Surprisingly NOT DIFFICULT engine removal! CAMARO V6 to V8 CONVERSION 

Glad it helped!

How did it go? I’m working on doing the same exact thing right now

I really expected it to be a pain to get lined up and in place but between the dolly making it easy to move the engine and transmission, and the hoist being nice and stable, it really did go very smoothly.

Bingo!!! Thanks Glenn, I'll have it down to a science for the next round of upgrades on your car!

No problem 👍 hope it goes smoothly for you!! Definitely worth the effort in my opinion!

You can do it!!!

Thank you so much! I appreciate the SUB. Trying to actually show the process.

I think it depends on your area, I'm in the heart of the rust belt, to find an original V8 with a 6 speed that runs and drives, you're usually 8K or more for a car with over 150k miles. meanwhile you can buy a v6 car for under 2k and if your patient and entire crashed donor car for under 4k. Just depend on what resource you have more of and what you are ready to give up.

Glad my video inspired you!! I'm sure you can get it swappped and keep that camaro on the road for another 317k miles!! Good luck with it!

If only we could go back in time

That's awesome! Sounds like a really nice car!

Tu upgrade your 3rd gen to a 350 small block I honestly don't know for sure as I haven't messed with that generation f-body. The obvious answer is to find a donor car, but if that isn't possible for you, I would do some research and find out exactly what's different between the v6 and v8 3rd gen f-body cars. Then you'll know what adapters if any that you need to find.

@@MohawkMotors Thank you for your reply. I found some engines online, but it looks like I'll need to gather adapters and such, even a new tranny. I am 2nd owner and my kids grew up in it. I just don't know if it's time to let it go. There aren't many more of it's kind.

If you are going to need adapters and thing, it may be worth your while to investigate an LS swap as well. In my area you can get a complete Ls for the same price as a good running 350 and if the adapters are pretty close in price you could have a substantially more powerful and reliable engine for the same money. If you want to keep it period correct disregard that though. There are so many options and so many kits on the market now, there's really no limit to what you could do. I'm all for keeping the car alive, you just have to decide what's going to be the most worthwhile for you. Good luck! I hope you get it swapped!!

People told me not to swap it either because "v8 cars are plentiful and cheap" so in their opinion it wasn't worth the effort and expense to swap a v6 car. However in my area to get an original V8 manual transmission car in the same condition and mileage as this one, would have cost me $9,000 to $11,000 depending on if I could get a good deal. I had less then $5,000 into this car by the time it was finished. I had more time available than money so it made sense to swap a V6 car. Depending on your skill level and what resources you have available, time, money, space, etc. you have to decide what's best for you. Ultimately, it's your car and your decision, if V8 swap is something you really want to do, don't let other people talk you out of it. 98% of the people that tell others they can't or shouldn't do something, are just projecting their own fears and inadequacies onto others so they don't feel worse about themselves when the people around them do awesome stuff.

I believe the corvette uses different engine mounts. If the corvette is a 2000 also the wiring harness would work but it won't fit like a factory harness, you may need to lengthen and shorten pieces of it, also may need to change some connectors.

I've seen a few people swap in the supercharged 3800's

@@MohawkMotors honestly, I'd keep my 3.4 if I could find parts. This car is never gonna go over 80 :P

My first time doing one this way! Glad to share, hopefully it helps some other folks who don't have access to a lift!

Thank you! Save it!!!!!

Yeah, I just bought a catfish 2002, 96k miles. One owner, old lady . Not sure if she took care of it mechanically? BUT she washes, garaged, and kept the interior absolutely mint. Sadly it is slow 🐌 shifting on gear 1 - 2 - 3 😢, and it went limp at 25mph on a hill from a complete stop, I think it was limp , service engine light 😂. I paid 4 grand for it, I am hoping its a shift selonoid repair, but maybe tranny is going. I have a camaro 2ss 2015 manual, this is just a winter car for now, driving around town, I fear the highway now. Lol. But maybe 🤔 it needs a v8 swap, it's really pretty, paint is great for a 22 year old car

No problem 👍

Thank you very much!

Sounds like a fun project! I hope it goes well! Thank you!

Just a cheap dolly I made out of some harbor freight casters and a couple 2x4 pieces. Good luck!

