Replacing an engine on 4th Gen Camaros?

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Andrew1990

Andrew1990

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Mar 8, 2008
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I am currently driving a 1995 Camaro Convertible. It is a base model with the 3.4L Engine putting out 160HP.

I bought the car for $1400 and put in about $300 worth of fixing up. The body is in great condition and it is a convertible so that is a big plus.


The engine has 140K on it right now and it still has life in it but I want to get something with a little more power and less mileage on it.

Now here are a few questions,


1. I have been looking at engines on craigslist, ranging from a 4.8L to a 5.7L LT1 Engine, the 350s are up the in price but I can get a low mileage 305 for a fraction of the cost. Would I be missing out?

2. A Z28 Camaro runs about $3000-6500 near where I live, these are not convertibles though, so am I making a dumb decision spending the money for a new engine when I can get a Z28 for that much?

3. How does this affect my insurance? Do I have to contact them and state there is a new engine in it? They never asked me what I had in it originally so does it even matter?
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
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To do the correct upgrade you'll end up spending more than the cost of getting one with the engine you want. Shine up the one you've got, sell it, and then buy one that's already got a V8.
 
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scorp00

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Mar 21, 2001
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Sell it and get a z28. Your transmission and rear end aren't designed for the v8 either and it will destroy them. Also the v8's had beefier cooling, electrical, shocks and brakes if I remember correctly. Get an LS1 if you can they are dropping into the 6's, otherwise the LT1 is a good engine. T-tops are a nice alternative to a vert. camaroz28.com has some great fbody forums.
 
Gillbot

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
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Bignate603 said:
To do the correct upgrade you'll end up spending more than the cost of getting one with the engine you want. Shine up the one you've got, sell it, and then buy one that's already got a V8.
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This

scorp00 said:
Sell it and get a z28. Your transmission and rear end aren't designed for the v8 either and it will destroy them. Also the v8's had beefier cooling, electrical, shocks and brakes if I remember correctly. Get an LS1 if you can they are dropping into the 6's, otherwise the LT1 is a good engine. T-tops are a nice alternative to a vert. camaroz28.com has some great fbody forums.
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The transmission won't change over, the rear is essentially the same. I don't believe the shocks, cooling, electrical or brakes were any different. Springs however were different.

The easiest way to convert is to get a donor car and basically swap everything over, but you see the dilemma here. If you get a donor car, might as well just fix it up if it's in good enough shape.
 
Andrew1990

Andrew1990

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Mar 8, 2008
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Ok that pretty much sums up everything I asked. Did Chevy ever make a convertible Z28 by chance?
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
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Andrew1990 said:
Sweet, thank you everyone for your advice!
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For future reference, unless the swap your doing is with a very similar engine that doesn't require any other changes, is a drive train that was never available in that vehicle, or an incredibly rare combination it's almost always cheaper just to buy the car with the drivetrain you want.
 
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fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
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Or if you really want to keep it simple, you could just put a new 3.4L in it. You can probably still get a brand new crate engine and drop it in. They make headers and a few other mods for those engines.

My buddy bought a 93 Camaro for $500 that was perfect other than the motor that blew due to a failed water pump on a long drive. He ordered a new crate motors, headers, and full exhaust. Did all the work himself and it was pretty fun to drive. Plenty of down-low torque for playing around town.

But yeah, the V8's even better ;)
 
Gillbot

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
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angry hampster said:
http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3236796



It's a Trans Am, but everything is the same underneath. Pick up an LQ block and make good things happen.
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the 5.3L is MUCH cheaper and easier to find. The 6.0L is (IMHO) overrated for the price.

Plus, since the OP has an LT1 style car, the swap would be much more involved since he'd have to do a PCM swap to control the motor.

Overall, it's easier to go buy what you want than to mickey mouse one together unless you have the knowledge, time and access to the parts needed for a good price.
 
brblx

brblx

Diamond Member
Mar 23, 2009
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Bignate603 said:
For future reference, unless the swap your doing is with a very similar engine that doesn't require any other changes, is a drive train that was never available in that vehicle, or an incredibly rare combination it's almost always cheaper just to buy the car with the drivetrain you want.
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if he can get a wrecked parts car, he'd be in fine shape.

doesn't he just need the engine, trans, and ECM? rear end should be the same, iirc all 4th gens had 8.5" 10 bolts, didn't they?

definately a project, but it's doable. those lt1 cars are cheap, though, unless you're looking for low mileage.
 
Gillbot

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
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brblx said:
if he can get a wrecked parts car, he'd be in fine shape.

doesn't he just need the engine, trans, and ECM? rear end should be the same, iirc all 4th gens had 8.5" 10 bolts, didn't they?

definately a project, but it's doable. those lt1 cars are cheap, though, unless you're looking for low mileage.
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unlikely he could find a suitable wrecked parts car for his swap at a much more reasonable price than just getting a different car. IMHO of course.
 
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