Guys, I have a 92 S with a 5.0 auto. It's just too slow. I was going to put a better V-8 in it but then it won't get the 18 to 28 mpg I'm liking. I figure the new 3.6 Camaro motor should work really well in one of these cars for several reasons.
1) they are cheap and readily available
2) they have about the same torque and twice the HP as my 305
3) since the torque isn't insane, I won't have to change the rear end, I hope.
4) if anything they should get higher mileage than the 305
5) I have to pass emissions but at the 92 standards so it should pass easily
6) the usual V-6 claims of better handling.
7) I'd like to swap to a manual and the 6 speeds associated with this engine is much smaller than the T-56's which require tunnel mods


I have searched a little and found nothing on this. There is a company making a kit to install these in Mazda Miata's so if it can fit in a miata, the Camaro should be easy.

 

I mean it's possible, but why go to a v6? With the modifications required, It would be much easier just to do an ls swap. I'm sure with a 4.8 or 5.3 with the right modifications you'll be able to at least match or slightly improve your fuel economy. Just my

 

 

Thank you

 

Nice , four posts and you've already turned the guy's post into the same old boring V8 VS V6 bullstuff that permeates the rest of the forum .

You DO realize this IS the V6 subforum , right ?

 

Anyway , for those who aren't so insecure as to measure the size of their manhood by how many cylinders their cars has , I'll be watching to see if the OP actually does his 3.6 swap and I wish him all the best with it , V8 naysayers be damned

 

I wouldn't mind doing the Ecotec swap out of the new Camaro too.

But the V6 powers the 1LE car and does very well (and sounds pretty good too, very European). so I'd love to see one done.

I'm in no position to do an off the beaten path swap. But I like seeing them.

 

If I do this it won't be for another year or so. I was really thinking that the v6 forum would be less inclined to just say LS is the only answer. The universal LS solution is getting old. Soon there will be more LS third gens than gen one SBC's. I have a very nice 92 and think that 335hp that the new V-6's put out wold be kind of cool. IF I do this, I will do a thread on it here. I think it would be a fun ride and as I said earlier, I shouldn't have to replace the rest of the drivetrain to deal with the torque.

 

It's not as much a bias against a small engine, as it is just evaluating the practicality of the idea. If the only goal is more power without hurting the gas mileage, there are easier and cheaper ways to reach the goal. Most of these wild ideas are grounded in the desire to be unique, more than practical reality.

A person can build a carbed V8 with a Q-jet (small primaries) and get decent gas mileage if you keep your foot out of the secondaries. EFI can probably achieve the same result without sacrificing too much power.

A peg leg 7.5" 10-bolt with 2.73 gear and drums is still going to be poor behind a more powerful V6. It might even be worse, since the 6cyl is probably paired with a more aggressive gear ratio in the later car.

Any money saved is going to be more than matched by the time and money spent fabricating the new engine into the car. You'd be reinventing the wheel, so figure on it taking a lot of time, and custom bits to finish the job.

Just doesn't seem practical to me, but then I'm not especially into spending twice as much money just to be different.

PS I've done a small engine with bigger engine power into a traditionally V8 platform. The result is a quick, different car, but it still doesn't drive like a V8 car. Really wish I'd just put a 5.0 in it instead. FWIW.

 

Exactly what I meant. Believe me I’m by no means against v6 swaps. Hell before I went v8 I was considering a supercharged 3800 swap. No doubt a 3.6 swap would be cool as hell, but to me it seemed like the OP was more concerned with modernizing his drivetrain while maintaining or improving fuel economy. Yea and if thats one of his primary goals, there are really cheaper and easier ways to
do this, for example, an ls swap. Plus that fact that he already has a V8 kind of threw me off. I guess if the car was a 2.8 or 3.1 I would of have been answering in a different direction.. Its like why throw away two cylinders if you don’t have to? This kind of reminds me of the 305vs350 debacle.

Yea but I am not familar with the 3.6’s at all, so I’ll keep my mouth shut with any more LS jargen lmao.

 

I'd say a modern v6 will be a great engine and work out real nice. None of it is hard work imo, its only modding clearance issues , cut weld fab whatever its not rocket science, do it , it will be awesome

 

 

I'm pretty new to the camaro world but I am also thinking of swapping a 3.6.

 

I think it is an interesting idea. Wouldn't surprise me if it's quite difficult though. There might be no way to operate the gauges. Fans and fuel pump might be PWM. And it might be physically larger than you think. And the cost is really going to add up for all the custom things you'll have to do for mounting, exhaust, driveline, & whatever else.

 

First you need to ask yourself, do you really believe that a V6 will get better gas mileage than a V8 w/both of them making the same exact power and being controlled by the same exact system on the dyno? Or better yet, that the same V6 will get better gas mileage when making more power on the dyno than that V8? You're metering fuel to pre-detrmined air, and for a V6 to make the same power it will need to burn more fuel per cylinder, and to make more power it will need to burn even more fuel per cylinder. Air/fuel dictates power, not engine size. There is a reason why car manufacturers have been targeting 250-350 horsepower for everyday drivers for the last thirty years running on gasoline, as it stays within the range of the targeted mile per gallon, and that hasn't deviated much since the 80's and 90's. Engines are just more efficient at burning fuel as opposed to wasting it via inferior ignition systems and ancient ECU's. We actually pulled out an old VHS tape with a recorded movie on tv from back in the day (analog days), and the car commericals were absolutely hilarious (in a good way), as they were touting the same 28-mpg with 300 horsepower back then too. Journey was right on the money when they stated that the wheel in the sky keeps on turning, lemme tell ya...

Bottom line, it's your car, do as you please.

- Rob