@@MohawkMotors thanks for the quick response! That's simple enough then! Great video by the way! SUPER helpful, and directly to the point. Now, just to find a good running, somewhat low mile 3800s, but its so hard to come across one these days haha.

It depends on a lot of things. If you're really knowledgeable and do your homework ahead of time and have all the parts gathered up, you could probably do it over the weekend. If you don't know a whole lot about the differences between the v6 and v8 cars or you don't have all the parts together, or your just not super mechanically inclined it could take months

Aluminum 5.3, LM4

Nice!

Fortunately the 20 seconds of running wasn't long enough to do any long term damage.

Where are you located?

If you got an original pcm and harness for a V8 ls1 car that is the same year as your v6 swap car, MOST of the connectors would connect into the car and work, but not all of them. The V8 ls1 cars usually were higher optioned than the V6 cars so you would have to try to get a V6 car with as many of the same options as the car your donor harness and pcm cam out of for it to all work.

I don't think so

@@MohawkMotors i will see when i do the SWAP 💪🤩

My experience the easiest way to get the engine in and out of these cars is by removing the engine k member and engine as a unit from the car.

Already sold it

You don't need to remove the dash. If it's an automatic transmission you don't need to mess with anything inside the car, if it's a manual transmission you will need to partially disassemble the center console to let the shifter come down out of the car with the transmission.

@MohawkMotors let's say my shift boot is already removed, cause it wasn't even there. What else do I need to remove?

What else I noticed was the throttle cables. How do I go about removing those

Throttle cables you pull the throttle to wide open with your hand, then turn the cable and slide it out the side of the throttle.

No sold it

I have a v8 already just wanting to switch from automatic to manuel

Yes you would need to change the pcm from electronic automatic to manual transmission or it will look for the signal from the range selector and prevent starting.

@@MohawkMotors awesome thank you! Do you possibly have a video doing it? I can’t seem to find any on RU-vid.

unfortunately I don't but there are a lot of channels on youtube with very good how to videos on making changes in HP Tuners. Goat Rope Garage is a good one, he's super knowledgeable, I actually learned a lot from him and his videos.

nice! Congrats!

Thank you! Any of the ls style engines will fit, they're all the same size. Tons of aftermarket support for the swap you're talking about, lots of good videos on youtube and info in the forums as well. Would have multiple transmission options too. I recommend doing your research, youtube and forums will be great resources for you, come up with a plan that fits your budget, what engine, what transmission, and how you want to run them and make them fit. Then stick to your plan.

Thanks! Glad it helped!

Thanks Jonathan! Appreciate you watching and commenting!

Right on! Thanks for the kind words! Hope you get it back on the road!!

Thanks Geoff! Saw your other comment about the transmission also, had a change of plans, it made more sense to bite the bullet and get the T56 now, I explain in more detail in the next video coming this week.

It went to a good home, a guy bought it to build a supercharged engine for his firebird.

Thank you! If you can find a donor, wouldn't be hard to convert to LS

On this project, probably not until the track opens in the spring

No different water pump and different thermostat housing.

@@MohawkMotors will u ship the v6 thermostat housing to me if u have it or can get it....I really need it...mines is cracked..coolant sparys out..hard to find that part

I don't have it any more, sorry man

Good luck! Hope it goes smoothly!

Wouldn't be that hard, just gather up all the v8 pieces you need

Thank you!

Hope you get it fixed! Or Swapped! Thanks!

Just a harbor freight moving dolly

@@MohawkMotors you are a king amongst men

Lol, Thanks!

I appreciate that!

Shoot me an email and we can talk about it, but unless the car has A LOT of sentimental or other value to you, it's more than the car is worth.

Dang. The engine or the swap lol?

The swap lol. Engines are relatively inexpensive, time is expensive, and swaps take a lot of time.

I put an aluminum block 5.3 out of an 04 Envoy into it. Should be a lot of fun once I get it all finished up.

@@MohawkMotors thats what I was thinking of doing to mine, I want something different, not what everybody else is doing. keep me posted when your up and running, Im very interested how it all goes.

@@adam03110 I have a knocking ls1 if you want to buy it off me and rebuild it

Possibly, where are you located?

I'd swap a LZ9 3900 and twin-turbo it

Thank you for watching!

