engine swap

[zombie_002]

I am probly going to do an engine swap in my 2000 z24 cavalier from my 2.4L to a 3.8L v6, i was wondering if anyone can tell me what i need to do it,

will i need the ECU and the wire harness?

will my stock 5speed trany work or will i have to buy a tranny that went with the engine and car it came from?

as for the engine mounts will the stock ones from my engine work or will i have to buy new mounts made for the 3.8L engine?

what else am i gona need ?

[Schister66]

i'm going to wager a guess that since you're moving from a 4 to a 6 cylinder that the bolt pattern, fitment and overall design of the two transmissions are quite different....so no, your 5spd wont work on the 6cyl

[vamc]

SO....your going to do what? It wont fit. But if you have the money, anything can be done!

[Schister66]

For the price you're going to pay for this ridiculous swap, why not just turbo/sc the stock engine. We had a 2003 Bonneville SLE and that damn 3800 was completely gutless...i could make way more power from the stock Ecotec in your Cavalier for a lot less money...another thing to keep in mind too is the weight difference

[millrtime]

well first of all i would have to agree with schister on this one. it would be better to turbo ur 2.4 twin cam and u would proly make abou the same power. but to answer ur question. yes u will need a new tranny, ecu, engine mounts, wiring harness and proly steering column. not sure if the stock one will fit around the bigger engine. its way more hassle than the reward would be.

[DeadBlade89]

ya, u will need new everything basicly. thats y i desided im not gonna do that swap. im gonna do an eco swap and then turbo the beast.

[Schister66]

Just for the record now....we sold the 2003 Bonneville SLE (gutless pig) the other day and now have a new 2007 Mazda 6 Gran Touring.....its fuggin sweet

[dwb985]

your only right about the trans in the sence of the 2.4 5 speed will not bolt up. but your not right that since its going from a 4 to 6 it wouldn't work. because the 2.2 2000+ 5 speeds will bolt up(only problem is the PCM still thinks it an auto so a reflash is needed). quit knocking the 3800 series motors its not the motors fault its running in a car that is 3700 pounds and you didn't build it right. built right they can easily put down alot of cars. L32 (which you had) would take more work to do it but the L67 is easier and one of the big reasons to try the swap is the fact yeah you can build more WHP with the 4 banger for cheaper but the 4 banger is gonna blow up on you alot quicker then the 3800 will. which of course is gonna cost to fix after.

and to vamc yes it will fit and does not require you to cut into the strut towers or firewall. even the L67 fits. (just barely the supercharger pulley is about an inch to an inch and half away from the strut tower)

and yes there is alot that you need if you would search you'll find all that you are looking for. but if you still can't find anything, i'll point you in the right direction. PM me i have alot of links for it.

another problem with the swap is the weight but if your just drag racing that isn't a problem because the extra weight on the tires that get the power is a good thing you'll hook up faster. now if you like going around a track don't do this swap you will push like crazy.

you also do not need a new steering column you will however need a new cluster as the Cavi's engines are one signal and the 3800 series are 2 signal and the cluster can't read the info so nothing will work but the speed-o.