1981 El Camino Engine Swap???

[Tank]

Hello all, I am a new proud owner of a 1981 El Camino, it has a 3.8L(229C.I) V6 for the motor and has already been converted to a 4 speed from the factory 3 speed. This El Camino has been redone from the ground up along with the motor being rebuilt with a mild cam. I currently have a rebuilt 305, GM aluminium intake, Holley 600, Headers, Polished intake and exhaust ports, and I would like to put this SBC into this El Camino. I would like to know if I am going to have to redo the wiring harness to make the V8 work turn key from the V6? The 305 came out of a 79 Malibu. I am wanting to use the current 4 speed and just mate the SBC to it.
I would also like to know can this be a Saturday project or is it something more complex?
Will the 229 c.i motor mounts work on the 305?
Will all the power steering, alternator, starter accessories work also from the 229 to the 305?
The 229 does have the same bore and stroke as the 305. I did find that out.

Any help would be appreciated.......

 

[RITTER]

All the accessories should be interchangable from the 229 to the SBC. I am not positive on the brackets though :idea: I do believe you will need to get new frame mounts PN#602-1179

The most important thing you need answered here is whether or not your transmission and flywheel will bolt up to the SBC :idea:

 

[Tank]

Thanks! I'll look into that, I still have to crawl under the car and see what Manual transmission I actually have. I believe it is a Borg Warner T(??) but I am hoping it is actually a Muncie 4 spd.

 

[LSCustoms]

Hello all, I am a new proud owner of a 1981 El Camino, it has a 3.8L(229C.I) V6 for the motor and has already been converted to a 4 speed from the factory 3 speed. This El Camino has been redone from the ground up along with the motor being rebuilt with a mild cam. I currently have a rebuilt 305, GM aluminium intake, Holley 600, Headers, Polished intake and exhaust ports, and I would like to put this SBC into this El Camino. I would like to know if I am going to have to redo the wiring harness to make the V8 work turn key from the V6? The 305 came out of a 79 Malibu. I am wanting to use the current 4 speed and just mate the SBC to it.
I would also like to know can this be a Saturday project or is it something more complex?
Will the 229 c.i motor mounts work on the 305?
Will all the power steering, alternator, starter accessories work also from the 229 to the 305?
The 229 does have the same bore and stroke as the 305. I did find that out.

Any help would be appreciated.......

you can do this swap in a day... if your patient, two days, even with minimal knowledge, just do alot of research. or get someone/friend who has done a swap before....the first swap i did, took me about 10 hours, really two days... but ten or so solid hours of work...

 

[darbysan]

You'll need a V8 fan shroud ( It's shorter). No reason why the wiring harness should not work for you, since you are going non-Computer controlled.