2000 Grand Am V8 swap

[BWardy311]

I have a 2000 grand am se 2dr coupe with the lame 2.4L
. I was inquiring of a V8 I could put in it. I know Cadillac had the V8's in the 1990's. (FWD Model not the RWD LT1). How hard would it be to put a V8 FWD in my car?

[thephantom1492]

Let's assume that the engine mount on the car fit...
Let's assume that there is enought room...
You would still have to figure out how to change almost everything under the hood: engine, transmission, wheel half shafts.
You would have to change almost all of the car wiring.
You would have to replace ALL computers and the radio in the car.
Also, the instrument cluster would need to be replaced.

Why? The PCM for the engine and transmission need to be installed. Different engine, different PCM.
The PCM is dependant on the BCM serial number. Wrong serial number = theif deterant kick in.
The airbag module also depend on the BCM serial.
The radio use the BCM serial number. Wrong code will send the radio in theif deterant mode.
Same with the ABS, cruise control and other computers here and there, which include the instrument cluster.

The car wiring has been made for those computer, in that stock setup.

Also, there is a chance that you need to drop the fuel tank and replace the fuel pump for a more powerfull one, which might need bigger fuel lines.

Is it doable? if there is enought space, yes. Can you do it? If you ask the question, most probably not, because if you had the knowledge to do it, you wouln't have asked the question.

It's far from being a simple swap, it's almost redoing most of the car...

If only it was the same number of cylinder, then you would have a small chance that the ECU would want the same sensors and all, or could be tricked into accepting it...

[BWardy311]

I was not concerned of the details. I know the extremities of the job at hand. I was just throwing it out there hoping someone would have already done what im trying to do. Giving me different options I could consider.

[Tech II]

Easy, get another car with a V-8 already in it....

[Jrs3800]

I agree with the post above....

It was a squeeze to fit the 3400 V6 into the 00+ N body... I have seen 3800's tucked into them but even that made for a shoe horn fit, let alone trying to squeeze a 4.5 or 4.9 caddy V8 in there... I don't even think you could tuck an LS4 in there as it was a seriously tight fit in the W body...

Anything is possible, but in my eyes it would not be worth the time...

[xeroinfinity]

they put V8s in the last of the FWD pontiacs. And Ive seen a coule 3.8 SC engines in this model GA and i think theirs more room in there. but either way its pointless and a waste of good time and money!

Get you some NOS, its cheaper and easier!