Anyone know if a 3800 from a 1996 Camaro will fit in a 1998 Camaro?

[Arik5405]

Will a 1996 Series 2 fit in a 1998 Camaro that has a bad 3800 Series 2?

 

[mwmorph]

It should, changes were minimal. I'm not guaranteeing the whole dressed motor though, a 96 alternator for example might not be a direrct drop in in a 98, but otherwise, it should not be really a difference.

 

[SparkyJJO]

They are the same. Angled throttle body and all.

But really, you could pull ANY 3800 series 2 and put it in the 98 Camaro, just need to swap over the proper parts (intake, accessories, oil pan if it came from a FWD, etc).

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

In that case it is a direct swap.
Though I would suggest dropping an LT1 in it.

 

[SparkyJJO]

In that case it is a direct swap.
Though I would suggest dropping an LT1 in it.

Nah not in a 98. More work than its worth, the native V8 for the 98+ is the LS1.

 

[Arik5405]

I actually am trying to contact the seller of This to buy it from him if their aren't any issues with the engine. The car is the exact same year and even the same color as mine. The plan is to either buy that wrecked car or keep looking for another cheaper 3800 for sale somewhere. We figured if we bought the wrecked car there are a lot of parts we could part out to make some money back. What do you guys think is the best route? The $900 wrecked car or to keep looking for a cheap 3800?

My dad and his friend are going to be replacing the engine for me so at least I will be saving on labor costs.

My car: Something broke in the engine driving home from my father's house yesterday. The oil pressure all of a sudden dropped and a clingy, clanky, clunky noise and then a loud clunky snappy noise when something broke (I assume broke) shortly after the initial noises started. The engine was still full of oil. We haven't had the time to diagnose the issue but the engine had a 171,000 miles on it and what I believe to be a slight piston slap (on a cold start). We are just going to buy a used engine with less miles, get the car up and running again, and sell it. (Sorry for my poor use of adjectives but that's the only way I know how to describe the noises.)

 

[slag]

pretty odd for such a good engine. still, everything breaks eventually...

 

[Vette73]

For $900 just pull your motor and rebuild it. Make it even better then now. Port polish, bore, etc...

If you buy a used motor you still need to remove the oil pan and intake to reseal it, if you do it right. Let alone pulling 2 motors and dropping in another.

Oh just saw you are selling. Well skip the performance stuff but do a basic rebuild of your motor. That and how much do you think you will be getting for your car? Why dump $900+ into a car that will not yeild much.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Nah not in a 98. More work than its worth, the native V8 for the 98+ is the LS1.

I know what the native is, But cost wise an LT1 vs another 3800 dog, the LT1 is a better way to go.
Now if he has 5-6K laying around, then the LS1 is the way to go.

 

[speedy2]

I know what the native is, But cost wise an LT1 vs another 3800 dog, the LT1 is a better way to go.
Now if he has 5-6K laying around, then the LS1 is the way to go.

What makes the LT-1 "better?"

He has a V6 car. Which means his transmission has been used with a v6 for 171K miles. Don' know if I would want to send that much power through a transmission that old. Also, when doing a swap to a LT-1 you'll need a new PCM, wiring, etc. I'm also not sure of any suspension differences. Being a '98 it MIGHT have drums on the back. I'd personally feel better having discs all around. With a 3800 swap, all that needs to be swapped is the engine. That's it.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

I know what the native is, But cost wise an LT1 vs another 3800 dog, the LT1 is a better way to go.
Now if he has 5-6K laying around, then the LS1 is the way to go.

grab http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/1852999238.html for your car Arik and then do the proper swap 😀

 

[SparkyJJO]

What makes the LT-1 "better?"

He has a V6 car. Which means his transmission has been used with a v6 for 171K miles. Don' know if I would want to send that much power through a transmission that old. Also, when doing a swap to a LT-1 you'll need a new PCM, wiring, etc. I'm also not sure of any suspension differences. Being a '98 it MIGHT have drums on the back. I'd personally feel better having discs all around. With a 3800 swap, all that needs to be swapped is the engine. That's it.

The Camaro after 98 had 4 wheel disc standard for all models. The V6 got an upgrade to the V8's brakes.

 

[Arik5405]

grab http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/1852999238.html for your car Arik and then do the proper swap 😀

Very nice find, I just sent him an email. Thanks a lot!