V6 to V8 swap with entire parts car

[slohand]

James... are you using the stock kmember? my son's 88 needs a motor and i think i am going to talk him into an ls1 swap, he is footen the bill...

meanwhile, keep the posts coming, makes interesting reading since i'll be doing it in a few months

[Phantom409]

Well not knowing how many motors Brian has done James this could be a learning thing for him.

No, I didn't know that all 3rd gens used the same K-member so I learned something here

Just to pull a motor and tranny could be done in a day easy.
James is one of the best 3rd gen guys I know and has a sweet car too boot.

Yes, if he had the whole car with all the parts B, he could do it in a week.

[scoutsniper]

so do you guys think its worth it or should i just buy a V8 car and sell mine.

so motor out the top should trans go with it or take the trans out the bottom of the car?

how hard is it converting drums to disk brake

[WMCCjames]

James... are you using the stock kmember? my son's 88 needs a motor and i think i am going to talk him into an ls1 swap, he is footen the bill...

meanwhile, keep the posts coming, makes interesting reading since i'll be doing it in a few months

Yep, still using the stock unit...just using Spohn conversion mounts. All you have to do is drill a couple new holes and grind the weld back a little on the rear of the k-member for clearance to the oil pan....check out my swap thread...I think I posted pics of everything in there in there.

[WMCCjames]

so do you guys think its worth it or should i just buy a V8 car and sell mine.

so motor out the top should trans go with it or take the trans out the bottom of the car?

how hard is it converting drums to disk brake

As long as you are happy with the condition with your car body wise, I'd convert it, it's really not that difficult. Engine out the top, trans out the bottom. Converting the drums in the rear is pretty easy too....you have to cut the axle flange and drill a couple holes and LS1 brakes will bolt right up....then you just have to figure out the parking brake cable situation.

[JoeliusZ28]

didnt know that either.

[Phantom409]

So James, would you like to teach a class on 3rd gens

[scoutsniper]

i dont really car anout special brakes just the rearend on the GTA which is already disk. how hard is the parking brake? do i even need it being a auto and in michigan(no hills)

thanks

[slohand]

if your gonna swap the whole rear end, then all you do is hook the e-brake up.... no problems there

[slohand]

so do you guys think its worth it or should i just buy a V8 car and sell mine.

so motor out the top should trans go with it or take the trans out the bottom of the car?

how hard is it converting drums to disk brake

do it... you'll really love the car after you have some hard work into it.. and a cooler car to boot

[Jdseibe]

I just did a v6 to v8 swap in my 3rd gen last summer.

v8 front springs is a must, otherwise you'll have clearance issues, and a v8 sway bar up front probably wouldnt be a bad idea either.

you dont have to swap the k member, just the mounts, they are pretty cheap at any autoparts store, but they are gonna be a pain to swap, you hafta drop your a-arms down to get to the back side of the bolts.

you will have to swap your transmission for a v8 one also, you will need the driveshaft and crossmember from the v8 car, also your torque arm is giong to be a little to long, you can either swap it, or just trim the end of it down a little, which is what i ended up doing.

disassemble your engine enough so there wont be any issues when pulling it out, such as your serpentine setup, your distributor, exahaust, etc. support your transmission from underneith the car, hookup a cherry picker to your engine, unbolt it from the trans and motor mounts, and out she comes.. you can pull it right out the top, pretty easy actually, just take the hood off.

its not all that hard, as long as you have patience.

i believe you will need new trans cooler lines for your radiator, and a new radiator, because they are on the opposite side, dont quote me on this, because i cant remember for sure, depending on your setup, your fuel lines may have to be extended, im not sure what else might have to be done if you want to go TPI, if you go carb, you'll hafta swap the pickup out of the tank i believe, again, im not sure what all has to be dont to your fuel system, all depends on your setup.

I went carb'd with my setup, so any swapping of wiring or computers you got me there, but the actual swap process is pretty easy, just takes time, do it right the first time.