I need to know exactly what i'm going to have to get to make this conversion. I know i want to do it. I want to keep the 6 speed, but i want the turbo v6. I know its been done. What are the benefits/disadvantages of running the 6 spd with this motor?
I basically need to know what i need from a turbo regal to make this conversion to my car, and i need to know what new stuff needed to buy etc. Any help is appreciated.

 

First thing you need to buy is a 6 cylinder Camaro, dont chop up a Z28 to do it. But dont ruin a car that had potential to begin with.

 

as far as i know,the t56 wont directly bolt up with the buick v6,different bellhousing bolt pattern. The 3.8 was so potent because of the automatic,with a manual trans,you wont be be able to launch under serious boost,and will lose a fair amount of boost on shifts.
Also you need to make new frame mounts for the engine,i also believe you need the 89 TTA style heads in order to clear the shock towers,and have any hopes of plug access.

Not sure where you live,but if emission's testing is done,the car wont be legal due to 97 being OBD2,and the 3.8 turbo isnt.

 

Try this site for some answers...use the search feature if necessary...

 

hmm...didn't know that there would be much difference in the size (width of the motor)
emissions testings are not an issue here in kansas.

I'm sure the frame mounts could be fabricated.
I appreciate your help, keep the comments coming!!

 

Is this intended to be a "street" application, or "race only"? Will affect how you handle functions like the speedometer and fuel system.

 

mostly street. Not a ton of strip. I won't say it won't see any strip time because it probably will, but for the most part..it'll be street.

 

With all the turbo advancement that has come about recently why would you even want to bother with this swap?

 

I'd suggest as an alternative the Butler Performance 482ci aluminum "Pontiac" block, currently pushing 2,882flywheelHP @ 7,200rpm in Butler's twin turbo on methanol, "how-much-will-this-thing-take-before-it-breaks" version. Check out the latest issue of High Performance Pontiac. If you're going to be different, why *****-foot around things.

 

lol, i'm not one to *****-foot lol but i can imagine what kinda dough that is gonna run me.

Cost effective wise is the swap even worth it. From what i have seen i am going to spend a lot more money on buying a turbo set-up for this car than swapping motors...am i totally off here or what? if it cheaper to buy a turbo set-up than bring it on.

 

If you want to look at it from an economic standpoint just ask yourself how much power you have to "have"... then break it down to $ per HP.

Of course you need to do lots of research before hand if you're gonna ballpark with any kind of precision.

I'm putting my money on a huge big block if massive pump gas power is your goal. Putting a poncho motor in a chevrolet might be considered sacrilege though. I'd go hemi.

-Mindgame

 

You might want to go over to the FI forum and do a search for "PTK".

Mindgame, wouldn't a Buick motor in a Chevy be just as sacreligeous?

 

I'm putting a Turbo V6 in my 96 Impala SS.
I'm using the 2004r auto trans that came with my Buick donor car, but why not try the 6-speed?
I may eventually try a 6 speed, but since I already have the buick trans I figured I'd start there.
Everyone says the manual trans won't work well, but if the boost is limited and the right cam is used so you can get the rpm's up compared to stock, I don't see why it can't be very fast.
I think it will definitely cost less to go fast (at least high 11's) with the turbo v6 than with the V8.
Do a search at www.turbobuick.com and www.turbobuicks.com.
There is one guy who put a buick turbo v6 in a 93 olds station wagon and runs high 12's with white wall radials.
There is a 93 Formula with the turbo v6 that runs in the 10's and the car is for sale on ebay right now.
There are also people who have put the turbo v6 into new cadillacs, corvettes, shelby cobra kit cars, rx7's, toyota trucks, mustangs, etc.
Good luck.

 

I'm curious... Why swap the LT1 for the turbo GN six? There is PLENTY of room under a B-Body's hood for a single, if not twins. Doing it just to be different? If so, COOL!!!

As far as comparing costs, i'd say keeping the 8 would be much easier. I'm assuming you're doing the swap on your own, so with that, I also assume you're fairly mechanically competant. So, why not build a custom turbo setup for a forged LT1. Do that and the sky's the limit... right?

 

I'm going with the Buick V6 because I happened to get a great deal on an entire T-Type car with rebuilt engine and trans (less than 1000 miles). I got the whole thing for $2500, removed the engine, trans, rearend and wiring harness and sold the body for $500. I'm still planning on selling the rearend. Then after the swap I might even sell the engine and trans from the Impala. My father has a Grand National that run's in the mid 11's, I can do the same mods as he did for about $3000 and I should be in the low 12's at worst.

As for turbocharging the LT1, I think the first thing I'd have to do is lower the static compression ratio, which means dished pistons. I would probably get the engine bored and get new bearings, rebuild the heads, etc since I have 175,000 miles on the Impala. I will probably have to rebuild the trans also. Then I think I'd have to buy an aftermarket engine management system to run the turbocharged engine, which will probably cost $2000. Then an $800 controller for the 4L60E. Then custom plumbing. Probably a camshaft better suited for the turbo. Then finally the turbo, intercooler, wastegate, (8) big fuel injectors, etc.

The Buick Turbo V6 parts are available and inexpensive compared to custom parts for building a Turbo LT1. I think the Buick V6 swap would cost less even if I didn't get a great deal.

On top of that, the V6 weighs 100+ pounds less, there's more room under the hood with the V6, it will get 25+ mpg instead of 15, and it will be very fun to go to the Impala drag races, blow everyone away, then open the hood to reveal a little tiny orange V6.