Lupin

hey guys

i was just wondering if it would be possible to fit another engine such as v6 into a engine bay that atm has a four cylinder but the engine is side ways.

or would should i just overhaul the existing engine.

thanks guys

gasedhjtonner

I dont know heaps about Camira's (so please anyone correct me if I am wrong) but the only reason the engine would be sideways is if it is front wheel drive. A commodore v6 is designed for rear wheel drive cars. So you would be looking at a MEGA overhaul. Would probably be just as much work to fit a V8 into it.

Cougar

It shouldn't be too hard to fit a GM 2.8l V6. These were available in the US J-body cars, and bolt straight to the Camira transmissions (Camira was the Aussie J-body). I used to have a Camira and was thinking of doing it, but ended up getting another car instead.

Lupin

thanks mate i knew that it was side ways because it was fwd and are the v6's your talking about common in australia and if so were wud i find one.

thanks

Cougar

No, not common in Australia, you'd have to import one from the US. I'm pretty sure there were no cars sold in Australia with these engines.

Lupin

do u no how much it is to import engines from the states and the engine how much would that be

toryman

The conversion ur talking about would certainly be unique, in australia anyway, but it would cost far more than the car is worth. If money isnt a problem, i say do it but if cash isnt plentiful i would seriously look at getting rid of the camira for something that would cause less headaches. gasedhjtonner is right when he says the commo V6 wont fit (not without major modification anyway) because he is also right about all camiras being FWD. Almost all FWD cars have east-west motors. The motor cougar suggested might be what ur looking for, i would check that out. Let us know how u go.

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Lupin

thanks mate ur probaly rite because money isnt plentiful, because im only in year 12 and parents are farmers so you can probaly understand wen i say money isnt readily available.

i should probaly look around for a car with the money i can get.

thanks

toryman

Let us know what u decide to do and how u go, it could make an interesting buildup or conversion thread.

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Lupin

ok will do

Ausnotions

Joined up after reading this question and the responses as I have info on the subject that should help.

Anyone serious about swapping a V6 into a Camira (or other Holden Family II engined vehicle –Daewoo?) then I have a suitable GM engine and transmission assembly to make a real ‘sleeper’.

It is a very low miles GM 3800 series 2 V6 complete with 4 speed 4T60E automatic transaxle, alternator, power steering pump, aircon compressor, wiring loom and computer still fitted. It is a complete powertrain as used in Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile H-body and other front wheel drive vehicles in the USA around 1996/7.

This V6 engine is what the local Commodore VS on engine was derived from. Local Commodore internal and external parts fit it so the engine is easily maintained loacally. This includes bolting on local Commodore inlet and exhaust manifolds as well as the T700/4L60E trans to convert it to rear wheel drive configuration. This USA 3800 V6 version uses a stamped steel conventional shape sump better suited to engine swapping than the locally used odd shaped cast aluminium sump.

In case it is not clear the engine to transmission bolt pattern is the same as the local Commodore V6. It is also the same as the 2.8 and 3.1L V6 engines as used in the USA vehicles that used the same J platform as the Camira. The bolt pattern also matches that of the V6 and 2.5L 4cyl engines used in the Pontiac Fiero sports cars. It was for a still born Fiero repower project that a bunch of these 3800 V6 engines and transmissions were imported into Australia when less than a year or so old. The three I have (two in Melbourne, one without transmission stored in QLD) have been in storage since then.

Please note that the engine to transmission bolt pattern of the 2.8, 3.1 and this 3800 V6 engines is NOT the same as the Camira Family 2 engine bolt pattern. A Camira conversion could be carried out by swapping in the complete 3800 V6 engine and 4T60E transmission package or if manual gears desired use the 3800 V6 engine bolted to a Fiero 5 speed transaxle which I also have available. Of course changing to a manual trans will require playing with or swapping the computer. For reference the 3 speed TH125C automatic trans used in the Fiero is the same type as used in the later Camira but the bolt patterns are different, as outlined above.

The Fiero was rear engine, rear wheel drive configuration but GM simply used engine and trans packages from front wheel drive J series vehicles swapped into the rear. Google Fiero V6 swaps for info because much would be relevant to Camira swapping. Likewise Google the engine codes L36 and L67 for engine swaps using this type of engine and 4T60E for info on the 4 speed, overdrive and lock up converter equipped automatic transmission. The 5 speed manual was used 1983-88 in Sunbird, Grand Am, and Fiero so Google if you want more info. Likewise for J-body engine swap info Google Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac Sunbird or Sunfire or J2000, Cadillac Cimarron, Oldsmobile Firenza or Buick Skyhawk.

A kit does not exist for a Camira 3800 V6 swap but it would be no harder than the Pontiac Fiero and J-body swaps detailed on the www and probably on par with the work involved in doing the very first 3.8V6 into Gemini swap. It isn’t a SBC swap so there is some challenge involved! I am of an age to realise I will not have time to see all my project plans completed. Nor the time to tolerate time wasters, hence my use of the word ‘serious’ three times!. I have tried to make this a mini tech article to give the reader enough leads to go do their own research to see if it is suitable. Do that and I am prepared to sell an engine/trans to someone serious about such a swap for less than you would most likely pay to recondition the original engine and trans. I don’t have to sell, but would like to help someone finally do what I collected the parts for.
Ed

LX8VD69

i would think the best you could do with a camira is replace the engine with about 200kgs of TNT and then go buy a more workable car. having said that i do remember a camira that used to drag, if memory serves me correctly it had a SBC in it. i just dont see the point its only a camira


cheers adam

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Lupin

Sbc???

toryman

Small Block Chev mate.

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Lupin

oh thats a new one havnt heard that b4