camaro v6 eco worthy
 

Just a thought, I have my 1998 oldsmobile with a 3.8 v6 just got 31.7 mpg on my last tank. I'm sitting here wishing I had a stick shift, well u can get a 3.8 and a stick in a 90s camaro and cheap to. But are they worth messing with? I would think they would be fairly aerodynamic over the oldsmobile but really don't know that for sure, or maybe pick one up and swap in a smaller engine even or a little diesel?

My sister had multiple v6 90s Camaros. I wish I had paid better attention to them when she did. She never got terrible mileage but can't give a number because she never checked MPG. Her's were all autos and may have been geared different than a manual. I'm not sure about 90s units but I know the 2000s ones with LS1s had something like a 3.23 rear gear, so they are already geared kind of tall unless the v6 got shorter gearing to try and make the v6 perform a little better off the line.

I think they are a good base, much like the Corvette is; both cars are quite sleek. Being rear drive, you should be able to put almost anything under the hood and with the use of a custom bell housing you should be able to keep all transmission related hardware stock.

If you find a 90s V6 Camaro with 3.8L and a 5 speed and its cheap, there is likely several things wrong with it, usually related to neglect or people beating the crap out of it.
I believe the first year for the 3.8 was 1995 or 1996.

I think the epa according to Google was 29 on the camaro , but that's google. They are sleek I was thinking cheap as in 3 or 4k, found a few nicer ones. Was more wondering more than anything. Maybe a na 6.2 diesel would be cool. I met a guy that had a turbo 6.5 in one. He claimed 30 ish mpg it was basically stock

I'd think they'd be a good choice, they can be had around here dirt cheap with problems.
The engine is tucked in pretty good, so not the easiest thing to work on.
One with a 5-speed, perhaps a 4-cyl swap isn't so hard, would have to research which ones might mate up, chevy typically not bad in that regard.
You can fit a geo metro 3-cyl with a samuri rwd transmission, or the 4-cyl tracker engine and trans.

I think the curb weight is 3500 pounds. My olds is 3400 I believe. Funny the engine is jammed in there, mine is pretty open in the olds. I wonder how a 4 cylinder would pull it around, or a small diesel.

I don't think a 6.2L diesel will fit very well in a 4th gen Camaro.
I know it quite an undertaking to put a big block chevy in a 4th gen. The BBC and old chevy diesel are fairly close in size.

Nothing but the 3.8L mates up to that transmission.

The olds depending on the year can fit a big block chevy under its hood.

I've seen one with a turbo 6.5 and it was tight, he remote mounted the turbo under the rear of the car. The nice thing about that is is would probably get 30 or better and have power if u needed it still. I don't know what kind of power to weight ratio you have to have to not be overworking the engine the whole time, say like if u put a small 4 cylinder in it. In a few months I'm planning in getting into something that will do at least 50 with hipermiling tips, since my commute to work is so far.

Some random 4-cyl Diesel would be a nice powerplant for such project. There are a handful of Rangers and S10s converted to Diesel powered by Yanmar TNV88 engines out of refrigerator units, which are relatively cheap and efficient.


Not sure if that would be so good regarding mileage. Suzuki mini SUVs are too low-geared, and the engines would take a load factor way higher than what they were designed for.

93-2002 Camero has a cda of 7.43 according to our wiki. Really not that stellar. Prius is 5.83, first gen Insight is 5.0. There are lots of good vehicles in the 6 range.

I'm not into the while hybrid scene, However I looked at a few insights in my area and found a few for 3 to 4k. One said the battery pack was replaced 2 years ago, how expensive is that to replace? And how often? And my last question, which would probably be a big no. Has anyone say deleted the "hybrid" components off of a hybrid and say converted it over to either the original gasoline engine alone or swapped a diesel in? Maybe for someone who wants a good aero car and doesn't wanna mess with all the complications and expenses of a hybrid. Is there a place to reference cda's of different cars, I'd like to browse a list. Take it easy I'm new sorry for any stupid questions lol

I'm not trying to say you should get a hybrid. They just happen to be some of the most aerodynamic production cars to compare to. The Camero isn't bad aerodynamically, but it certainly isn't the best around.

Here is our vehicle cd/cda list. cda is the number you want to look at and the lower the better.
Vehicle Coefficient of Drag List - EcoModder

Also, the Honda Insight can be driven with the pack disabled, you just loose the nice hybrid functions that make the car easier and nicer to drive. Insight owners can jump in with more info than I can provide though. :)

Of course, if you ask the Camaro fans, the aerodynamics are A+!*

All jesting aside, for a sports car they do have somewhat-low Cd and average frontal area. Not quite as good as Corvettes historically, about on par with the Viper (in all generations except the first--that's been a frustratingly consistent car aerodynamically), slightly better than the Mustang. My partner has a 1994 Z28 auto, and it gets reasonable mileage on the highway...when it's running.

*When compared to Ferraris, Miatas, and the original Beetle.

I do not know of a 4th gen Camaro that has had a 6.2L diesel stuffed into it.
There are at least 2 3rd gen Camaros I have seen on the forums that have a 6.2/6.5 diesel installed.

The hybrid versions of the 3800 series engine completely sucks and was only found for a few years on fwd 3800 engines. It was like a really bad attempt at a prototype bolt on hybrid kit that some how got approval to go on production vehicles.

If I had a V6 Camaro like you describe I would:
Change the forward O2 sensors.
Do subtitle aero mods.
Warm air intake.
Find out what gear ratio it has.
Then swap them out to a numerically lower set.
(from 3.42 to 3.23, or if it had 3.23 gears put in a 3.08 set)
Then try to figure out how to make the engine lean burn.

Shame you aren't closer, my friend just said his neighbor has a '96 he's trying to sell for $750. Probably beat to hell but not a big investment for a project where you only plan to keep the shell.

Lol yeah, there at least one 4th Gen with a 6.5, pops up on Google and YouTube , green car seem it in person bought parts off his donor truck for my DD truck. Btw got my "air dam" today looks like I'll have to wipe up some creativity soon

what does moving the 02 sensors do? And could it be done to my car? Plus is gutting that cat a good or bad thing to do for mileage, I have no emissions in my area. Thanks guys for the advice.

Not move the oxygen sensor, just replace them. Oxygen sensors are a consumable item.
If you were really motivated, you could move the O2 as close as possible to the manifold, like you see with the imports. (I wouldn't bother)

My friend has a 1999 Camaro with 3800 and auto trans, he said the oxygen sensors were likely original, so they had at least the 80,000 miles he put on them and up to 150,000 on the odometer. After replacing the front O2 sensors he said mileage improved 1 to 2 mpg and there was a lot more get up and go. Defiantly worth the price of the sensors.
And he is a tight wad.

Knocking the junk out of the converter does not seem to do much unless its done to the hardest working, trailer pulling gas trucks out there.
Unless the converter is clogging up with soot or oil ash.
(if it plugs up once, its likely going to do it again)

Topic gravedigging, but,
what do you guys think of the 2017 2.0 Turbo version?