Hello forum. I have recently purchased an 88 chevy camaro base model. the 2.8 in it is blown no due to a bad main bearing. I came across a 3.8 liter (fwd I believe, not sure if series 1,2 or 3, was told its out of a toranado). I can look up vin# of car and get numbers from the engine (3.8) if needed to help anyone who might have info on how to do this swap. I've seen a few post that said a tta had the same setup, would i need to get some of those parts? So here is what I am asking:

1. What is needed to complete the swap ( I don't want the whole "do a v8 swap" i want the 3.8 regardless of the money issues that can come along with this swap, only helpful things plz.

Thank you, and I hope some people on here can help me make this possible.

 

Yes this build can be done but its pretty intence. You will need to fab up alot of items. Look up 3.8L swap and there a few ppl that have done it.

Heres one https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/4...urbo-swap.html Neilb did a very nice job on his build. Id help more but im not very familiar with the 3.8L differences as for the generation. I have a L67 in my grand prix and its a pretty stout engine for being a stocker.

 

Would the build change alot for mine since i'm not going with the turbo (as of yet)?

 

You'll have to fabricate custom mounts. Your transmission should bolt up to the 3800 without issue. The Buick 3.8L V6 and the GM 3800 V6 are not the same engine. I'm assuming that you have a Series I 3800 since it came out of a '88 Toronado.

 

88 3800 = pre-series 1 even. series 1 = L27. the 88 would be a LN3.

 

thanks guys

 

The 3800 is a good engine, but swapping it is as much work as swapping a v8 in, so unless you are doing it to have some different, I suggest going to a v8 if you are power hungry, or swapping in a 3.4 if you just want a relatively easy upgrade/replacement. And contrary to what Fallen2603 said, the 2.8 transmission will not bolt up to a 3800 v6. 3800 v6 is a 90 degree block family, 2.8 is a 60 degree..

 

3800's use the 60* pattern bellhousing

 

Thanks, project89. I keep saying it. You and others have corroborated it. And, yet, people still say I'm wrong. Oh, well...

 

thanks guys i appreciate all your information on this. I'm going to get the numbers off of the block and post them here, and for the cars vin # as well if that can help in any way. so if the buick and gm 3.8s are different engines. will this swap still work or am i way out of the ball park on this one. and no i'm not power hungry, just wanted something different, i loved the 3800 in my previous car a 1998 camaro rs. was a tough ****ing engine so i thought with my 88 which i believe is a much lighter car i might get even more fun out of it.

 

From what I've found from other sources, the Buick 3.8L and the GM 3800 V6's have a lot of differences in the cylinder-block. The mounting bosses are not similar, so you will need custom motor-mounts made up.

You should try to get in touch with a member on this forum who uses the screen-name Project: 85 2.8 bird. He actually did this swap a while back, and he will be your best source of information for this swap.

According to factory specs, your '88 should be about 300lbs less than your previous '98 F-body. How accurate those numbers are is another story.