I was about to buy a t top 94 3,4 liter for 1600. I was thinking okay, cheap i can get t top, and engine swap later... (i wanna join our local camaro club, cant afford a v8, wife only likes 3rd gen bodies...) then i am given an chance at a 97 convertable, 3.8liter with 172k miles for 2100. whats the real deal here, 3.8 way better spend the 500, or will i be just as happy with the 3.4 i read the thread on the 3.4 well written, but if i do modify are my troubles less with the 3.8? Is it a pepier engine anyway... I was thinkin gengine swap but i think ill jst save up and sell the one i buy to get a z28 in a couple years.. for now a nice paint job will be fun and a nice exhaust... so whats your opinions... save the 500 get the t top and upgrade or spend it cause ill be happier.... it is 500 not too much, in long run what will be a better buy can i resell a 3.8 convert easier than a 3.4 t top, i was also thinking 97 is 30 yr anniversays kinda cool.... also ideas on mods would be wlecome but if you dont wanna repeat i am more than able to search for them... thanks for opinion.. help!!!!!

 

if you plan to mod a v6 than use a 3800 in whatever you get. 450 hp turbo 3800's are not that hard to find out there.

 

I have a friend in our club Jake (he is on here, and he can atest to this), that the 3.8L Gen II are pretty good motors. But it really depends on the owner. I have a 3.4L '94 and it blew at 130K and I was gentle on the car. Do the '97.

 

thanks for info, so check this out... all this research and a friend says hey you wanna buy my 2000-v6, convertable, ill sell it for the 3k i owe on it. 5k is retail. i think well crap now we are 1500 over what i stareted at, but can i pass it up... its a weird green metalic color but who am i to complain... i love the headlights on the 2000,, and remember them coming out the year i graduated... so i am thinking ill go with the 2000. Ill let you all know friday whats what

 

in my past experiance every 3.4 i have come in contact with has been a broken peice of misdesigned crap. i use to have a 3.8 m5 and i raced many 3.4s with lots done to them and was never beat and all i had was a very mild rv cam headers and CAI. if you have to buy a v6 get the 3.8 it is definatly better JMHO

 

I've owned a few 3.8's one of them being an a 96 Camaro. The 3.8's are wonderful engines. I think I've read in multiple places, that it was one of the best motors the GM has ever produced. But if you are thinking about swapping, and want a V8, check into an LT1, seriously, despite the criticism, it's actually a pretty good motor. Classic iron block GM 350. You can probably get one *Full swap -used- * for around the same price as a 3.8. Best of luck.

 

my father has a 96 m5 3.8 that has 255k and will still run away from 5.0 and the first few years of the 4.6 mustangs and gets 30+ mpg.

buy the 97 and offer the guy $1900