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Engine SwapEverything about swapping an engine into your Third Gen.....be it V6, V8, LTX/LSX, crate engine, etc. Pictures, questions, answers, and work logs.
Today I embark on a journey that few dare to do, or should I say few a willing to do. Yes there are cheaper and more traditional tried and true ways to make a wheel spinning torque monster 3rd gen, I don't care. This is the beginning, the beginning of the 500 H.O. Z28
This story actually began about 3 months ago when i picked up a beat, half-@$$ed 85 Camaro(5.0 HO) that had been swapped poorly over to a mid 70s 355 SBC. Took the car for a spin and I knew it was a ticking time bomb. Then boom there goes the trans not 300 ft from my driveway. With a huff and a puff and a neighbor's help i pushed it back into the driveway and there it sat for 85 days.
Fast forward to Friday, June 15th, 2018 and my wife called me up and told me about an engine/trans combo on facebook, and honestly I scoffed at her, at least until a couple hours later, when we were on our way home with the rusty piece of luxury muscle cramped into the bed of my silverado. I couldn't believe it....
There was a REAL OLD post on here, maybe 10 - 15 yrs ago, where somebody was putting one of those into their car... I kinda quit paying attention when it got around to cutting the firewall. Don't recall the details. Don't remember whether they ever got it to drive.
Definitely won't be a drop-in. Expect to have to do a bunch of fabrication; custom headers, make your own accessory brackets, perhaps oil pan or strut tower modifications, etc.
This build is going to be a long one. First things first I've gotta get the engine cleaned up and running properly, so bear with me on this build. I will update with pictures as I go along. I am going to try and use the front sump pan even though the haterz say it cannot be done. It pays off being a welder/fabrocobbler when it comes to projects like this. Next update will be a minor one at best with it being 95°F outside today with a heat index over 105.
Can't use a front sump pan. LOTS of things can be fabbed; not that.
The K-member aka "frame" is in the way.
Good luck with that.
While it might be a "cool" swap in some ways, you will probably find yourself spending an OUTRAGEOUS amount of time getting that Caddy graunched in there; and then still get your butt handed to you by Kia minivans all while getting about 3 gallons per mile. A "free" motor only takes you just so far in a project like this. My advice to you would be, sell that thing to somebody trying to restore a late 60s Eldo or something, and get a 6.0 out of a truck.
No "hate" here, just experience in a general way with projects like this.
You should add to your list, "enough steel, and stiff enough springs to hold it all from scraping the ground".
You have NO IDEA how many project like this I've seen reach the stage of a completely disassembled car with the parts scattered here and there unlabelled, and holes cut / pieces cut off / things welded on / whatever, reach some kind of a point of "stuck here, can't go any farther, can't fit a 4" part in a 3" space" and end up in the trash. (whatever form "trash" takes) Don't let it happen to you.
Just the voice of experience. Enthusiasm is great, but only carries you just so far before you need some reality on your side. That "free" motor is most likely going to be the death of that car.
Last edited by sofakingdom; 06-18-2018 at 06:20 PM.
Lots of old threads talking about this kind of thing. Too much stubborn ignorance and futility to enjoy reading them, but for the masochists in the house....
I won't be hacking the car apart. I have a second K- member to modify and if it works i'll drop it in the Car. If it doesn't then I'll check on a rear sump setup. I'm just not keen on tracking down a rear sump pan, they are hard to find.
As for today's update, I pulled the AC compressor off the intake, and removed the old clutch fan assembly. No pics today, but soon. Also removed the alternator and power steering pump, as well as pulled the old rusty Qjet carb off the intake.
[Link]https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engine-swap/430943-project-dyslexia.html[/link]
IF he could get it in, so can I, might have to spring for the rear sump pan, or modify my K-member and do things the hard way. I do however plan on different motor mounts and a skid plate to avoid crushing my oil pan.
June 21, 2018
Alright guys. Another day and a little more progress made. Engine is headed out to a local speedshop for reconditioning and some minor upgrades.
The car itself is getting loaded up this afternoon to begin prep for the powerplant swap and rear axle swap. Im going to skip pics on pulling the engine, trans, drive shaft and rear axle.
My donor k-member is awaiting pick up from a local yard. Once I get the engine pulled, I'll be putting in a tubular Trans cross member and begin fabbing up the new axle.
Update:
Engine has finally made it on the stand, prepping the block for paint at the moment. Heads are out getting dipped, tanked, planed, as well as port matched to the intake and a little vit of machining to help them flow a little better. More to come on this torque monster!
Project is still under way. waiting for engine to finish up at my local machine shop. I have made contact with another company about a front engine plate to mount this monster in combination with a mid plate setup.
can't wait to snag some pictures!
06-17-2018, 07:06 PM
