How hard would it be?
 

How hard would it be to take a v-6 5speed camaro and turn it into a v-8 6-speed car? My dad's next door neighbor just put his up for sale and my dad said he might buy it for me if I can sell my car then I would just pay him back but I told him I want a v-8 - 6-speed LT1 but I might consider. Would this even be worth it or should I just keep looking for the right LT1 6-speed?

It is stupidly expensive to do. Wait for the LT1.

see the other posts about it, it can be as little as a couple thousand, and as much as 2 cars depending on how good you are at fabricating

never settle for something that isnt what you want you'll never be happy with it

Dont do it.

Too much money, too much work, too much fabrication, and wayyy too many problems afterwards.

Do a search on this forum as well as others, as it has already been shown, there is a strong sentiment against it. I can concur as I had a friend try to do it- took 3x longer than expected and cost him 2x what it should have. Not to mention all the gremlins that showed up once he started driving it.

i agree wait for the LT1

I was thinking of going ahead and getting the car anyways and either trading that one for a LT1 later on or giving it to my fiance when I find the one I really want.

That would work. There are threads here on seriously upgrading power output of the v6 through forced induction etc. The Buick Grand National put up one hell of a fight in the Pro Drag circuits in its time. And the 5 speed will work with the proper rear end gearing for your intended purpose.

He said nothing about upgrading the V6, it was about swapping the V6 for the V8. Not to mention that the 5-spd tranny isn't as strong as the T-56 which BTW isn't that strong either.

Unless you are looking for the challenge, upgrading a V6 to make serious power is a long expensive uphill road that many people don't take on. And quite a few realize along the way that they could have made the same power with a lot less money with a V8. Nothing against the V6 guys, I give them respect when they can make that motor put out some ponies- its just a lot of work.

yea the 5 speed isnt stron at all, but the t-56 will hold up just fine, there are PLENTY of poeple running 500+RWHP through there stock t-56's and there just fine

Maybe he didn't. But that doesn't make it any less a good idea. People put the s*** to the stock lower ends of LS1s all the time till they shell out. Rollin a stock sixer or puttin a blower on it till it or the 5 speed tranny shell out will give him time to put what he really wants (drivetrain-wise) together while keepin him in the game. Not everyone has the chedder outlay to build the killer street machine you have out of pocket, bro. Maybe he actually has to DRIVE the car to and from work to earn the chedder for the project. Either way, it's just another opinion. Don't take it so seriously FFZ. :)

I wasn't taking it seriously...but it takes planning to do it one step at at time like you say- But its fun building a project either way, if you read all of the posts you would have seen that he decided to get a Z28 to build and the V-6 to drive for the time being.

As far as the T-56 is concerned, I know plenty of people are running 500hp thru them. But at that much power you have to start to be careful- lots of traction can break them. Mine trans is still stock and hasn't broke yet, but I'm sure its day is coming.

All I read was that the Z-28 was his roommate's car, that he was contemplating buying the Camaro sixer, and wanted opinions on the feasibility of transplanting a better powerplant into it. Well, like it or not, I gave my opinion along with everyone else.
As for the T56, I shelled mine twice (syncros once and then a broken case) along with the rear end once. I never bothered loading a Doug Nash, Richmond, or whatever in its place cause I've seen PLENTY of them shell out too.
Back in '90, I bought an '86 Iroc. A month later, I had 2 700R4s in my kitchen. 8 months later I loaded a 450 horse 383 in the engine bay. I ate a LOT of rice and ramen for that car. It's cool to see someone else comin that route. Not for the hardships. But for the triumph at the end. I almost envy Camaroman.

wow you two need to take a chill pill... seriously, lets be contributing members instead of trying to find faults in everyone's opinions and argue about it...the Cam ******** and this...way to show maturity guys.