Are you wondering how much is the engine swap cost V6 to V8? This article will give you all the details you need for the swap.
If your car’s engine has gone old and is not working efficiently, you should replace it. If you have a V6 engine in the car, you can replace it with a V8 one for more power.
But how much will this swap cost?
The engine swap will cost you between $5000 to $7000. In this article, we discuss more the V6 and V8 engines and the cost involved in swapping. So, keep reading to learn all about it.
How Much Does It Cost To Swap V6 To V8 Engine?
The cost of replacing the V6 to V8 swap engine will cost between $5000 And $7000.However, the swapping cost depends on various factors. For instance, if we talk about trucks and buses, they have more space to install a large engine.
But cars only have a little space. So, it will cost you more to install a V 8 engine compared to trucks and buses.
Another important factor is whether or not the vehicle has provision to support the V8 engine. If a car has a V8 option, it becomes pretty easy to install a V8 engine.
So, in short, the vehicle is meant only for a four-cylinder engine, and if you want to replace it with a V8 engine, you have to spend more money on it.
Also read: 3.1 Liter V6 Engine Problems and Solutions
What Is A V8 Engine?
A V 8 engine has a V-shaped arrangement of eight cylinders. A four-cylinder on one side and four cylinders on the other form a V configuration. So, the engine has eight pistons, and they are mounted on the same crankshaft.
The pistons are arranged in such a way first piton is the opposite of the second piston. Similarly, the third piston will be opposite of the fourth piston, and so on. Whenever the crankshaft rotates from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, a power or expansion stroke happens in one cylinder. Similarly, when the crankshaft rotates from 90 degrees to 180 degrees, the firing occurs in the second cylinder.
So, the firing order(the sequence in which ignition takes place in the cylinder) of the V8 engine is usually 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 or 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Most V8 engines have a V angle(angle between two cylinders) of 90 degrees because it provides fewer vibrations. However, there is one limitation. The 90-degree v angle covers more width than the smaller V angle.
Crank Shafts In V8 Engine
The crankshaft is the main component of this engine. It converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into rotary motion. It consists of a series of cranks and crankpins by which connecting rods are attached. You will find mainly two types of crankshaft in a V8 engine. The first is a cross-plane crankshaft, and the second is a flat-plane crankshaft. Most V-8 engines have cross-plane crankshafts. The primary and secondary balance is perfect in this crankshaft; hence, there are very few vibrations.
The cross-plane crankshaft has four crank pins. The first and the fourth crankpin is located at 180-degree intervals. Similarly, the second and third crank pin are also located at 90-degree intervals.
Now, if we talk about the first and second crank pin, they are 90-degree intervals. Similarly, the third and fourth crank pin is also at a 90-degree distance—this type of configuration help in reducing the vibrations produced by the engine. Secondly, the balancing is also improved by the cross-plane configuration. So, most cars equipped with V8 engines have a cross-plane crankshaft.
Engine balancing In this engine is quite essential. There are two pistons attached to one bearing. Thatswhy counterweights are used to maintain balance. For instance, the counterweights balance the upward force when the first cylinder moves upward. Similarly, when the first cylinder.
But the racing car, equipped with V 8 engines, has flat-plane crankshafts. In this case, the first and the second crank pin are at a 180-degree distance, and the third and fourth crank pin is at 180-degree intervals.
If you look at this crankshaft from the side, it seems like a flat plane. The main benefit of using flat-plane crankshafts is that there is no use for counterweights. So they are lighter compared to the cross-plane crankshafts.
Benefits Of Using V8 Engine
- It produces more power
- Good center of gravity because of the V design.
Limitations Of Using V8 Engine
- Bulky
- The design is very complex because of the two cylinder heads.
What Is a V6 Engine?
The V6 engine has six cylinders in total, and they are arranged in two sets that are also in the form of a V configuration. All the cylinders in this engine share a common crankshaft. The engine is quite popular in the market because of the fuel efficiency and good performance at the time of riding. Nissan was the first car brand to introduce a V6 engine in 1983.
