Going from a 3.8 to a v8

Since I only own AMC/Ramblers and have done 17+ swaps of some sort, then we can assume that GMs are easier.. ( I'd hope) so,, engine mounts to crossmember compatiblilty (find on Mailubu site), will the tranny bolt up to newer V8? Which side is the altenator on? ( wiring length is Ok, or not) use same Alt but w/ V8 bracket ? Oil pan arrangment I assume is rear sump?( or same as V6)? Radiator from V6 with AC might be big enough ( check quarts cap of both).. you will need a 6-7 blade fan with a shroud. Make sure radiator is in the same location as the V8 ( distance from core support)or you might run out of room with the longer V8.. You might be come up short on the tranny kickdown (if mechanical) adapt and overcome -fabricate!. V8 Exhaust should be avail. for year application.
All this above should be common knowledge at a Chevy site of your choice.

 

I can only respond with experience swapping in a V8 from the original I-4.

Here's what had to be changed:

Engine mounts and had to consider hood clearance to aircleaner as well
Swap to bigger Rad and mounting bracket/placement
Bigger fan - pre electric fan but may require a larger one of those
front coil springs
trans and had to add additional trans cooler
shifter
longer speedo cable
drive shaft - shorter
trans mount had to be moved and if a manual the shifter location and clutch linkage
longer engine required some frewall mods
wiring for Alternator, sending units for gages and starter had to be lengthened

After the swap we came to the conclusion that the best solution was to go to a wrecking yard and buy from a wrecked same body style with a factory V8. Get all the components and save yourself a ton of work and hassle Get everything including hoses so you know what to buy new to actually install. That way you are sure it will all fit the first time. And replace the flywheel/throw out bearing or the flex plate if auto while it is apart and easy to do.

Barry

 

To cadipacer

Thank you for that information i will definately give that a try and see what all happens i am trying to put the v8 in this week coming up.

 

...someone took their 'smartass pills' today....

 

The 3.8 Chevy motor is a 229 ci 90 degree V6, it is a small block Chevy with 2 cyl cut off basically. The only thing you will really need to change for it to drop in will be the fan shroud. Everything else id the same, from motor mounts, tranny, wiring etc...

Front springs will be a little weak and it will look nose heavy. But if you want to lower it or have that ass in the air look, its already done with no work, lol.

 

like I need a pill...

 

...jlro????.....i think i'll cal you J....much easier

the one thing that i know of...if i remember correctly...the actual motor mount steel pads...on the cross member...they have to be moved for the v8...but i think the holes are there in the Xmember.....and you have to change the tranny Xmember to ...i think...
...its been about 16 years since i did that swap

oh...and plz take the time to do an intro

 

Chevy stuff swaps out easily. Why not drop a 350 in there?

 

Nope Rick. The motor mounts are in the exact right spot if you swap a 3.3, 3.8 or 4.3 degree V6 Chevy for a Chevy V8. Don't even need to pull the tranny out to do it, though I would myself for ease. 3.3(200), 3.8(229) Chevy and the 4.3(262) are the only 3 Chevy V6 motors that will accept a direct V8 swap with only the fan shroud needing changed. Every other thing in the car will hook right up with no mods or part swaps needed.

I did a 3.3 to 350 swap on my '79 Malibu 3 speed on the floor. Helped a buddy do his 3.8 to 350 swap on my buddies '84 Monte Carlo and a 4.3 to 406 in my cousins '91 S10 pickup.

 

What tranny is in these cars? I had it in my head that they were a tiny trans not up to the torque of any V8.

This is the weekend the swap was being done right? It will be interesting to find out how it went.

I remember the days when we'd drive the car home Friday after work and then tear in to it, needing to have it ready to commute back to work on Monday. A weekend of mad thrashing with a tremendous amount of hope that by some time Sunday afternoon it would be ready for a test drive. There were a lot of Monday's when I needed to get a ride to work

I don't miss those days. I miss the camaraderie, but not the anxiety that went with the program.

 

well Scotty..your probably right....im old and it was long ago...so i fold

SAF...i know what you mean...those were fun days...now i'm just giddy if the car starts in the mornin

 

If you are still researching this swap, check this site out: http://www.maliburacing.com/forum/

Should be plenty of threads to read, don't know what vehicle you have, but plenty of that era Mailbu had a 229 V6 and have since been replaced with 305's and 350's..

 

IIRC...that 81 bu with the V-6 has the TH200 tranny in there. They CAN be built but...if I was going with a 305 (which I wouldn't because I would go with a 350) I would sure change the tranny right along with the engine.