abritton77

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and about to put a 383 stroker that I had in a dirt track car into a 98 Camaro that I just picked up for 700 bucks. I now alot of people would say that I am making a mistake, but I wanted somthing to drop this motor in and it seems like there are allot of the v6 camaro's with bad motors for cheap. I figured that it may cost a little more to do this swap verses an older car that came with a small block, but I will have a car that is in allot better shape in the end.

Anyways, Ive read the sticky above and have a few questions I guess.
1. Can I use my 80's style power steering pump? If not then what?
2. Will shorty headers work? Any chance some for a 2nd gen camaro would work?
3. Will the v6 radiator be big enough if I can plumb it up?

I'm planning to fab up some type of mounts and not too worried about that. Also going to get a low profile carb bonnet. I do have an aluminum radiator that I could use if it will fit and will go that route if it work. I am also going to use a turbo 350 that I have.

Any info that you guys can provide will be greatly appreciated.

abritton77

I have the motor in the car finally. I have spent at least 40 hrs getting to this point and have learned allot. My advice to someone trying this would be to get the motor and transmission hanging in the car and get the pinion angle right first. I would get the transmission mounted before getting the motor mounted. I have it mounted in place with the wipers intact, but not sure if I will get to keep them. I had to cut part of the passenger side wiper base off to clear the bonnet. I really do not see how it can be done without trimming the wiper. I have it as absolutely as low as I can get it. I could have moved it further forward, but would probably have pretty bad hood fitment issues.

I can answer my questions now.

1. The 80's style power steering pump plumbed up no problem at all using the newer hoses.
2. I really don't think the generic block huger headers would work. I bought some lt1 long tube headers and they fit like a glove.
3. Dont think the v6 radiator will work.


I would say this really isnt a bad swap. I really think I should be where I am at now after a good solid weekend. I just really didnt go about it right to begin with.

To do this you will need 2 sets of jack stands, A welder,Grinder with cutting disc, Engine crane, and Fabrication skills.

I used a long tail Th400 and had to shorten the drive shaft to 38.5'' center of u to u. My car can with a 2 piece drive shaft that I replaced with a 1 piece.

abritton77

Well I am finally done sorta. I had planned to take it to the track on Saturday, but it rained out. Cant wait to see what she will do.

abritton77

I took her to the track last weekend and popped and missed its way to a 9.34 1/8th. I found a vacuum leak and believe I've got it fixed now. I am hoping to get into the low 8's once I get the bugs worked out. Right now it has a stock converter from a 1 ton truck and I am having to launch at like 1k rpm. I've got a 3k stall but need to get it rebuilt.

Adam1203

iTrader: (5)

You would have been better off using the lt1 kmember it would have lowered the engine and you could have just used regular motor mounts and cross member for the tranny.

good job though. is this strictly a track car?

sscamino

pics? are you going to keep the th350 or go overdrive/manual?

abritton77

I actually wound up putting in a th400. I plan to run this combo till she blows and then drop in a 5.3 and go turbo.

How do in upload a pic?

abritton77

S1LV3R

iTrader: (5)

Ha Ha, nice. Keep us updated on new times. Guess it's a little late now but would've been nice to use LT1 stuff for the swap.

abritton77

Got it loaded up and bout to head to the track. Hoping the cdi box and carb tune solved my problems.

abritton77

I managed a best of 9.00 at 78.9 MPH. The car ran better, but still not 100% yet. I am thinking that i need to tune my secondary and maybe jet up a size or 2. The secondary still has the stiff spring that the carb came with and according to a chart that I saw on Holley's website, it will never completely open. I am pretty proud of the fact that It aint leaking anything and still running pretty good.

Cant wait till next weekend!!!

abritton77

I sent my good torque converter off on Monday and got it back on Thursday. I had it rebuilt and re stalled from 3k to 3.5k. I highly recommend Performance Torque Converters in Kendall TX. They received it and sent it out the same day.
I've got it installed now and am going to install a shift kit in the morning. I've also changed the spring in my secondary and modified my air intake to get colder air. Hoping that should put me deep into the 8's.

Lou99Ws9

iTrader: (2)

Cool swap man! if you have any videos of the car idleing or at the track i would love to see how this car sounds with the SBC in it. you said it was a 383 bottom end? i would think low 8s in the 1/8th would be very possible once all the bugs are sorted out. Nice build.

abritton77

Got everything installed and the car is loaded. Heading to the track in an hour or so. Im not a transmission guy, so I am kinda worried about the fact that I had tranny parts scattered out all over the place. I followed the instructions, but defiantly dont understand what I was doing.

abritton77

Was kind of a bitter sweet day at the track. I did finally figure out that the source of my ignition gremlin was my tach. I got to the track and it was running like ****. I changed the plugs and it made no difference. As I was sitting in the staging lanes wondering WTF and realized that I have heard that tach's can cause ignition problems. Sure enough I made my worst pass ever. I got back to my truck and unhooked my tach and bingo problem solved. Now After changing my torque converter out I am blowing the tires off of it at the line. I no that my shock are worn completely out along with my springs, and figure I will be changing them soon.

I also did create a problem with my tranny. When I bump it to 2nd from 1st, it doesnt shift. When I bump it to drive it will shift to 2nd and then to drive at about 4500. Im going to start a thread in the tranny sction, and maybe somebody can help me with that problem.

Stinger22009

Nice build. I'd also like to hear it idle and run.

abritton77

Here are a couple videos. The one at the track is the first pass.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video....00880723303555

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=...type=2&theater

Stinger22009

Nice. Sounds badass. Me and my brother were trying to get hold of an older v6 Camaro (in god awful shape) to eventually drop a better motor into but the guy backed out. In person, he said he'd sell it. Gave me his number, but now he won't reply to my messages.

abritton77

I like the car and will really enjoy the end result when I get the bugs worked out, but if I had it to do again I would get one with an ls1 or buy a 3rd gen. The swap is not that bad, but it is a bitch to work on. To do any thing to the distributor you have to drop the motor.

Taterply

Nice Job!!!
I'm getting ready to do the same thing 350/400 in a '01 Z28 shell that I picked up and was wondering what you did electrical wise for the fuel pump and if your using the factory dash and how you got it to work?