An average 3 Liter V6 engine can produce 400 hp, producing enough power to run a medium to a full-size sedan. However, the power produced relies on the angle at which the cylinders are placed from each other. The cylinders of the engine are usually placed at 60 degrees. However, some vehicles can have 90 degrees or 120 degrees.
Most vehicles with these engines have a 60-degree layout because they can fit in a small space. There are also fewer vibrations when the cylinders are placed at a 60-degree angle. There is no need for a balance shaft here. Now, if we talk about engines with 90-degree layouts, it lessens the manufacturing cost but increases the vibrations. Thirdly, the engines have a 120-degree layout; then, all the pistons are attached to the same crank. Here there is no need for crank pins. The vibrations are also drastically reduced.
Benefits Of Having a V6 Engine
- Better fuel efficiency
- The engine doesn’t need much maintenance
- The size is small and can be easily fitted parallel to the vehicle.
- Offer more power compared to a four-cylinder engine
- More stable
Can You Swap a V6 and V8 Engine?
Yes, you can replace the V6 engine with a V8 engine.V6 engines are a bit wider than V8 engines. So, if the V6 engine is there in the car, then there are high chances that you can replace it with a V8 engine. But remember, V8 engines are a bit wider than V6 engines.
Why Should I Swap From V6 Engine To V8 Engine?
The V6 engine is small and produces less power than the V8 engine. But if the engine has become old and the components are not working efficiently, it’s better to change the engine. One of the best options is to replace a V6 engine with a V8 engine, as it will produce more power.
The engine will work with proper efficiency while working on the road. But various modifications may need to be done while installing a V8 engine in a V6 engine-equipped car.
What Things Need To Be Changed For Converting V6 Engine To V8 Engine?
There are various auxiliary costs other than engine costs that need to be considered while replacing the V6 engine with a V8 engine.
Your vehicle will first need a new ignition system. The fuel-air mixture in the gasoline engine is ignited by the spark plug, which is operated by the ignition system. Adding two extra outputs in the V6 ignition system is not possible. So, you have to change the entire ignition system while swapping from a V6 engine to a V8 engine.
Additionally, you have to add another exhaust manifold at the time of replacing the engine. The function of the exhaust manifold is to carry all the exhaust gases from the cylinder so that vehicle will liberate them from the tailpipe.
If we talk about the V6 engine, it has 6exhaust manifold output. But you will now install a V8 engine with eight exhaust manifold outputs.
What Vehicles Can Be Installed With V8 Easily?
Below are a few vehicles where you can install the V8 engine easily.
- Ford F-150
- Chevy Camaro
- Nissan Titan
- Ford Mustang
- Dodge Ram 1500
Is It Wise To Install A New Engine In Car?
If your car’s engine has already blown out, then it’s not wise to replace it. It is because adding more components and labor costs will be more than the car’s actual price. However, it can be alleviated if you wish to upgrade the engine. The vehicle will provide more power and perform better than before.
How Is A V6 Engine Different From V8 Engine?
The only difference between the two types of engines is that the V8 has eight cylinders while the V6 engine has only six. It’s true.,but there are other differences, too, which are listed below.
#1. Distance Between Two Cylinders
The majority of vehicles equipped with V8 engines have a 90-degree layout. It means the cylinders are arranged in two sets and spaced from each other by 90 degrees. But if we talk about the V6 engines, they usually have a 60-degree layout. It means the cylinders are arranged in two sets, spaced at a distance of 60 degrees. The offset distance indicates that V8 engines are longer and wider than V6 engines, which should be considered when replacing the V8 engine in the car.
#2. Power
A V8 engine can apply more power to the wheels than a V6 engine. It means a V8 engine will have to run at low rpm compared to a V6 engine to produce equal power.
