motor upgrade?

[97cavalier]

well my dad bought a 95 camaro 2 days ago and it has a 3.4v6 auto and it uses a little oil and he was going to get it rebuilt someday but i was wondering,since they had both the 3.4 and 3.8 that year, can just just upgrade to a 3.8 without modifing any thing? if not what do you have to replace or fix?

[poormillionaire2]

Are you sure? I thought the V6 3.4 went to the 3.8 when the LS1 replaced the LT1 in 98.

[97cavalier]

no they offered the 3.8 in 95 but not manny had it and then it 96 they switch to the 3.8 93-95 was the only years for the 3.4 in the camaro.

[97cavalier]

i think the 3.8 from 95-97 are diffrent fromt he ones in 98-02 someone correct me if i am wrong. but i know forshure they had 3.8's in 95

[666_speed]

The 3.8's are the same as far as I know.

[Rally Sport]

Originally Posted by 666_speed

The 3.8's are the same as far as I know.

Yes they are, the ones that are in the Camaros only, btw.

also I dont think you'd have to change anything but the electronics might be an issue..

[97cavalier]

oh ya, never thought about that. i would like to look into this project.

[Rally Sport]

I wouldnt try to upgrade from a 3.4 to a 3.8 because its just a 40 HP difference and the money it takes to get the 3.8 running in there would probably take alot more money than getting 40 HP another way..

[92zcamaroperson]

the current motor is burning oil. hes just looking for a cost effective replacement. Shouldnt be that big of a deal. Might even use the same computer. Just tuned differently.

[blindeyed]

If you were to try to swap out the 3.4 for the 3.8, then you might as well swap in the LT1. You see, the 3.4L is a 60* V6, while the 3.8 is a 90* V6. This means different bellhousings are used on the transmissions. So, in order to swap in a 3.8, you would need to swap out the those as well. I'm not sure if you would be able to put a 3.8's bellhousing on a 3.4 tranny, most people I've heard from always say you have to swap out the whole tranny, so there could be a difference in the tranny's as well. Then after that you would also need the 3.8's wiring harness, motor mounts, etc etc.. The 2 engines have no similiarities at all. Completely different engines, even the computers, so it would be just as much of a hassle as it would be to swap in an LT1/LS1.

[CamarosRsweet94]

Yeah I agree with BlindxEyed. It would be just as much hassle to swap in the 3.8 as it would to put in an LT1. Since the motor is burning oil you can either just keep driving it, rebuild it, swap it, or sell it. I think the guy who sold it to your dad had the right idea, no offense but I think he laughed all the way to the bank to cash the check. The guy had to know the car burned oil, he just never told you and now it's your dad's problem...

[666_speed]

It's a little more work to go from a v6 to a v8, but the main idea is pretty much right. You should upgrade the brakes and springs and such if going from a v6 to v8. For a v8 you would need new gauges too, which I don't believe would have to be changed if you put in a 3.8.

[97cavalier]

My dad did not want a v8 so i was seeing if he could get the 3.8 in instead but sounds like WAY to much work so he will get the 3.4 rebuilt after a while.

[Rally Sport]

Thats the best way to go, if he wants a bit more power you can always upgrade the internal stuff in that engine since you're rebuilding it.

[666_speed]

Forged internals and boost!