Sounds like that car is nice enough to be worth replacing the engine! Or even upgrading. Tons of options available, I've even heard of a few people swapping the new LT engines into the third gen f-bodies now.

@@MohawkMotors yeah that's the debate. If I could pick up a decent used engine, and pay someone to swap it in, I wouldn't hesitate. Even another $2k would only put us $5k into this thing adding up purchase, initial repair, new wheels and tires, and an engine? And then we have a fun car? I don't know how much an LT would cost to swap in. Hopefully I can find someone in Rochester area to do it.

Appreciate it!

You'll need a set of metric wrenches and a set of metric sockets, push lock fuel line disconnect tool, a pocket screwdriver will help with the electrical connectors, some pliers for the spring clamps on the coolant hoses, a dolly of some kind will help you move the engine and transmission around once it's out. And something to lift the car with, either an engine hoist like I used or a two post lift would work even better. That's pretty much it, no special tools needed.

@@MohawkMotors Thanks a lot bro, you are very helpful and encouraging. Going get everything ready, because my car come back like it never left this summer.

No I don't, trickiest part is lifting the car off the k-member and engine. Everything else is like pulling any other engine, disconnect all the electrical connections, cooling lines, fuel lines, and whatever else, then remove the engine.

IT depends on which standalone you are using. When I was using the GM pcm as a standalone I tied it directly into the factory pcm power supply wires from the fuse/relay box. When I used the Holley PCM it gets connected directly to battery power and and ignition power. I used the factory ignition power for that also. Most standalone pcm's and harnesses require at least one battery power and usually 1 or more switched power sources, there are lot's of ways to provide switched power and battery power so it's really up to you how you would like to do it.

Thanks for watching!

Glad it helped!

how do you get the driver side disconnected the conntor with the post tin the middle?@@MohawkMotors

You mean the V6 crossmember? I just took it to the scrap yard.

Thank you! Glad it helped!

Thanks

igen, szüksége lenne a fék/tengelykapcsoló pedál szerelvényre, a tengelykapcsoló főhengerére, a középkonzolra, a sebességváltó kereszttartóra, a lendkerékre, a kuplungra és nyilván a sebességváltóra. És valószínűleg néhány apró darab, amit elfelejtettem

yes, I used the stock control arms and shocks/struts

one is a return and one is for the evap recirculation into the engine. There are a couple different ways to run a single line fuel system, you need somewhere in the system to regulate fuel pressure. They make sending units with the regulator in the tank, those only need a supply line run to the engine. They also make fuel filters with regulators built in those you just run supply to the filter, then regulated supply to the engine and return from the filter to the tank. There are other ways too. It just depends on how you are going to regulate your pressure. The factory setup on your camaro had the fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rail, so it needed the return line back to the tank for the excess fuel.

Well from what I understand they want 60 psi the intake manifold I’m running doesn’t have a return on the other side of it the other fuel rail but people say you can do the filter with the return style

Oy, out the top is a PAIN! Good luck!!! Hope it goes as smoothly as possible!

@@MohawkMotors thanks, hopefully it will be smooth

@@MohawkMotors Why is it a pain to pull it from the top? Does the engine weigh alot more? Great video!

@@simri7474 2/3 of the engine is under the cowl so you have to get it wayyyyyy forward and then tip it nearly vertical to get it out. It's also a pain to get all the bellhousing bolts out with the engine and trans still in the car

Not sure if you have done this already or not, but going in and out the bottom is 100% the way to go with these F-bodies.

Can I have that old set up lol

Thank you!! I really appreciate it! I already sold all the v6 parts that I took out

@@MohawkMotors Absolutely! And that’s alright, do you have the V8 in and running?

@@abramdelao8713 sure do!!

It can be done that way, but the engine itself is so far back under the cowl it makes it very difficult to lift it off the mounts and then slide it out from under the cowl.

lol

I appreciate it!

Nice! Thanks for watching! I'm using a T56 out of a 2001 Camaro. Easy bolt in.

@@MohawkMotors I'm worried ima need a drive shaft too ... wanted talk somone that used the 4l80 e .. I have a v6 w a t5 5 speed i dont think will hold the 6.0 I know it's missing a bell housing bolt

Yeah, the T5 probably isn't the best choice, it's not really up to the task of a 6.0.