#3. Weight
A V8 engine is heavier compared to a V6 engine. The table below shows vehicles equipped with a V6 engine and the estimated cost of replacing the V8 engine.
| Vehicle | Equipped engine | V8 engine | Estimated Cost |
| Ford Mustang | 3.8 LV6 | 4.6L DOHC V8 | $2700 to $4700 |
| Ford Mustang | 4.0 L V6 | 5.0 L DOHC V8 | $3400 to $5800 |
| Ford F-150 | 3.8L V6 | 4.6 L DOHC V8 | $2500 to $4500 |
| Dodge Challenger | 3.6 L V6 | 5.7 L Hemi | $3700 to $6000 |
| Chevy Camaro | 3.6 L V6 | 5.7 L Big Block | $3000 to $6000 |
| Heavy Silverado | 4.3 L V6 | 5.7 L Big Block | $2000 to $5000 |
Replace Mustang From V6 To V8
If you have an old Ford Mustang, it will have a 3.8 L V6 engine. But if you have a new model, it will have a 4.0 L V6 engine. Now, if you want to replace the 4.6 L DOHC V8 engine with the3.8 liter engine, then you can easily do it because Mustang GT is already using the 4.6 L V8 engine.
The swapping becomes easier because there is enough space and all the hooks are already present. But if you have a 4.0L V6 engine and want the same convenience, upgrade to a 5.0L DOHC V8 engine. But the 4.6 L DOHC V8 engine is less expensive than the 5.0 L DHC V 8 engine.
Replace V6 With V8 In Dodge challenger
If you have a Dodge Challenger3.6 L V6 engine. It is usually replaced with a 5.7 L Hemi. There are numerous versions of Hemi, like advanced fuel injection and simple carburetor versions. The version which you will choose depends upon your need and budget. The price for replacing the 3.6 L V6 engine with a 5.7 L Hemi will be almost $ 3700 to $6000.
Replacing V6 to V8 In Silverado
Most people, while replacing V6 to V8 engine in Silverado, choose a 5.7 L Big Block engine. This engine has several versions, like Hemi. But most Silverado vehicles use old carburetted 5.7 L big block engines at the time of replacement.
Replacing V6 To V8 Engine In Camaro
Camaro is a chevy, and if you want to swap the V6 engine for V 8 engine, you need to replace it with a 5.7 L Big block engine. The 5.7L big block engine is a simple and old engine. But the best thing about this engine is that it doesn’t require a computer. So you can fit this engine in any vehicle with a good space mount.
It does not have an advanced fuel injection system, and still, it can produce a good amount of power when installed in any vehicle.
Frequently Answered Questions
#1. How much does it cost to replace a V6 with a V8?
When the engine blows out in your car, you either purchase a new car or replace the engine.
You may think of swapping the old engine with V 8 engine.
The cost for swapping the engine will be between $3500 to $7000. Well, the price also depends on other factors. For instance, if the vehicle is only meant for a four-cylinder engine and you want to install a V8 engine in that car, then the swapping will cost you more.
#2. Can I replace a V6 by a V8?
Yes, you can do it. It will produce more compared to the V6 engine. You will have to spend $3,000 to $7,000 to swap the V6 engine for the V8 engine. The labor cost will be almost $1,000.
But only swapping the engine will not do. You have to do certain other modifications to the car. For instance, you need to change the ignition system, radiator, fuel pump, wiring harness, and many other things.
#3. How much does it cost to swap a V8?
If you have a V6 engine and you want to replace it with a V8 engine, then you need to spend within $3,000 to $7,000 approximately.
The price depends on the vehicle on which a V8 engine will be installed. For instance, if you have a vehicle that is only meant for a four-cylinder engine and are interested in replacing it with a V 8 engine, then you need to spend more money on it.
Simultaneously, it may cost less if you have a V6 engine and want to replace it with a V8 engine. It is because the majority of V6-equipped vehicles have options for V8. So installing becomes easier in these vehicles and will cost you less.
#4. Can a V6 be faster than a V8?
Yes, you can make V6 faster than V8 by doing certain modifications. For instance, you can increase the amount of airflow inside the combustion chamber by adding a forced air induction kit to the engine.
Wrap Up
The approximate price for replacing a V6 engine with a V8 engine is $3000 to $7000.The price for swapping depends on the type of vehicle in which you are going to install. If you install it in a large car, the cost will be less. Simultaneously, installing a V8 engine in a vehicle with a V8 option will cost you less because there will already be mount points and various other provisions. Thank you for reading this article!
