Ideas/Plans for my Camaro.........need feedback

[Mid]

I have a 2001 V6 Automatic Camaro. I have a big idea of:

1) Engine swap. Plenty of space for an LS1 to fit in. Here is one site for one:http://www.lmperformance.com/4826/1.html
Would high or low compression be better?

2) Tranny swap. I really want to have a stick, and if i do the the engine and tranny at the same time, it would be better. I'm thinking a 6 speed would be best.

I'll have a mechanic do these for me. I dont want to mess anything up on my own. Can anyone give me a roundabout cost of what the engine+tranny swap would be? thanks


-Mid

[98Camaro3.8]

First do a search and read the other 1000 posts about this same thing.

Then sell your car and buy a V8 with a stick.

[Mid]

insurance is gonna kill me....plus the hassle of buying a used car.....it'll probably be cheaper to do this

[98Camaro3.8]

I'm fairly certain you have to report the V8 to the insurance, or they won't cover you at all.

It will probably end up being more expensive to swap in an LS1 than to just buy one.

Labor alone will probably be $2000, and there will be lots of misc parts you'll need.


http://www.dxsoftware.com/magnus/
http://www.tacreationsusa.com/3_4_3_8_v6_to_ls1.htm

[Mid]

I dont know if its just me, but i think i'll be better off swapping the motor and tranny rather than deal with some bs seller, and worrying about the vehicle history. With my car, i know the history, and i know whats happened to it. I'm more comfortable with my car, than with anyone elses.

[camaroman1181]

in the long run, you will pay more to do the swap, unless you find some awesome deals on those parts. most ls1's you can find on ebay or such cam be packaged with the tranny. you will want the 6 speed. the 5 speed wont handle the additional power. as far as high comp vs. low comp, what are you plannin on doing? if you go forced induction later on, you might wanna look at low comp. otherwise, go high comp. lowering the compression ratio on a n/a motor does nothing more than lower the overal engine efficiency and give you less power.
as for cost of the parts and swap, id say plan at least like 4-5 grand. and thats buying stuff used off ebay. remember you'll need engine, tranny, k-frame, front springs, driveshaft, computer, possibly wiring harness... lots of stuff. labor could easily be 2 grand as well... it could very well be easier to buy a new car for less than what you plan on putting into it but thats just my two cents...

[Mid]

i know exactly what you mean.

It would probably be easier to just get a new car, but the condition, history, etc.... of my car is secure.

I like my car, i just want to change it.

[Th3 RiCk]

If you're worried about condition then you're better off buying a complete car. You don't know how anyone has treated the engine you buy. Hell, you might drop it in and find out it has some serious problems.

Unless you are a weekend warrior mechanic with a secondary car then I would just buy a new car. You're really getting in over your head. Parts + labor might run upwards of $6-7k. So it won't be cheaper swapping a new engine in. If you got 9k for your car, plus the 5-6k you would have spent on a new engine, you could afford an LS1 SS or WS6 with less than 40k miles.

FYI, if you do go ahead with the swap and don't report it to your insurance then you better drive it with mucho respect. Wreck it and expect many years of insane insurance rates. That's after they decide not to pay you anything for your car.

[Th3 RiCk]

Here's an idea, buy a supercharger for $3k and run with the v8's all day long and pay v6 insurance rates with no worries.

[BiH]

Originally posted by Th3 RiCk:
Here's an idea, buy a supercharger for $3k and run with the v8's all day long and pay v6 insurance rates with no worries.

exactly,sould be cheaper then doing a LS1 swap

[pivot]

buy a v8 car. I can bet you would have more problems doing the swap then just buying a v8 car.

[99v6cam]

Originally posted by 98Camaro3.8:
I'm fairly certain you have to report the V8 to the insurance, or they won't cover you at all.

Well, they won't know it's there unless you wreck it and they get to see it. They do insurance by VIN so they won't know. Just don't total your car or wreck it to the point where you need a new motor bc then they can prolly get your for insurance fraud.

[1DangerousV6]

Originally posted by Th3 RiCk:
Here's an idea, buy a supercharger for $3k and run with the v8's all day long and pay v6 insurance rates with no worries.

or spray and run faster ;)

[asdf1234]

Originally posted by 1DangerousV6:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Th3 RiCk:
Here's an idea, buy a supercharger for $3k and run with the v8's all day long and pay v6 insurance rates with no worries.

or spray and run faster ;) </font>[/QUOTE]Or turbo and run fastest :D

[SpeedingFirebird]

Originally posted by Mid:
i know exactly what you mean.

It would probably be easier to just get a new car, but the condition, history, etc.... of my car is secure.

I like my car, i just want to change it.

I know how you feel. I went through the SAME decision a while back. Cost wise, I think it is a little more expensive to supercharge the six, but the labor should be easier. After researching costs, and talking with the experts on the board, I decided to do up the six. I think I am looking at $6K (current estimate - will likely go up) and a net result of 325HP. Some guys here have there V6's over 400HP.

I could easily sell my car for $2K plus, and take the $6K and buy an 8, but what fun would that be? Seriously, I could never part with her.

The swap will work, and search this site and you can find links to how-to sites, but why not do up the 6? Loads of knowledge from these guys on how to do that. [img]graemlins/bowdown.gif[/img]