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I was bouncing around trying to find info on this particular swap. The 99ish camaro 3.8L v6 into a luv. Is it the same mounting locations as the buick 3800, or are there any mounts available? If all else fails I can fab them up, but I was hoping to find it has been done and parts are ready to go!

If you have the 90* Buick V6 they are basically the same from pre 70's to current engines. Just find the right trans to bolt up behind it. There were some commercially available engine / trans mounting kits made, not sure if any are now. The V6 will take almost the same amout of space as a SB chevy. It will really depend on what your objective is for the conversion as to the choice of power. Some times you get a good deal (you think) and that drives the initial idea. Alternatively you can sell the good deal engine or trade it for a more ideal canidate. I've heard the old saying repeated many times in regards to the v6 "I could have had a V8" There are many who have the V6 buick setups and are happy with them. The newer Chevy V6 4.3L has had a lot of developement done, as it's a Chevy SB V8 with two cylinders removed. Most of the tricks for the V8 work well on it. So it becomes another option for power and economy. www.powerbyace.com has bolt in mounts for the Chevy engines / tranmissions. Also some pics can be seen at www.photobucket.com/v8luv

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The light at the end of the tunnel, may just be a train coming!

I was thinking of the newer camaro v6 and using the fuel injection and everything to keep some amount of gas milage. If it's going to take as much space as the v8 anyway, I might as well do that. Especially since I'm all kinds of ADD when it comes to power.

Rob, I understand you are a pro at this and I was wondering. If I do a coilover swap and remove the torsion bars, do I still need swap headers or will regular ones work?

I have a LUV with a V-8 and a 4.3 V-6, I like the power of the V-8 but I also enjoy the 4.3 with a overdrive trans and blasting down the freeway at 80 MPH plus. It's all what you want to do with the truck. My V-8 is pro street and set up that way and I am setting up my 76 with the 4.3 with a small N02 system for more of a handling truck. I used the Hooker V-8 engine mounts and placed them farther back on the frame, it worked out great. I also am running a 200 4 R trans with out any firewall or trans tunnel mods, plenty of room, dont over think it.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

The Buick V6 is approx 1" shorter installed length, 1+" wider and taller than the Chev V8. The Chev V6 is the same width and height as the V8, but is a little over 4" shorter, given the same water pump as the V8.
Without the torsion bars you should be able to find something that will fit.

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The light at the end of the tunnel, may just be a train coming!

The v6 i was thinking of is the 3.8 liter from the 2000ish camaros, along with the 5 speed manual tranny. Do you guys know if the dimensions are similar to the 4.3?

the 4.3l v6 is the same as the 3.8l v6. last i new.

this is a 4.3l V6 a 1988. the 2000 4.3l has a balance shaft in it .
so the timing cover is a little diffrent

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4.3l V6. 5 speed MT 2.55 in the back.

the v6 sounds badd man good luck in putting that in ur luv

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77-luv-stock (Selling or Parting out motor blew up)

75-luv mikado-V8 350 soon

I like that! I am gonna try to stay fuel injected, but I think the jump in power might be good for me, and I drive around 150 miles a day and want to use the truck to do it!

Well, that and mess with some little racers

Correct on the balance shaft, mine has it. You can tell by the plastic timing cover. Not sure about the 3.8 but the 4.3 took early Camaro motor mounts and I welded in the Hooker mounts farther back then they would have been for a V-8. I think the engine/trans combo you picked will work great for the amount of driving you do.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

I run an 87 buick v6 and I am very very happy with its results.

there are no stock series 2 headers that will nicely fit the luv chassis. if you go with the earlier v6 block I do have 4 or 5 sets of the hooker grand national headers that swap into a luv chassis.

A.j.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

My son had Camaro with one for a little while with the 5 sp. It was a ok car. No V8 camaro, but I think the Luv might be a little lighter.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

The Buick 3.8L engine is a completely different engine series than the Chevy 4.3L engine. Nothing interchanges. The engine mounting is also different as is the exhaust flange.

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The light at the end of the tunnel, may just be a train coming!

The 4.3l is 3/4 of a 350, 5.7l. They had 200 HP when they came out in the S10 based trucks. Compared to the 60 degree v6 they were a better engine overall.

The 3.8 is can be a good setup too. Try to get it all as a package.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

Just being a little anal, but the most was 195 HP in the 94-95 CPI motors to be exact. (only because I have one!)

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Click on C.M. logo to go to my webpage


RIP R.J.B.

BIL had the GMC 4 door version but who knows? I remember thinking that was a lot of HP. Could have been 150HP. I remember it being "more better" than the 60 degree v6.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

I have a 4.3 in my 76 and a 231 in a stand next to it. If anyone needs measurements let me know.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

You are making a very intelligent decision by getting all the facts before spending a penny. Old Rob and PapaG won't steer you wrong. I would like to add a couple of comments too, if I may. I used a warmed up 78 Buick 3.8 (231 CI) in my 78 Luv for several years. The engine had the Turbo cam, an Edelbrock manifold and a Holley 390 CFM 4bbl carb with HEI ignition. Turbo 350 and a stock Luv rear end.
It got reasonably good mileage but was too wound up for So CA freeways, the engine would literally run itself out of oil! A few moments of 65 mph driving and all the oil would be up in the engine, the lifters would start to rattling and the oil pressure was at 5-10 lbs!
These engines have a very poor oiling system, so please add this to your information list. Also it will take about the same amount of cooling
(radiator) for the v6 as for a sbc V8
The 231 Buicks use a BPO (Buick-Pontiac_Olds) bellhousing and you will have to use an adapter plate to use a Chevy trans.
Anyway I would suggest you go for sbc 305, there are lots of them in wrecking yards, you can get 300 HP pretty easily out of one and after all it is a V8!
Like Old Rob has already mentioned, if you remove the torsion bars you can use just about any sbc headers, long or block huggers. It is lots easier to change oil filters and swap out starters (if needed) with the T-bars gone too.
Good luck,

you dont need anymore than the stock radiator for the buick V6

My turbo motor runs at an even 185 all day.

A.j.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

OK, here is what concerns me most. I know that there is a mount kit available for the buick V6, but is the 2000 Camaro the same casting? ie. Are the mounts on the same place on the block?