2.8 to 3.1 swap

[bru333]

Would it be possible to swap the 3.1L from my '93 Pont. Trans Sport to my 2.8L '87 Camaro? Both engines have the same block correct?

[Anonymous]

Yes they should have the same block. But the accesories you'd have to use form your Camaro considering the Camaro is RWD. Same with tranny, and most everything else. But if it were me, I'd use a 3.4L pushrod from a 93-04 Camaro/Firebird, since they also shared the RWD platform. Then you would get more power, more tq, all in a easy, and pretty cheap swap. And the 3.4 is the same block as the 2.8/3.1/etc.

[SappySE107]

The 3.4 is also DIS and going to be more difficult to wire up.

[Mechanic]

The 3.1 from the Transport will have the starter mounted on the wrong side, which could be a bit of an issue.

[Guest]

The 3.4 is also DIS and going to be more difficult to wire up.

The '93 transport is a genI engine, uses a distributer.

The 3.1 from the Transport will have the starter mounted on the wrong side, which could be a bit of an issue.

Correct, I also believe like every other FWD 660 block, teh mount bosses differ from the RWD counterpart. As mentioned the accessories are very different as well.

You can use the 3.1 internals (crank/rods/pistons) in the 2.8 block however, to stroke your 2.8 to a 3.1.

[bszopi]

Ben was just correcting Aaron's recommendation. Aaron recommended using a 3.4 from a Camaro as the upgrade instead of the 3.1L. Ben was just stating that going to the 3.4 would mean going to DIS and therefore make it a harder swap.

[Guest]

Ben was just correcting Aaron's recommendation. Aaron recommended using a 3.4 from a Camaro as the upgrade instead of the 3.1L. Ben was just stating that going to the 3.4 would mean going to DIS and therefore make it a harder swap.

Actually not really, since all of the 2.8 electronics and intake would/should be used and then the distributer (from the 2. would fit just like stock. A lot of S-dime guys do this swap.

thanks for pointing out where Bens comments came from, once I saw that it was Aaron posting I just skipped his post knowing there would be something incorrect in it.

[TheDirtyBen]

yeah, i read on the s-series forum that FWD and RWD blocks have different mounting locations for the block. Plus, the starter is on the opposite side on FWD than RWD.

[geoffinbc]

yeah, i read on the s-series forum that FWD and RWD blocks have different mounting locations for the block. Plus, the starter is on the opposite side on FWD than RWD.

Exactly right. I would be a bitch to swap. Best off just finding the correct RWD block. O like it was suggested above, add the 3.1L internals to the 2.8L block. And make you self a mighty fine RWD 3.1L

[Cannonball]

The pushrod 3.4 from the early F-body cars can easily be put into an earlier car that did not have DIS. This is a VERY common swap in the Fiero. The starter needs to be redrilled and tapped to the other side of the block to fit in the Fiero because it uses a FWD engine set up but you would not have to do this for your Camaro since it also uses a RWD set up. Normally, in the Fieros case, you'd need to use all the stuff from the original V6 to make this work but, i'd assume, since this is the same car as the 3.4 came out of that everything would be pretty much the same other than the distributor and related hardware. Even if some of the hardware is different, you can easily just swap the original components over from the original 2.8 to make it work. You will need to use the original computer from the 2.8 to run this.
One other thing that is very important to consider; in the Fieros case, the 85-87 V6's are externally balanced and the 3.4 is internally balanced. If the earlier V6 engines in the Camaro are also like this, you must use the correctly internally balanced flexplate, if you have an auto, or flywheel, if you have a stick, with the 3.4 engine or you'll destroy it.
If you don't have the 3.4's injectors or don't want to use used injectors, the 3.4 came with 17 LB injectors and you'll need to use them and not the original 2.8 injectors.

[bru333]

Great info guys thanks.
A little history of the Camaro. I bought the car for the price of the short block that the owner had bought but never installed. The old engine was already gone. The car had sat for 2 years when the owner decided to buy the short block. After getting the short block and having the old engine removed, she had some financial problems and decided to get out from under the cost of installing the engine by selling the whole thing. I bought it and dragged everything home and installed engine and trans etc. So the engine only has 2000 miles on it right now.
Right now I need the Trans Sport to haul the kids around. They are 11,13 and 15. So in the not too distant future I won't need the van anymore.
When I do get rid of the Trans Sport , is this all I would need to pull out of the 3.1 to use in the 2.8?

You can use the 3.1 internals (crank/rods/pistons) in the 2.8 block however, to stroke your 2.8 to a 3.1.

The point being I would rather start with engines that I know the history of, than ones that might have been abused.
What else can I take off the 3.1 to use as spares for the 2.8?

[X11_STE]

You can swap the internals between the 2 engines without problem; however, if the 2.8 was orinally a HO motor then you will loose a little compression. The HO 2.8's had 8.9:1 comp. whereas 2.8/3.1 hybrids can only attain 8.5:1 comp. without risking the valves.