Cascade Crew

'92 camaro boss · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:04 pm Post subject: one car to another

Ok.. so i got my el camino going and all that.. gas is at a decent price..

i was talking with a friend and we decided it'd be cool to put the 400 in the camaro..

what could/couldn't i use with the swap.. obviously i can fit the motor in the camaro without any major issues right?.. along with tranny, and it's an auto.. and i really want a stick, what should i do there?.. and then i got to thinking about the rear ends.. and also i have a '92.. so what effect would that have on my speedo and my tach?...i know you guy's are experienced with this stuff, so what should i do?

aaron_sK · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject:

How would the speedo be affected by an engine swap?

Basically you've got a pretty straightforward V6-to-SBC/EFI-to-carb swap on your hands. There a TON of articles on TGO about both of those swaps.

blue89 · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject:

I'd leave it in the same era of engine/chassis unless you are prepared to go through a learning process.

GREG DAVIDSON · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject:

i was thinking bout throwing a 400 in my bird to kinda a throwback to the old formula 400 style i've been tossing that idea around for awile now

aaron_sK · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:35 pm Post subject:

See now a poncho 400 would be a little bit of work.

91RSVert · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

The 400.. is basically the same as installing a 350. Motor mounts, accessorys, etc.

Use a built 700r4 for the same era as your car.

Why mess with the rear end? Should have 3.23 gears, which is decent for a v8.

'92 camaro boss · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject:

see i didn't know about the rear end and that was why i was woundering about the speedo, i thought i heard (could be way off) that if you have different rear end's and all that that it will mess with your speedo.. this is just an idea atm.. i am more woundering what a ballpark estimate would be to get it actually going..

blue89 · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:30 pm Post subject:

The speedometer is run off of the output shaft of teh transmission. So the speedometer is calibrated to the rear end gear AND wheel size. Change either of those two and you're speedo will be off.

Chevy High Performance Magazine, Jan 1009, has an article about a 396bbc in a '66 El Camino that had the stock inline 6. Don't know if that helps but it talks a lot and has lots of pictures.

GREG DAVIDSON · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject:

Quasi-Traction · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject:

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/engine-swap/229665-v6-v8-swap-read.html

Very useful information there.

As a caveat, your 3.1L Will have the fuel lines on the opposite side as the carburated 400 in the Elky. You'll have to figure out a way to route them to the opposite side.

I don't know if the MPFI V6's pressurize fuel from the tank forward or if it pressurizes at the FPR in the engine bay. Either way, the fuel pressure your V6 runs at will need to be reduced when you put in a Carburated SBC.

Al Hasse · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

blue89 · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:55 am Post subject:

I thought you were talking about putting the 400 in the el camino. Sorry man. It won't be that tough to do that swap. Just a couple things you need to figure out.

'92 camaro boss · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject:

what do i need to figure out?

what kind of $$ would i need to drop.. and the turbo 350 in the el camino, would it fit ok?

blue89 · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject:

On the fueling issue... it's way easier to spend the $70 on a feed/return Fuel Pressure Regulator. It will allow you to run the stock pump, but drops the pressure fed to the carb to the necessary 3-5psi.

The rear end will hold just fine until you put sticky tires on it.

As far as the speedo is concerned... whatever you change, changes the gears to match. (speedo gears in the trans)