Ok, now I will probably never do this but my car is getting up there in miles and I was just pondering...

If I need to replace my engine, why not just get a V8?

Now I know it's a lot more complicated than that, but what would you need to replace on the car besides the engine?

Total cost without labor?

thanks

 

bump

 

No real reason not to. Easiest way would be to grab the complete engine, wiring, computer, tranny and K memeber with suspension from a salvage. Pull out the entire k memeber out the bottom with everything still attached, and slide the new one in. A buddy of mine went v6-ls1 in a ls1 style car in under a days work !!!!!!

 

I have a friend that I know that did this he went from a 94 Firebird with a 3.4 A4, to a LT1 M6. There is a LOT to this swap, engine harness suspension, rear end, brakes, etc.....

He got all the necessary parts from a person who totalled their Formula. His car has all the parts as a Formula but the stickers, VIN, and tail lights.

IMHO this is not something that I'd do. I would only try it if you buy a totalled car and have it parked next to yours and plug and play.

You would actually end up paying the same amount for a swap as you would for trading your car in on a LT1 car. That is just my $.02

 

id just trade up to an LT1. they can be had for so cheap right now in the market the way it is that theres no reason to go through the pain and agony of the switch.

 

Man the rear suspension is pretty much the same. Many of the lt1 guys are running the v6 springs. The rear ends are the same, other than yours may not having posi. Brakes are different, but not essential to upgrading. Also you will save tons of money with insurances still having the "v6" car.

I dont see why the entire swap couldnt be done in 2 days work and less than $2000

 

The easiest, and best way is to locate a complete, wrecked, LT1 car and do a side-by side change-over. (Trust me, you will be VERY glad you did!) It is not all that hard, if you have done engine swaps before. Change EVERTHING from the plug-ins under the dash, forward to the radiator. (And don't forget to change the wiring for the dual fans before the engine is in! I did and it would have been easier to do it with the engine out.) Change the driveshaft, rear end, (you can keep the housing, but change the internals) exhaust, rear springs, etc., etc. As to the "slide the new one in" get a buddy over for that one. I did it by myself, WITH an engine cradle that is on wheels and jacks up, in a well equiped garage, and it took two days to get it in and bolted up. (Yeah, I know that sounds like a long time for the job, but you have to think about all the "under the car--see what's lined up--up on top--see what's lined up--back under the car--Son of a B**TCH that was lined up a minute ago! Let it down a little, move it over there just a bit, jack it up some, SH*T watch that wire harness--almost just pinched that sucker. Better take a break BEFORE I start kicking things. You get the idea!) Have help, get a complete donor car or as close to it as you can find, go ahead and do the swap. You will always have the satisfaction of knowing your car is the result of your work and not a production-line same-ole. P.S. If you decide not to do the swap, and need a good 3.4 and auto trans, with computer and wiring harness, (CHEAP) drop me a note.