Thread: v6 to v8 swap ..camaro

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this winter i want to take the 3.1 liter v6 out of my 91 camaro and put a vortec 5.7 liter v8 in. I have talked to some people that have done swaps like this before and they said my biggest problem would be the torsion bar that keeps the rear end and transmission in line....if anyone can help me out or let me kno any problems i mite run into i thank ya

if you gonna use the same trans. i dont see a problem. trans, drive shaft and dif. should stay where its at.

Originally posted by 91camaro
this winter i want to take the 3.1 liter v6 out of my 91 camaro and put a vortec 5.7 liter v8 in. I have talked to some people that have done swaps like this before and they said my biggest problem would be the torsion bar that keeps the rear end and transmission in line....if anyone can help me out or let me kno any problems i mite run into i thank ya

So you are using a 5.7 from a pickup?

thats what i was thinking of doing gettin one out of a newer truck at the yard for like $600

Find the motor mounts, X members and everything else that is diffrent between the V6 cars and the V8 cars, and change all that over, after that it will bolt in. You will probably want to get the heavier V8 springs. Also, ya can learn alot from the local auto part store, tell them that you need brake rotors for your '91 Camero, when they ask V8 or V6, ask if there are 2 part numbers, if there are, you know you have diffrences in the front end, so you may want to further investigate that, you may also need front end parts. But all should be redily available at a junk yard.

what all font end parts am i going to need?

Originally posted by 91camaro
what all font end parts am i going to need?

I deffinetly know the springs need to be the V8 springs, cause the V6 is a lot lighter, the front end would sag if you used the V6 springs. I'm not shure on the rest but if you go to your local auto parts store, find a patient clerk, ask him to do a search on all the front end parts for a 91 Camero both V6 and V8, anything with 2 part numbers ( 1 part # for V6, 1 for V8 ) you know you will need the V8 peice, everything with 1 part number, you don't need, go ahead and get it new if you want or if it is somthing that is safe to get used, go to the junk yard. I'm shure you will want to put the V8 brakes on it also, get everything at the part store for that. You will want them because the brakes from your car, were designed to stop the lighter V6, in hard braking, the car noses down and there is mass inertia that the brakes have to overcome, being a heavier engine, the mass inertia is greater so the brakes work harder, heat up faster and don't work like they are designed.

The mounts are different, but the X-member should have the holes in it to bolt in the V-8 mounts. You'll need another transmission, the V6 one won't fit.

The only front end parts that differ for a '91 Camaro RS vs a Z-28 are the following;

Front lower control arms
Front spindles
Front rotors
Front brake calipers

Everything else is the same. Now, this doesn't mean anything has to be changed. The parts on your car are the same as an RS V-8. The changes are based by model, not engine. The above parts are for changing to a IROC-Z and a Z-28. The springs for all Camaros from '82-'92 are the same. The front crossmember is the same. The struts are the same. The cooling system between all 6's and 8's are the same.

What you do need to deal with is what everyone thinks is easy, and that's the wiring. The fuel injection systems are completely different, and even if a carb is used on the V-8, you'll still need to blend the existing wiring harness to the wiring that will power the engine.

Considering the current gas prices, you may also want to look at a V-6 (not that 3.1L). Maybe a 3.8L or a 4.3L with a supercharger. Either way, good luck.

so for sure i am going to need motor mounts,front brake calipers,lower control arms, front spindles, front rotors, front springs what about drive shaft since a 350 turbo will will be my tranny and i plan on gettin a v8 rearend from the yard.

I wouldn't change the front end parts, the standard parts will work ok.

Reread my reply. The V-8 RS uses the same pieces that are on your car. You don't need to replace that stuff. It's optional. Consider the Z-28 parts to be a handling package. There is nothing that is anymore heavy duty than what you already have.

Now, that said, short of the rotors and calipers that you can get new at your local parts store, the control arms and spindles should be available at a local wrecking yard. I'd still replace the bearings, seals and ball joints with new as well. If you are building this car to go fast in a straight line, this would be a complete waste of time and money. And all the springs from the lowliest 4-cylinder car to the '92 Z-28 all use the same springs.

In fact, if this car would be built to drag race (track only), I'd toss the sway bar and run without. For the street, the Camaro came with 6 different sway bars from 27mm to 36mm in size. Yours is the 34mm.

The rear end for the Camaro is the same basic piece for all models. The only difference is the '91 & '92 were available with rear disc brakes. This is a waste of money as well. The drum system will work just as well as the discs and they weigh less. Buy for the gear ratio you want, not because it's a V-8. They all use the same housing. Buy a better torque rod to control the wheel hop.

As for the trans, let your wallet be your guide, but a 700R4 would be a better choice than a T-350. And with that trans, you may be able to keep your original driveshaft.

Swiftster has a few points there, but the decision to get a 700R4 shouldnt be that bad of a hurt. Most Chevrolets with overdrive beyond about 1990 would have a 700R4. the 2004R is also an option, but not a good one. As for the conversion from V6 to V8, i belive that you can grab most of the harness from your donor vehicle and tansfer it to your camaro. If you decide to go carburated, you may want to look into your local emissions laws. Some states still test emissions back for 20 years. However, it does seem odd that your changing your transmission to a t350. What transmission is currently in your vehicle? I belive that some 6's came with a t350 or 200. You may want to check. Remember, if its vacuum modulated, its most likely a 350. TV cable indictes a 200 series. or a 700R4

stock the car has a 700r4 tranny in it, and that's the one that i wanted to leave in it because of the overdrive. another question what about a rearend the horsepower from the 350 wont annihilate it?

Not from a truck engine. The horsepower from a truck engine isn't that high.