350 in a chevette
deva...@ivory.trentu.ca
Chevette. Anyone ever done so? Could the back end take the weight?
-Darryl
C. Deforrest Smith
Err..Which end of the car does your buddy plan on putting the 350 in? :->
I've seen several street-going V8-Chevette swaps, and most of them used
custom-fabricated motor mounts (basically, a frame mount that bolts into
the stock Chevette location & adapts to a V8 engine mount), and slightly
modified V8-Vega headers.
It's your typical custom engine swap.. I haven't seen any kits specifically
for the Chevette, so its up to you to locate/make the:
Engine mounts
Transmission crossmember/mount
Headers
Larger radiator
And if you plan on making any real amount of power, the stock rear-end has
to go.. So there's another job: narrow & adapt a stronger rear axle..
THEN, you have to figure a way to get some traction.. Rear subframe & tubs,
anyone?
Definately not a weekend job. :*)
I highly suggest John Thawley's book, "Practical Engine Swapping" to anyone
considering ANY kind of engine swap..lots of good advice in there.
cds
** sunbird **
>Err..Which end of the car does your buddy plan on putting the 350 in? :->
>
>I've seen several street-going V8-Chevette swaps, and most of them used
>custom-fabricated motor mounts (basically, a frame mount that bolts into
>the stock Chevette location & adapts to a V8 engine mount), and slightly
>modified V8-Vega headers.
>It's your typical custom engine swap.. I haven't seen any kits specifically
>for the Chevette, so its up to you to locate/make the:
> Engine mounts
> Transmission crossmember/mount
> Headers
> Larger radiator
>And if you plan on making any real amount of power, the stock rear-end has
>to go.. So there's another job: narrow & adapt a stronger rear axle..
>THEN, you have to figure a way to get some traction.. Rear subframe & tubs,
>anyone?
FWIW, I've done basically all of this on a Pontiac Sunbird.
The rear end was a lot of work, and I used a 2nd generation Camaro posi 3.73.
In my case, no need to narrow, just used front-wheel drive style wheels.
The entire rear suspension came out, built a thingie I call a "unibody
connector", basically a pair of rails welded to the jackpoints, reinforced
with plate and crossmembers. A pair of Lakewood ladder bars insure tire-
planting. Original coil springs were re-installed, and 2" pipe and 1/4 "
plate were used to construct the shock mounts and the new spring mounts. I
used angle and plate for the forward mounting point of the ladder bars, with
1/2 inch of play that can be shimmed for proper alignment.
Aside from an "attitude stance", the car is no wider than stock with 265/50
R15 tires on the back.
The engine was easy in my case, mounts came from a 75 V8 monza. Tranny
required some 1/2 inch plate bolted up, driveshaft is custom and the rear u-
joint is a "crossover" type.
When I had the MFI working it was doing 0-60 in 4.3. With a few more mods
(rev limited at the top end right now) I hope to do a 10.9 quarter. This is
a lofty but possible goal, IMHO.
Catch me if you can, Mr. Mustang....
--
sunbird, VFRUP Sounding Board BBS ** 214-596-2915
exu...@exu.ericsson.se
{$I DISCLAIM.STD} Dig me, but don't ... bury me
Dave Franz
: I'm posting for a buddy who's planning!? on putting a 350 in a
Maybe we should be asking another question?
<ducking>
Bernard W. Pudvah
>From: jdf...@netcom.com (Dave Franz)
>Subject: Re: 350 in a chevette
>Date: Fri, 30 Sep 1994 03:20:06 GMT
An alternative is to get a chevy monza 79 or earlier. They are only slightly
bigger, they can be found cheap and a V8 was optional making it much easier to
make the swap.
Bernie