So i'm thinking of swapping my 2.8l engine out of my 87 and dropping a 3.9l lz9 engine into the car but i have no clue what transmission would mate up to that would a th350 or a gm t5 work? Also is there any other problems I might run into with it being over head cam.

 

The LZ9 uses the same 60* trans bolt pattern that the 2.8 uses, called the "small corporate pattern". The starter is moved to the other side though, that requires modification of the bellhousing/torque converter cover to allow for it. And the lower bolt hole on the other side is not threaded since the FWD application has the bolt thread into the trans in this location. Simply using a bolt and nut does the job though.

The LZ9 is not an OHC engine, it's still an OHV engine, but it has VVT, which will complicate things just a bit.

I've recently been considering an LZ9 swap for one of my vehicles, but the VVT is one of the major hold ups of that program. Since there's been no real verification of how the stock cam control functions, I'm hesitant to play with it.

 

i though ppl just swaped in a different cam with cam bearing spacers to get around it

 

Ok cool. I was a little worried about trying to find a transmission that would bolt up, but that doesn't seem to be the biggest issue with the swap then. Figuring out how the gm vvt works would be the biggest thing to look into. Thank you

 

Many people do, but that's not the direction I want to go. Doing so just feels like I'm leaving something on the table, like buying a 3D capable TV and only ever watching 2D programming.

Also the spacers not readily available anymore. One member recently had a few sets made, and I'm thinking of contacting him to see if he still has that one set available, just in case I go that route, at least to start with...

 

i hear u on that, i wonder if the vvt is really worth it over a good custom non vvt grind though

one of theese days i still wanna play with the dohc 3.4 that engine has alot of potential

 

I measured a cam from a 09 impala and it was pretty wimpy. staying with the vvt cam on a 3.9 would be like staying with the stock 5.3 cam if doing a LS swap. The numbers are similar. Not worth it imo

A cam upgrade has proven to add about 30 hp in an otherwise stock 3.9 and ditching the vvt. more tq and broader tq band too than the vvt cam.

I still have one set of the bearing spacers left from the second batch made