Does anyone know of a website or have any information on swapping a V6 into a 1997 Cavalier.
I have a shell of a car with nothing in it and thought it would be pretty cool to do a V6 swap or even
a 3800 supercharged swap. Any help is appreciated Thanks
John
Live fast die free and never look back, cause life is to short to live with regrets.
Check out the "third gen" forum, there is TONS of information in there.
Some of the guys on v6z24.com maybe able to help you.
FORGET GIRLS GONE WILD WE HAVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING GONE WILD!
If you are the same guy that shot me an e-mail today, you will need the engine, 2.2/2200 OHV trans (IIRC, you have a Z shell), wiring harness/ECM for the 3400 and lots of patience.
First, though I would recommend the above link as a starting point.
I have a 3400 v6 with a built engine and cutom stainless 6-2-1 headers with antireversion valves in the turbo collector and a t3/t4 @ 11 psi using megasquirt as a standalone and currently running 13.6 @ 115 MPh on street tires with major spin until fourth gear. This setup is making about 400 HP and is in a 2001 cavalier with stock 2.2l gearbox and a spec stage 3+ clutch. Anything is possible in a third gen, a simple 3400 swap can be done in about two days with a pcm and wiring harness from a 1990 z24 and a 3400 engine from any 3400 grand am or minivan. Leave your stock computer in place and cut out the engine wires you dont use like stock cam sensor, crank etc but leave the speed sensor wiring and coolant temp sensor, reverse sensor and any others you would need to leave for funtions of lights etc. The 1997 3400's had a 3 wire sensor which can be shared to both PCM's. Only thing left then is to attach the power and ground wires for the 1990 pcm and then connect exhaust manifpld to your own exhaust. Engine mount needed is a 1996 grand am 3100 mount and bottom one has to be made, very simple though. Black ops had a page listed on v6z24.com with the measurements.
Jonathan
Forgot to mention that, I rose mine up 3/4 inch by putting a 1/4 plate under the Big mount to frame and also two small 1/4inch plates in under where the grand am mount bolts down to factory mount.
Jonathan
all in all how much do you think you can do this swap for?
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2090440
Johnathan, you think you can do it in 2 days? Kardain is still working on his....
I'm just shy of $1900 invested in the swap, including engine cost, belt drive accessories, upgraded bushings, replacement parts that I had to get when the first one didn't fit or broke...
All depends on how much the engine sets you back since that's the major purchase right there.
yea honestly this swap might just be the best bang for the buck. just think about it i have well over $5000 invested in my motor alone and this motor completly stock will blow mine away lol
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2090440
Michael Antle wrote:Johnathan, you think you can do it in 2 days? Kardain is still working on his....
Alot of the extra time spent was also taking care of some maintenance as well as upgrading some non-engine related parts, waiting for stuff to get shipped out so I could get to the next step... I'd be done if 1) I didn't @!#$ up reassembling my trans after putting in the TG LSD and 2) I had a few extra bucks to spare in that car's build fund...
It runs and drives, just has a couple little "issues" I need to hammer out.
As long as the only thing being done is the engine and nothing ancillary, 2 days is doable... rushed, but doable.
really 2 days? for all the wiring? how much faster is it?
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2090440
If you mean 1/4 mile: Assuming a 2700lb car, 14.75 on paper @ 99mph stock
And by "all that wiring", splicing in the fuse panel and C100 connector to the 3400 harness is about all that is needed to be done (18-20 wires)
I took an extra step and extended the harness 6 ft to mount the computer where the J one goes... otherwise, holesaw to the firewall and tuck the ECM under the dash.
i know this is a TAD bit off current topic but my co-workers have been arguing that swaping any motor into a car that didnt have that motor stock is illegal.i think its a load
Listen F***ers. FASTERTHANAHONDA is a joke because I WORK FOR HONDA. I'll talk @!#$ about Fords to, that doesn't mean I can beat a 12 second mustang.
i think it is too...
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2090440
It may take some convincing if emissions are required (IE, mine reads as a 1999 Grand Am with some random VIN), but as long as all the emissions controls are there and meets emissions for that year engine, its legal.
Now, swapping OBD1 into an OBD2 car, that's an auto-fail for emissions.
Kardain, what's the C100 block? Again, your running aftermarket gauges, so someone running the stock J-body cluster is going to run into troubles there.
The C100 block is the big connector right under the master cylinder.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2090440
i know this is getting to be an older thread but i'm trying to find out if i can make it past emissions with a 3800 motor in my 97 sunfire. kardain could you elaborate a little more on the emissions and any problems i may come across?, and how will doing this swap effect my insurance or is it one of those things that i'm better of not letting the insurance company know. sorry for the off topic questions i'm just trying to find out legally and insurance wise if its worth the trouble
From the insurance aspect, that I will leave up to you.
2 things for that reason: 1) by reporting it to your insurance co, your rates may rise due to the added performance factor and 2) chances of you getting back what you put in just significantly dropped. Unless you have your vehicle appraised and the value reported to your insurance, expect only to get book value (if that), and again, that is up to your insurance co. If you don't report it, be prepared to have everything available to back up whatever claim you may place.
As for emissions, with OBD2, they plug into the OBD2 port. Some states will note your car has engine X based on the PCM information and run the emissions test based off that new engine. That, in turn, may or may not make it back to your insurance co... all depends.
If they don't note it, a run of your VIN will tell them what engine your car had originally, and the person at the emissions station should be able to tell the difference between a 4-banger and V6. That will make the visual inspection a little "fun".
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Wednesday, February 27, 2008 7:31 PM
Well.... for the 3800 swap if you're using a 3800 PCM and have everything all hooked up and they plug into the OBD-II port, it should still read the emissions fine.
Look up Devon Madison. He's got a 3800 s/c swap. I'm not sure if he has E-testing, but he'd be a good start to ask.
