Interesting. Chevy V8 in a 308 project

Well, at least it would be the best looking Camry ever made! Might be tricky to get all the computers/OBDII/etc. working. You would probably need the entire electrical system from the Camry too.

I remember a while back on a car TV show they were taking a big V8 from one type of Lexus and dropping it into a smaller model Lexus that only had a V6. The mechanical conversion wasn't that bad, a little cutting, some welding, blam, dropped right in. But getting the electronics to work well enough for the engine to run, control itself, and not set of warning bells and whistles everywhere, make the OBDII work so the car could pass emissions, etc, was an engineering nightmare!

Birdman

 

Engine swaps can make a lot of sense $/hp wise, but I just don't like mis-matching brands and it trashes the value of the car. I've done it (a fiat x1/9 with a 500ci caddy engine is the worst example), but it was a $1500 fiat and a free rust bucket caddy, so who cares. With a ferrari there is a lot more to lose money wise. If I wanted to play with a chevy engine, I would just buy a corvette, fierro or the new little pontiac.

I guess if you like the car better when it's done and you don't car about the money, well it's your car so that's all that matters. I've sure dump plenty of money into my 308 engine that I'll never see again.

 

I am well aware that a Chevy V8 is old, crude, push rod technology but when it comes to dead-nuts reliability, they are hard to beat. Also, there are a lot more aftermarket parts for them than all other makes combined. You can build them to any performance level that you like and they are still reliable. And cheap. If someone wants to keep their car completely original, that is fine with me. Funny how changing mine seems to bother them so much. I have done a body off restoration on a '57 Corvette. It turned out great but it's hard to be creative when you are just restoring something back to the way it was. From what I have learned so far, I will have the only car like mine in existance.

 

I certainly envy the parts availability....it's about $4K to have a set of QV cams made.

The part about reliably at any performance level is a strech, they are reliable becasue they are in a very low state of tune. But they are pretty light and have lots of displacement for the physical size, so the hp/lb and the hp/ft^3 (for packaging it) are good even if the hp/in^3 isn't.

How much power are you thinking your new engine is going to put out?
Any ideal what the weight difference will be when your done?

 

A cadillac northstar is actually heavier than a LS motor. This is one reason why the offroad community has gotten away from them. It is also more complicated, makes less power, is larger, and is not as strong of a motor.



Darrell.

 

The engine hasn't been on a dyno but should have well over 400hp. I don't know how much weight I have added but with the engilne being further forward and the wheelbase 4" longer, weight distribution if anything should be better. I'll try posting a couple of pics. Bear with me. My welding skills are much better than my computer skills.
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I have a G50-52 that has had a lot of work done in it that is holding up fine in an Ultima with 600hp. It's held up well on track days and other activities.

ken

 

Does this mean the value of the 2valve 308 is going up soon?

 

I like a lot!!!

Perfect 288 GTO replica/kick ass fun setup.

What are the tubes with the flex hose running fore/aft on each side?

I'll take any and all pics you can supply....pm/e-mail if needed.

Nice work so far!

 

What you're seeing isn't flex hose. It's heat insulating wrap around the exhaust. The exhaust was one of the most challenging parts of the project. It uses 2 1/4 tubing with all mandrel bends. The relocated springs and shocks that you see were done to accomodate larger wheels and tires. More pics to follow.
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As conversions go, I think this is a good one. However, doing a conversion in order to avoid spending $800 for distributors seems a little extreme. Why not just go to electronic ignition and let it go at that. While a 400HP 308 would be a lot of fun, it really detracts from the car.

Bob Wassam

 

I'm starting to like it more and more.

 

Eureka! NO TIMING BELTS!!!

 

So far I have about 25k in the project and this includes purchasing the car from a Ferrari dealer (an '85 qv with 17k miles). Besides the engine swap, it has 13" rotors with Wilwood calipers, new wheels and tires, adjustable QA springs and shocks in front, etc. I totally disassembled the car and refurbished everything as I put it back together. I checked FerrariChat nearly every day and really appreciate the tips and info posted here.

 

This is great!! I love the fact that this type of project is being done. It will be a load of fun and the job you are doing looks to be top notch. The little 3.0 liter motor that Ferrari put in these cars is nice, but terriably under powered for the abilites of the chassis.

The only question in my mind would the weight distrubution and how it will effect the overall handling dynamics of the car at higher speeds. But at least now you have a car that can do all the same things as a 5.0L Mustang or Corvette in perhapes one of the best designs to come out of Italy.

BTW.. Can you post some pics of how you lengthend the wheel base of the car? I have always been curious as to how people go about doing this.

 

Where in the world are you? Your profile isn't complete.

 

If you want a car that sounds like a muscle car, has too much weight in the arse, and has an Italian body, why not just buy a Pantera? Workmanship aside, these cars will have nill resale value.

 

Though not this builder's intent, as I looked at the phenomenal workmanship, my mind also drifted toward the Pantera.

My 74 had the couple hundred 'revisions' from Ford and I'm toying with a bit more suspension upgrade. Panteras were never 'worse' than 42/58 F/R weight distribution. Good radials make a tremendous improvement in the behavior, plus there are innumerable upgrades for the cars - a tuner's delight before such was cool.

Just passing along the info. An interesting project with the American V8 3*8.

 

That can be fix pretty easily. I know 500+ hp on pump gas works....and we're about to find out if 700 works

I think as soon as the car gets up around 330-350 hp, it's where it needs to be and the improvement is night and day. Above that, it's clearly faster yet, but the gains really aren't as noticable due to wheel spin, at least at street speeds.

It's looking like there are now several options to hit the 330+ mark with 2 SC kits, a couple turbo kits and the porting with efi or carb (although not yet confirmed, 2 months or so to wait yet).

 

I thought very long and hard about buying one....american V8s make a lot of hp for very little money.

 

Tillman,
Yes, I have an electric water pump mounted in the front. The bulkhead between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment is unmodified. I did, however add extra insulation. The engine is a tight fit but it's in there and running and even has an AC compressor. Extending the wheelbase is incredibily easy. Moving the wheelwells back was a bit more complicated. The clutch has been converted to hydraulic.

 

SkipH, thanks for sharing your project. I know it was tough to put it out here under the scornful eyes of the Ferrari purists, but there are a lot of us that still have a thing for a good hot rod! Keep the photos and updates coming. -m

 

Skip super job here. I've done a half dozen chev conversions in Jags and Volvo's and the most fun has been in re-engineering the installations. Also working with the TPI Corvette motors was a step up from the earlier big carb set ups. I didn't see how you did the motor and transaxel mounts . Also how did you treat the suspension. So nice job and show us the finished job with the hood on and all buttoned up. Like to see the weight ratio and performance numbers. Thanks

 

i would like to see pics also.

the more i think about it, in the event of an original engine loss, the swap makes sense and could be fun. they did it in the 60s with the v12 cars. we can do it too. as 308s start pushing 30 you are going to see more broken rods and dropped valves destroying the cars original engines.

tastefully done, i think it would be cool to see what the chassis will do with more power.