaust, use either radiator you choose. i removed the a/c, not sure how anyone ever got the a/c compressor to fit in the third gen. mine is backed real close to the firewall.