idk how hard it would be to swap a 2.8 to a 383 stroker motor.
would it be easyer to swap a 4.3 than a 383
and will the insurance go up or down if i put a v8 into a v6 car

 

I heard that v6 -> v8 isn't much of a difference in car insurance, especially if you swap it. And the 2.8/4.3 wouldn't be any harder or more difficult, you need to swap out the same parts that you would with either.

 

Pretty much what he said, you could swap in a 3.4 block relatively easily though, its more or less a direct replacement, but as is always the case, it all depends on your power goals..

 

Insurance companies go by the VIN. So unless it is a special insurance deal, such as agreed value, there won't be any difference.

For swap info hit the engine swap board here on TGO. IIRC, there is a thread in the sticky's on swapping from a stock V6 to a SBC.

RBob.

 

would the stock trans fit on the v8
do i have to change the suspension in any way

 

The 2.8's transmission will not bolt up to a v8 the bell housing is different. You will also need to upgrade to springs off a v8 3rd gen.

 

so all i have to change is the bell housing?
how about a motor mount?

 

You need the V8 motor mounts as well as the V8 front springs. If your fuel pump is original, I would change it to at least one for a TPI V8. The V6 pump may not deliver the fuel requirements for a V8. If you are going with a carb, then it is simpler. On a side note. Swapping in a V8 is not illegal to do, but remember, you are insured for a V6 car and if you get caught as in an accident or some similar event that brings insurance companies into the mix, and they see the V8, there may be a few eye brows raised. Also, depending on the emissions laws in your state, you may have to go to a referee station to get it smogged. By that I mean they check to see that all proper emissions equipment has been swapped over for the year engine you have put into the car. This will also come into play if you have inspection in your state. They look at the VIN when they look the car over for emissions and safety. If the VIN says V6, and there is a V8 under the hood, this could present some difficulty in obtaining a sticker. What you should do is check all these things out before doing your swap to make sure you do not run into any headaches in the future. If it looks like its going to be a PITA to get your car legal with the V8, then just build a hybrid and stick it in. (3.4 block with 3x00 top end and cam) This is still a V6 and your VIN says V6, so no issues.

 

Long story short (from someone who has gone through the exact same swap, but in a camaro) EVERYTHING that touches the motor or transmission is different between the V6 and V8 except the slave cylinder for the clutch, and the alternator.

Things you'll need...

-New radiator and hoses, outlet and inlets are on the wrong side on your V6 rad

-Serpentine/V-belt setup: brackets, water pump, everything

-Motor mounts

-Complete exhaust system

-Starter

-Flywheel

-Transmission, clutch, clutch fork and bellhousing. Technically you only need the bellhousing, but guess what? Your V6 clutch won't hold a 383's power... unless it does, in which case your transmission will break, because it's only rated to 230 ft-lbs of torque. Do it right the first time

-Tachometer: Your V6 tach will not register the correct RPM

These are just some of the things you need to get it RUNNING, not to mention things you Should do like V8 springs. I probably even forgot a few things. This is not a cheap or easy swap, anyone who tells you so has never done it. But it is rewarding

 

Even shorter story, get a complete drive trans, engine, trans, and rear end

none of those 3 will hold up to a powerful V8, a mild one yes.

Why mine is still a 6 other then I love the 2.8, when I add in a $900 rear end to make it last............... I say screw it, long as the 2.8 runs nice for me. knock on wood, it stays.

 

If you are dead set on doing the swap, your best bet is to buy a donor car. That is a wrecked car with everything you need already in it and just swap everything over.(engine, transmission, wiring harness, rear end, ECM) Also, Gumby is correct in saying that the rear end will not hold up under a powerful V8 as it was only designed for a V6. So you will need to swap that over too. All this is why there is not an LT-1 sitting under my hood right now.

 

will a transam transmission and the drive shift hold up?

 

Not if its a V6 car............

 

if its a trans am, it won't have a v6.

 

The V6 and V8 cars use the same driveshaft...

And the only difference in the rear end between the V6 and V8 is the gear ratio (V6's get the more favorable ratio in my opinion). There is NO difference in strength between them, it's still the same 7.625" 10 bolt. Which is not to say that your V6 rear end won't break, but you won't gain any strength from a V8 rear end.

As for whether the trans am transmission will hold up... maybe, but it's only rated for 300 lb-ft of torque, you can still break it easily. With a 383, you'd want to get a G-Force Transmissions upgrade kit for your T5, or start looking at things like a Tremec TKO 600 or a T56

 

splin count is different, which makes a big difference.

Why its harder to toss better guts in one, you then need new axles too.......

 

False.

He has 26 spline axles, just the same as any V8 car from the same year. Later years had 28 spline axles

 

'89 TTA is a V6.

RBob.

 

that is true. i guess most people won't just say, that's a trans am, if its a TTA... but, I kinda lost that battle. lol