how much can my camaro handle, HELP!

i want to drop in a new engine in my 1990 camaro, how much torque and horsepower can the body handle? Help quick because i just blew my old engine and i dont want it to sit to long other wise im gonna have to buy another car and let it sit.:bandit:

Dont worry about the body, worry about the tranny and the backend. All parts have power ratings, which tell you how much that part can take. All you need to do is find the serial # of the part, it will be on the part itself or if its all original parts you can use your VIN # of the car to find out what parts were used to build it. There are online sits that can help or go ask a local garage for some assistance, Good Luck.

What motor does your Camaro have?

V6, 305 V8, 350 V8?

What transmission are you running?

5 speed or Auto?

You're stock transmission should be able to withstand 350-400hp. If you're concerned take it to a shop and have it rebuilt stronger. The rear end should be good for 400hp as well... but that can be fixed by a quick LSD (Limited Slip Differential) swap. After about 400hp you may start to run into troubles on stock components with your tranny and rearend.

I estimate that you can upgrade your current running gear for about $1000. I'd say $400-500 for you're transmission to be rebuilt to handle whatever motor you're planning to drop in. And about $400-500 for a LSD unit to be installed in your rearend for better traction and strength.

Originally posted by RedNeck383
What motor does your Camaro have?

V6, 305 V8, 350 V8?

What transmission are you running?

5 speed or Auto?

You're stock transmission should be able to withstand 350-400hp. If you're concerned take it to a shop and have it rebuilt stronger. The rear end should be good for 400hp as well... but that can be fixed by a quick LSD (Limited Slip Differential) swap. After about 400hp you may start to run into troubles on stock components with your tranny and rearend.

I estimate that you can upgrade your current running gear for about $1000. I'd say $400-500 for you're transmission to be rebuilt to handle whatever motor you're planning to drop in. And about $400-500 for a LSD unit to be installed in your rearend for better traction and strength.

As usual dead on right RedNeck383

The 700R4 can be toughend up with hd plates and clutches, the rear end should be good(till you nuke it, if you nuke it) otherwise the F-body is pretty well enginered for power and performance.

Im gonna drop in a 383 stroker about 450hp, 425torque. I'll definitly get the trans rebuilt stronger as well as the rear end. Thanks for your help.

P.S check out enginefactory.com they sell awsome engines and i just got the video of them building mine today.

My 89 Camaro started splitting unibody seams at the 400hp level, but it's a t-top car and had almost 100k miles at that point. A hardtop can probably handle 450...

A manual transmission would probably hold up fine against alot of power, but the 700R4's are kind a touchy. I've known of 3 camaro's with V8's that ripped the tranny out of them, so I would recommend having it rebuilt with tougher parts.

I have a 2.8 V6 Auto 88 Camaro. Not a lot I can do, without changing a lot from what I've heard, but I'm curious to know, what kid of upgrades are available for the rearend? Can I get LSD/Positraction?
How compatible are 3rd gen parts with one another? (i.e. can I take a rearend/tranny from a z68 or iroc and put it in my vehicle etc)
Also, how much of a pain in the ass would it be to switch it from an automatic to a manual?

i think pretty much everything in a 3rd gen is compatible with another 3rd gen, and goin from auto to manual the hardest part was hanging the clutch pedal, me and a friend did it in a celeberity, if you have very little experience the hole swap would be hard

I'm screwed then :) Can I hire you to do it for me?

It's not so much that it's hard, it's just akward, and time consuming, and fustrating, but not really hard. And as far as body strength on a third gen, stock can handle about 400hp and 400ft/lbs of torque, after that you start having chassis twist problems, so I'd recomend a subframe connector. You can get them new for about 150 or so. Go to www.thirdgen.org.

you guys ever heard hypsi preach about chevy rear-ends? you might want to swap it out to a 12 bolt, depending on how much power you're throwing at it. you would think that chevy designed the camaro for power and performance, but once you see what happens to those rear-ends with large upgrades of power you'll sing a different tune...i think its the one from "My Fair Lady" not sure though...

Well the 10bolt 7.5" isn't all that bad unless your going power crazy. You can get a good aftermarket differential for a reasonable price, or find one of them tortion rears from a fourth gen at a junk yard, they'll hold up to damn near what ever you can throw at em.

It's not so much that it's hard, it's just akward, and time consuming, and fustrating, but not really hard. And as far as body strength on a third gen, stock can handle about 400hp and 400ft/lbs of torque, after that you start having chassis twist problems, so I'd recomend a subframe connector. You can get them new for about 150 or so. Go to www.thirdgen.org. (http://www.thirdgen.org.)

yea its definatly frustrating, but in the end it all pays off

It just depends on what you want. I personaly would just keep the auto in it. I mean for the money your gonna pay for the trany, cluth pedal, and clutch assy. you could get a good auto, or have your auto toughened up. You just have to ask yourself if the outcome is worth the money your gonna spend, and time your going to put into it.

yea especially if your gonna race, automatics are more consistent, me personally i would rather have a stick jus cause there funner to drive, im tryin to find a good t56 for a reasonable price

keep an eye out on ebay, I've seen em go for next to nothing, also seen em go for an arm and a leg so just keep an eye out.

yea thanks, i had one yesterday for 500 bucks!! but 1 day b4 the auction ended he cancelled all bids and took it off, sun of a b*tch, o well i didnt quite have the 500 bucks yet anyways. lol, others go for around a grand, theres a ls1 complete with wiring harness and trans with only 17,000 miles goin for like 5000 i wanna say, i would love to get a hold of that but all my money is tied up into my 383, its almost done

as a matter of fact is out of a 2002 trans am, and its at 4 grand heres the link if anyones intrested
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2470016538&category=33615&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1