I'm about to do a rebuild or buy a crate motor for an 86 Camaro. Meant to be dd that will get decent mpg (I ran the car for years and got 28mpg on the highway). I also have a donor car, an 85 2.8l, that will provide a T5, some body parts and possibly block if I need to rebuild. Sooo - I started looking at GM crate motors (so I could be lazy and not rebuild) and the 2.8l crate motor for the 85 manual trans is about $800 more than the 86 2.8l with auto. What is the difference between the engines that constitutes an added $800? Internally balanced, something with the crank...??? I talked to a local mechanic buddy who runs a shop and he had no ideas. Any help with this would greatly appreciated.

Thanks and Cheers to all

 

iron heads

How you going to hook a t56 to a 2.8l? when you put it in OD its going to stall out

 

edit: It's actually a T5 and it came in the 2.8l 6cyl donor car. Good catch!! Sorry about that

 

Grab a younger 3.4L/T5 combo.

Last I hear, the 3.4L is very similar in cost to a 2.8L, for much more kick.

 

GM sells a replacement 3.4 engine for the S10 that uses all the TBI stuff from that engine. Bigger, more HP and a bit more reliable than the lousy 2.8. It should work in a Camaro as well.