Engine Swap, Tranny Fitment??

Most any small block v8 will fit. I am not sure about the transmission you have now if it will bolt to a V8. The 200r4 Automatic should have the bolts to bolt to any GM engine. I am finishing up a 350 w/200r4 trans in my 84 now. It had the 305 that was burning oil and such. Do you plan on keeping the computer controlled stuff or changing it out too? Mine had all that taken off and a reg carb and HEI Dist already installed when I got it. You may have to move motor mounts on the frame to accomodate the V8 do some measuring and maybe some others will chime in on here and give you some advice. There is a ton of it out here.

No difference in the frames. Like stated just move the pads for the motor mounts.

X2 on the moving the motor mounts that bolt to the frame (craddle),, if you have the money find a 4.8lt LS motor and install all of the computer controlles,, if not any 1st or 2nd gen sb will bolt right up,, your V-6 now is the distribitor in the rear of the motor? If so any V-8 will bolt up,, but it might be a 200 metric or a 250C tranny that is very weak,, if you can put in a 700R4 or a 200R4 overdrive trans,, then your rear end will need a different gear,, 3.42 or 3.73 ratio,, and lets not forget the exhaust,, if you want to run a dual exhaust you will need to get a different trans cross member or mod the one you have,, easy to do,, any ? fire away,, Matty man

Might need a radiator change going from a 6 to an 8 cylinder also.

I'm doing the same swap right now. The v6 trans will work fine with the v8 but you will have to change motor mounts. I re-used the v6 mounts but had to move the ones on the frame. TO make things worse, the 3.8 mounts will only line up with the original holes, so you'll either have to make new bolt holes or weld the mounts in.

If your distributor is in the front of the engine, it's probably a 3.8 Buick engine, with a BOP bell housing bolt pattern. That's why Matty man asked where the distributor is located. If it is a Buick 3.8, you would need a transmission change also, unless you have an overdrive 200-4R trans. Don't know if those were used in "84........

Ok, I took some photos of the engine and the tranny. I tried looking for some numbers on the tranny case but couldnt find any partly because of all the dirt and oil. I counted the bolts on the transmission pan and came up with 13 bolts if that helps?

http://www.elcaminocentral.com/album.php?albumid=300&pictureid=1536
http://www.elcaminocentral.com/album.php?albumid=300&pictureid=1535
http://www.elcaminocentral.com/album.php?albumid=300&pictureid=1534
http://www.elcaminocentral.com/album.php?albumid=300&pictureid=1533
http://www.elcaminocentral.com/album.php?albumid=300&pictureid=1532


As you can see my distributor is on the rear part of the engine. I do know that Ill have to swap out the computers to accommodate the V8. I didnt know that the mounts would have to be moved for the V8 engine. So could I leave those old V6 mounts in and find some other ones from a local junkyard to use and weld up?

As you can see my distributor is on the rear part of the engine. I do know that Ill have to swap out the computers to accommodate the V8. I didnt know that the mounts would have to be moved for the V8 engine. So could I leave those old V6 mounts in and find some other ones from a local junkyard to use and weld up?[/QUOTE]


Do yourself a favor and get the correct mounts and dont use the V-6 mounts,, OEM has different V-6 and V-8 mounts,, no need to weld any thing for the mounts,, do a search on where to mount the 2 rubber motor mounts,, the hardest part is putting the bolt and nuts to hold the mount to the craddle,, the new rubber mounta are like 10.00 at AZ or so,, my 80 Camino had the 200 V-6 and now has a 355 with a 350 turbo,, and while you have the engine out.. clean and paint the engine bay,, Matty man

With 13 bolts it's either a TH350 or TH400. Best I can tell from your pics is a TH400. That's pretty unusual for a V6, though. It does look more like a 2004R. Are you sure there are 13 bolts?

Look here:
http://www.maliburacing.com/auto_tranny_id.htm

Jack

Thanks for being here to guide us Trannymike !:nanawrench:

Ok, that being said. It sounds like Ill have to change out my transmission with a different one? What would be a good starting point for a different transmission?

The trans depends on what you want out of it. When I dumped my v6/&trans, I put in a 350/turbo 350 replacement. I'm not looking for milage, so I went with what was easy to get.

Ok that helps. Not sure about the cam yet? Ill know when I get that engine, what it will all need. For the fan shroud, More so thinking of converting it to a electric fan setup. I know they sell aftermarket kits for like $100 or so and I can find used radiator fans at our local junkyard. I also have a guy that works at this local junkyard and I put in a word to him to keep his eyes peeled for something decent in a V8 and tranny. So Im waiting on that now.