@@MohawkMotors really ty for the info ya everything iv read says the 4l80 e is beast mode I might just keep it and have a drive shaft made

The V6 cars and SUV's really aren't something I know a lot about. That said I did a quick google search and it does look like people have swapped both the 3.8 V6 and LS4 V8 into the buick lacrosse so it's definitely possible!!

@@MohawkMotors Thank you I really appreciate it.

@@MohawkMotors so a ls4 can fit on like a 97 v6 camaro?

@@jayay4660 I would have to do some research, the LS4 is unique, it was designed for front wheel drive applications so it has a different bellhousing bolt pattern specific to the front wheel drive transmissions. The LS4 also doesn't have starter mounting provisions. Any other LS series engine would fit in a 97 camaro, you would just need the engine crossmember for an LS car, or motor mount adapters to match up to the stock engine crossmember.

IT can be done from the top, but it's much more difficult. About 2/3 of the engine sits back under the cowl which isn't removable so you would need to move the engine quite a way forward before you would be able to lift it up.

The stock exhaust? I sold the catalytic converter and scrapped the rest.

@@MohawkMotors did the exhaust interfere when dropping the frame?

it's not in the way, but it is bolted to the transmission and the engine, so you'll need to disconnect it in both places in order to lower the engine and transmission down.

Thanks! Good luck!

About 2 hours total.

Yes. It's really not very difficult to get the V6 out and then install the V8. With the substantial price difference between an original V8 car and a V6 car. It's well worth the swap in my opinion. I think next time though I will order a harness and ecu from an original V8 car and that would make the swap even easier.

Nevermind just found it

glad you found it, more to come in the spring!

Thank you! Thanks for watching!

If you're close enough to come pick it up I would be happy to sell you an engine.

If the car had the 5.7 ls1 in it, you can just use the original mounts for the 5.3. The mounting bosses on the engine block of the 5.7ls1 and the 5.3 truck engine are the same. What brand are the clamshell mounts you bought? There are literally dozens of companies making all different types and sizes of mounts. Your best bet is probably to contact whoever made the clamshells you bought to get the other side of the mount.

I bought the clamshell mounts off summit they are made by hooker they are pre drilled for the polyurethane bushings for the clip on the z28 so I just need the engine side mount

If you could help me out with part numbers and shit that would cool

@Anthony carrieri I just looked on summit really quick for the mounts you describe, they look like a factory replacement clamshell, do the factory engine side mounts not fit? If I were you I would call Hooker directly with the part number of the clamshells you have, and ask them what engine side mount they are meant to work with.

On the phone now and hooker is owned by Holley if I’m correct hopefully they have enough information on there product cause I have called twice down with no answers lol thanks for the answer and the help great videos by the way!

That's awesome!!! Good luck!!

What engine did you swap it for? What all did you have to do to make it work?

Thank you!

Thanks!

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

Thanks

Glad it was helpful!

Coming soon buddy!!!!

Because by the time I was finished, I had less than half the price of buying an SS invested in it, and I'm not concerned with resale value.

Thanks for the tip

You done very especially doing that all by yourself.Great job

No problem, glad it helped!

Thanks Man!!! Did you get your truck that wouldn't turn over figured out?

@@MohawkMotors i sold it as is id 20 below here so i didnt wanna mess wit it

@@MohawkMotors i got 2000 sierra running like a top heat blowing cool

man I don't blame you, 20 below is way below when I want to be outside! Try flushing the heater core, pull the hoses off the water pump and run a garden hose through it until the water runs clear. Clogged up heater core is very common in trucks that old. If that doesn't help check the mode door (I haven't made a video on this but there are a bunch of them) and make sure the actuator is moving it from cool to heat.

About 2 hours my first time. I bet doing it again I could have it out in about an hour.

Really? I did my clutch last year and spent like 2 hours getting one bellhousing bolt out. Hope my swap goes this smooth.

I pulled the engine and transmission together, I think that makes it a lot faster than trying to remove just the transmission. The transmission tunnel is so tight to the bellhousing I bet it would be a HUGE pain to try to remove only the transmission.

Turbo anyone

Just trying to help out an no disrespect intended

I'm not sure what you're trying to say?

Thanks for watching and for the constructive criticism! Always looking to make my videos better so I appreciate the input!