Has anyone every done a V-6 crate engine swap?

I was just wondering if anyone had ever done a V-6 crate engine swap from the standard L38 (I believe that's the name of the stock engine in the 4th gens '95-'02)? GM has tons and tons of engines available but I'm not sure what would fit, what is for trucks, and I bet a 250 horsepower V-6 would be cheaper than an LT1, LS1, or 350. Has anyone ever done this?

**this has been yet another question from someone with no clue of what he is doing**

Originally posted by Brangeta


**this has been yet another question from someone with no clue of what he is doing**

At least your honest. :D

So... has no one ever done one?

i cant see why anyone would want to go through the pain of an engine swap just to put another crappy v6 in. someones probably done it somewhere over yonder but not around these parts.

Well... I'm interested in the idea because I would think it would make the car lighter. If I buy a V-6 Camaro someday, I'd like to figure out how to make it more lightweight. 3500 pounds is really heavy for a car of this size and since the interior of Camaros isn't exactly luxury, I'm not sure what could be weighing the car down so much. I'd like to get a V-6 and make it close to as sporty as a Z28. From what I remember reading years ago, the base Camaro is considered underpowered, so to compensate for that, the car needs to shed some fat. I don't really like engine mods, so I'd rather put in a more powerful V-6 instead of tuning up the current one that may have over 100,000 miles, and I don't want the gas sucking of a V-8 when I can't afford it.

I don't want the gas sucking of a V-8 when I can't afford it.

On the highway an LT1/LS1 will get you over 20 mpg easily. You'd be wasting money by throwing another V6 in the car.

My v6 with over 85,000 miles has been pulling low and mid 13's at the strip (with some, ummm., bolt-ons help...). No signs of wear that I can tell. It's a 3.8 in a '98. The 3.8's can take a lot.

I don't know the ratings on a crate engine, but the factory 3.8 is rated at 200hp.

The LS1 aluminum block and heads, supposedly only weighs about 15-20 lbs more than the 3.8 cast iron block and heads. It's hard to make the power with a 3.8 engine when you're accustomed to v8 power.

Only 20 pounds less than a V-8? I didn't know that. What kind of gas mileage do the 3.8 V-6s get anyhow? The salesman I contacted didn't know. Also, what type of gas do you use? The 86, 89, or 93 octane?

I use 91 octane, highest we can get around here.

I was getting 22-24mpg I think. I ran 87 octane until I put the blower on. Since it was putting out 10psi of boost, I started running 91 or 93 at that time.... :)