camarotestdriver

So, everyone thinks their V-8 is worth $4k more than a V6, maybe, but I think in the realm of reality, NOT! From what I have seen, you can get complete blown up V-6 camaros around $800 all day. I have seen plenty of LS1 engines with tranny, "dressed", with harness drop-in's in all day for $3k. What else am I missing if I get a V6 body (were talking year 2000 and up)? Sub frame the same? Need radiator and hoses, no biggie. Fuel lines match up enough to swap out 3 feet of line or is it specific and continuous? V8 harness should plug right into the under dash, correct? I have a v-8 cluster, good there. Rears are basically the same except to watch out for drum /disk brakes? Hmmm, that leaves front brakes questionable....

I am "thinking" I would rather meal piece together a V6 manual to V8 manual for $4500 and have a 75k mile drivetrain car than pay $6k for a 150k mile car?

How far out of my tree am I on this one?

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

Well..the Z28 badge of course. And that is what you pay the big dollars for. It's made of moon rocks and unicorn sperm.

I think the rear ends will be different. Base V6 will probably still have a 10-bolt but not posi..which you need in a V8 application. Also the V6 version would likely not have gears in the range you want..but likely no stock ratio would be truly ideal anyway. Brakes likely will be different unless you started with a high-end V6..like.maybe the old RS might have some V8 parts on it..or maybe just the gaudy body kit.

Exhaust.

You are right that you can save money doing it this way, but don't underestimate the time required. If you consider your time totally free, then go for it. If this were such a lucrative endeavor, every V6 Camaro out there would have been converted I think. You run a high risk of nickel and diming yourself to death. But you can insure it as a V6!

2kgtp

Most v6 cars had a 3.08:1 rear ratio

weeble1

iTrader: (6)

You can find a used 10 bolt from a v8 car for $250 all day, I've seen them for $100. That's minimal.

garygnu

need a V8 K-member .

camarotestdriver

Ahhhhhh, THATS what I was wondering!! Those are the things I need to pay attention for/to.

RockinWs6

Rear is the SAME brakes SAME.......need a K member WITH steering assembly AND complete wiring harness with gauge pod PCM BCM if you want a trouble free swap. Also need a v8 fuel tank and complete fuel line-fuel pump-emissions package to do a proper swap.

camarotestdriver

Okay, now were getting on rocky (no that I cant do it) swap territory. I didnt realize there was THAT much to it. Still, in my mind, doesn't justify a $4k diff, but, helps push it in that direction I reckon.

Thanks all. Guess its back to square one.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

Most of these projects start out as "I already have the V6." Save your $ and buy one with the V8 IMO.

Good luck.

codyvette

iTrader: (24)

I have sold many of theses cars, all V8. If you wait and have cash in hand, nice complete auto Z's can be had for around $5k. It is not worth swapping one in a fourth gen. Besides, without a black top they look like ****.

Empatho

iTrader: (16)

If you add up all the parts you need for the swap and also the time, then that $4k difference is a bargain.

camarotestdriver

Thanks all. Believe it or not, I am going E36 / LS1 swap. Appreciate all the help and advice.

baSICK5.0

iTrader: (3)

Just save some money and look hard.

I bought a 2000 SS with LTs, LS6 intake, SLP Lid, SLP Ram air hood, Screamer X pipe and dynomax race bullets, Tubular LCAs, Panhard bar, Tubular Strut tower Brace, Stereo system, Brand new BFG tires, Diablo Predator. Car purchase included extra parts ----> Ported & Milled 241 heads, PRC .650 springs, New timing chain, and MS3 cam swap, drag radials, Extra Deep Dish 17x11" ZR1 wheels, Sub Frame connectors etc...

I gave $5,200 cash for this car. It had terrible orange peel in a fresh paint job. I simply wetsanded it and buffed it.


I have a friend who had a CLEAN Pewter Z with a RPM Lvl 2 or 3 trans and SS4000 stall, Car ran 11's on a smallish shot, had a few other mods...sold the car for $4,500 because he sat on it so long he just took much less than what he started asking for it.

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

better off buying a car than swapping it

at the end of the day your car would still be worth less both to buyers if you sold it and also to insurance companies if you total it

and never mind all the bug chasing you would have to do

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

Damn Basick5.0..call me next time you go shopping!

baSICK5.0

iTrader: (3)

I Bought it from a friend who had got it from a friend in an odd deal. He got it so cheap he just flipped it to me for a quick profit. I'm unsure what he paid but apparently my $5,200 was a nice increase over what he actually paid. He had it like 2 days and I brought him cash and drove it home 2 hours with zero issues.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

It always pays to have some cash around in our hobby. So many good deals I have passed up just because I didn't have $5K-$10K to drop on something for a week or month.

baSICK5.0

iTrader: (3)

Very true. I've passed MANY up myself but this time I got lucky. Even still theres deals to be had everyday ESPECIALLY on Fbodys.

SSCamaro99_3

iTrader: (1)

Comparing a blown up V6 to a running V8 car is useless. Why not find a V8 car with a blown motor for cheap, and rebuild the motor. Can be done way cheaper than the swap, especially for your previously stated goals, and none of the small crap to deal with.

2nd Gen Fl 'bird

iTrader: (13)

Shop for a roller. I've seen them cheeeeep. Just a matter of a drivetrain and the incidentals. At least in theory.
If that route, scrounge up a 6.0 and be way ahead.