Hello all. I am shopping for my first 'maro, and have a few questions abouta 1996 RS.


Now, I know that I probably will be under thrilled at the get up and go with the 3.8. However, my big question is, how is the MPG with these cars? I know a good LT1 can see 30 MPG highway with exhaust and whatnot. The 3.8 is better or worse?


And also, around how much am I looking at for an LT1 swap down the road?


Thanks.

 

The v-6 gets about 30 highway as well.... according to the EPA I believe the V-6 get 30 and the v-8 gets 29 highway. Its the city in which the V-8 suffers a lot worse milage than the v-6. Currently I get about 28.5 MPG on the higway in my v-6 That can be attubited to the epa not being exactly right, the age of my car and my driving habits.... I tend to be heavy on the accelerator. No from the owners manual, my helms shop manual and what the EPA says, the v-6 only requires 87 octane while the v-8 requires 91 octane. I dont know if others out here have been able to get away with less than 91 on their v-8 camaro but I know of friends with cars which require 91 and they put 87 against recommendations and havent had a problem.... I once tried it on a high compression 327 v-8 and it knocked if I got more than halfway on the accelerator.

As for swaping in a v-8 later, and some of you with experience may want to commont on this, but by reading in my Helms factory shop manual the engine has to come out from the bottom still attached to the cross beam. I dont know if anyone has been able to pull out a V-6 or a V-8 from the top since it sits back in the engine compartment , kinda underneath the dash. So it may require a garage with a lift and some sort of support to let the engine down. Plus it does require a computer complete with all the harnesses to swap it out... best bet is a wrecked V-8 ... unless you dont computerize it.

 

Well, I found a local LT1 camaro that was badly hit in the rear for $1200, so that got me to thinking about a swap. And my uncle has a lift.

 

Unless you plan to drag race it, the 3.8 camaro is decent.

My '96 3.8 is peppy (compared to normal cars... not to the Z28), costs less to insure than a V8, gets decent gas mileage, runs well on regular, doesn't have LT1 Optispark woes, and the car doesn't rattle... at all!

 

*duplicate*

 

My Z28 was ran with 87 octane before I bought it.. It ran fine, however shortly after buying it the fuel pump went out. (135k miles, don't know if thats "average" or not. I run 91 octane now (heck I ran 89 in my v6 camaro)

Yes, the LT1 can come out the top but its easier (IMO) to come out the bottom. Your lookin at about 4 grand for a LT1 swap, I highly suggust buying the real thing unless the car has sentimental value to you or it is already highly modded.

You will need a lot of parts.
- Posi Rear End (I suggust 3.42)
- 1 Pc Driveshaft (LS1)
- Kmember
- Shocks?
- Engine, Tranny, Computer, ETC.

 

Well that pretty much puts the swap out of reach. Thanks for your prompt answers!

 

The mileage is definitely worth it...I only get 24 hwy and 15-17 city with my Z-28. If I didn't also own a 93 v/6 camaro...I would be broke buying gas for the Z. The 3.8's do give enough pull to get around town, they're no Z-28 for sure, but they're better than nothing.

 

That's not so bad. My dad's Trailblazer gets 18MPG mixed with about 70/40 highway/city.

 

That's cool for you, but out of my 16 gallons, I only get 180 miles..Typically I only go down to "1/4 tank" we all know that means you have two gallons in the tank here...80 percent of my driving is city.