Can I replace the 3.4L in my '95 Firebird with a 3.8L from a '97 Camaro? Is this possible?

Question

I currently own a 1995 Pontiac Firebird with a 5spd. tranny that has the 3.4L engine with 101K miles. I also have access to a good running low mileage 1997 Chevy Camaro that has the 3.8L engine with an automatic that I can purchase from a friend for only $300 as a parts car. (He owns a bodyshop and used this car as a donor for bodyparts) which is why I can buy it so cheap.

Now, the 3.4L I currently have in there blew a headgasket. Since it is going to cost me for new gaskets and machining I would rather do what I think is less work by just swapping the engines. What I need to know is if I purchase this Camaro with the 3.8L, will it be an easy exchange? Can I just remove the entire engine and everything that goes with it out of the Camaro and directly install it into the Firebird? Are there a lot of mods that need to be done? From the research that I've done over the internet, some people say yes it's easy since they are practically the same car. And of course I hear about others saying that it is not possible. And of course there are the guys that are going to insist that if I am going to swap out engines, I might as well do it with a V-8. The V-8 option is not going to happen, as I do not have the money to do that. The 3.8L is a viable option for me simply because I can get a complete Camaro for only $300!

Please advise ... Thank You - Phil

Answer 1

i completely agree with the first guy on all 3 fronts...



it will fit, it will work and there will be lots and lots of problems.



here's the important thing to remember... these cars have COMPUTERS... it's not like swapping a motor in a chevy nova. you have to swap ALL of the parts.. you can't use the same ECU...



you PROBABLY can't use the same transmission.. the plus side is that the console from the camaro will fit in the firebird though they are a little different...



on the other plus side, the 3.8 is a LOT better of an engine than the 3.4 was.. . it's like the difference between an LT-1 and an LS1 V8.. much better....



the exhaust will NOT mount up directly. you'll need to re-run exhaust most likely.



honestly, it may just be easier to take all of the body parts off of your firebird and stick them on the camaro frame... they will bolt right up.. lololol



ok... kidding..... sorta....



but you will have lots of issues.. it's not a direct swap. they aren't the same motors and don't use the same electrical components..



the hardest part is the fact that once you get it all installed, you have to haul it somewhere and have someone do a tune up on it and flash the ECU to work properly with the car.. that could cost up to 1k to make it run again..



ALL of the time and effort you WILL put into making this work.... you may as well buy a v8 firebird formula, or an old T/A ...



if you have to take it to a shop, you're looking at a few thousand... you may as well sell it and use that few thousand to buy a v8 if you're looking for more power.



with that said, i had an 02 firebird, and i dusted MOST of the **** on the road with it... all i had was larger injectors, a cold air kit, and an exhaust. killed all of the rice burners on the road.



i sold it and bought a Z28 which is about twice as fast as that.. i have 500 horses in it now..



about the ONLY thing on the road that beats me now is a new corvette. 100% of mustangs have been killed.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You definitely need to go with the Prelude. It may cost more now, but in the end you'll be paying more for the Camaro with all the repairs. The only kind of car I would buy that has 160,000 miles would be a Honda, definitely not a Chevy. Not to mention the Prelude has better gas mileage.

Answer 4

Pontiac + Chevrolet = Disaster

Answer 5

http://www.camaroz28.com/ There are plenty of guys over there that have done the swap. These other answers are correct in saying that you'll pretty much need everything. If you have the motor then it's time to hit up a site like what I linked you to and start parts searching.



Wiring harness, PCM(computer), exhaust manifolds, y-pipe, motor mounts, transmission(unless that 4L60-E had a bolt on bellhousing, I can't remember) etc. Just because you got the motor cheap doesn't mean the swap will be cheap.



Mitch, one thing about your answer. You say the front of a V6 can't handle a V8...you do know the actual front structure is EXACTLY the same on the V6 and V8 cars right? The suspension is a bit different(shocks and springs) but the actual structure of the car is 100% the same.

Answer 6

yes it will work

yes it will fit

and yes there will be un-forseen problems