Body transplant

[romm333]

Im trying to gauge if this is a worthwhile project or not. ive always played around with the idea of doing a engine transplant into my '98 3.8 camaro, but always get scared off.

So i took the advice of other and went looking to buy an LS1 and found one, but the body on my 3.8 is in way better condition and a better color in my opinon, long story short, what would it take to take all body panels off the 3.8 in red and transfered over to the silver LS1, btw the LS1 is also a '98 body

[cam98aro]

Re: Body transplant

the front end will be easy

you will have to cut and weld the roof, floor boards, quarter panels

the bumper and tail light panel are easy also

it would be 100 times easier to just replace the whole frame underneath the car in order to do this.. which puts you back in the same spot you were before

i guess it just depends on how bad the ls1 body is, and what needs to be fixed on it

[RadRacer]

Re: Body transplant

ya, it all depends on what you need to replace. Front end and rear shouldn't be too bad; doors should be fairly simple too. Back fenders though I've heard are a *****, and the roof just isn't going to transfer without some cutting :P If the car just has some front or rear end damage that you could transfer your parts over and fix, then go for it; otherwise I'd step away from the project. Obviously, you're going to want to get the car repainted afterwards......

[96firebird311]

Re: Body transplant

I'd hunt for another LS1....

[notsonic]

Re: Body transplant

just swap the engine and everything else.

if you have the two cars next to each other, theres no reason to swap the body panels when all you really want to do is swap the engine.

[techsan23]

Re: Body transplant

You could drop the engine/trans cradle combo out of the car by lifting the body off. It would be hard to find 2 available lifts though.

[Archer]

Re: Body transplant

you can take off the rear 1/4 panels? HOW??? because if I can take the panels off I'll just swap them over.. please tell

Archer

[cam98aro]

Re: Body transplant

you can take off the rear 1/4 panels? HOW??? because if I can take the panels off I'll just swap them over.. please tell

Archer

if you have an air compressor, the little metal cutters they make for them would be your best bet

if not, you will have to get yourself a metal saw

[Archer]

Re: Body transplant

I have those, but I dont want to jack everything up, if I can swap 1/4s off the donor and slap them on the frame im keeping that would be awsome. now I just need a welder. so what you cut out the factory spot welds? or is it just cut out the panel, and patching it in the old panel.. damn.. and here i was thinking i wouldnt have to paint the rear of the car.