TurboF-body

So recently my 2001 Camaro started to leak oil. I got under it and found out that the oil pan is all rusted. So now the engine will have to be pulled out to change the oil pan. I want more power out of my car but only have a $1000 budget. The engine in it is the 3.8l v6 so I have been thinking about a 4.8l or 5.3l swap. How difficult would a swap be? There is a 4.8l nearby for sale for $400 obo that I was thinking would be a good choice. Should I try and get it or look for a 5.3l? What kind of power will i get out of a 4.8l, and what are good upgrades for a 4.8l? If I do a ls swap I would eventually like to turbo it. How much would it cost to do either twin Chinese turbos or a single Chinese turbo? I know that I have a lot of questions but that's why I'm here asking them. Please respond quick because I plan to tear apart the car this weekend and would like to have the car up and running the following weekend.

Thanks, TurboF-body

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

Your $400 engine is almost half you're budget. I would save some more money before trying to do the swap......

TurboF-body

The $400 is or best offer and if I do a swap I was thinking I would sell my 3.8l v6 that's in the car right now.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

Does the 4.8 come with a transmission? If not, you'll need to get one since the V6 trans is different. You'll also need an LS1 K member. It's the little things that will eat away at your budget, fuel system upgrades, exhaust work, not to mention, the truck oil pan won't work, it'll be way too low, then the truck intake will be too tall, so you'll need LS1 F body parts to swap for them, F body front accessories will make life easier too. See what I'm getting at? Not trying to **** in your Wheaties, but just letting you know what to expect before you tear a perfectly good car apart. Also, I wouldn't count on getting much for your V6, as there just isn't that much of a market for them.

TurboF-body

It doesn't come with a transmission but the engine is complete. The trans in my car now is a 4l60e. I have the same one in my 1998 Camaro z28. I figured if it could withstand the power of an ls1 then it would be fine behind a 4.8l. As for the oil pan, I have a blown up ls1 that came out of my 98 2 years ago, I didn't do that swap just paid someone to do it. But I was thinking that I would use the oil pan off that. My neighbors are fiero fanatics so I will have an easy time selling them my engine to swap into their fiero. I'm mostly worried about the k member like you said and the motor mounts. Any idea on what cost would be on an ls1 k member?

I do appreciate the help
Thanks, TurboF-Body

1964SS

iTrader: (1)

The v6 transmission bolt pattern is not the same as the v8 models and I believe the v6 4L60e is a one piece case so you can't even just swap the bellhousings. They may have changed this in 1999 so you might be ok, but I'm not positive.

Accessories and brackets will add additional cost along with the exhaust, harness and ecm. Your budget just isn't realistic for a swap of this size. As suggested I would save up some more cash first.

TopNotchLSX

Just to be clear, you currently have a blown up 98 LS1 car but want to go through the trouble of swapping your 01? $1000 will not even get you half way there due to the small parts that you will end up needing. So many differences in the cars really makes the swap pointless. Easier to just buy an LS1 car which you already have????

chuckd71

iTrader: (23)

So you have two semi-useable camaros? Sell one and work toward having one good one. $1000 budget isn't going to get you much.