V8 engine swap in my72

[geno58]

I'm impressed, nice job, nice car. Gets my brain go'in, my son has been saying 4.3 V-6.

[brad302]

Thank you Geno, Go for it, but it is a big job. But I did this with my best friend. If you can have a good time with your son while making one hell of a car. DO IT! I'm sure it will mean alot to you both.
Brad

[v6spider]

Doo it Geno do the 4.3! Sorry Brad! LOL... it cost me $2500 roughly to build my v6..and it puts out over 300 hp...I think it depends on what you want...certainly the v8 can put out more power... I just liked the v6 because it's a smaller package and still puts out decent power...either way you go it's a lot of work...but totally worth it.. and I am sure Brad can attest to. btw Brad if you had some pictures of the suspension and framework that you did I'd be very interested in seeing them... if you go to my website:

http://www.v6spider.com
There is a photo gallery of what I have done...
I am running a hydraulic roller cam with .525" lift and 280° duration.. true roller rockers... vortec heads. True roller timing set. 350 v8 pistons .030" over ... Edelbrock intake and 625 Carter...the transmission is a t5 5-speed from a Camaro.. the rearend is a limited slip unit from a Mazda rx7 gsl with 3:90 ratio..my r&p is from a 72 pinto...

Cheers!
Rob

[michaelj]

Hey Brad, aren't u in Naples? I think I saw that car a few years ago out at the track in Immokalee. Can you email me at mikebrousil@aol.com ? I am also in Naples and I have a 76 124. I would like to take a closer look at what you did there. I am a friend of Jean Daltons as well. Im probably going to keep my engine original but who knows... I just got this running again after sittin in the garage for a few years. I was thinking of selling but it bit me! Mike

[brad302]

Mike, Yep that's me, I sent you a Email

[paintdudeluke]

I'm still thinking to go with the 3.4 & 5sp out of a 95 firebird. Narrow, short, and light. Minimizes the things needed to have a decent swap. You can find a donor car for a song. Not the powerhouses you guys have going, but bang for the buck? 200lb tq and 150 hp with a wide ratio five speed would nearly drop right in with a little welding. Plus it'd be bone stock. With a few mods it'd be a 14 sec car. fun enough for cheap.

[v6spider]

Any rear sump engine and you'll be re doing the steering. There is just no way around it...now a front sump engine might allow you to possibly keep the original steering providing the engine block is clearing the steering box and idler box and all the linkage. I did not need to carve into the fire wall as much as Brad did with his v8. But I did have to cut into the transmission tunnel and re work that area.. your proposal will require the same amount of work possibly unless there is a way to convert it to a front sump engine.... anyhow .. My two cents...

Rob

[badss65]

Hey Brad, beautiful job!!! I have an 80 Spider with the v8 conversion also. Lot of work and still in progress but its on the street. I went with a 331 stroker with 8.8 rear. I started reading this forum because i seen the pics of the 5 lugs on the front of yours and was curious how. Not sure if I'll go the same route but very informative and glad to see it can actually be done. I'd like to find something that would work with the ford bolt pattern that matches the rear I installed. I turned my hood into a cowl induction and also took off that gawdy front bumper. Made my own lower bumper/spoiler. Makes it look a little beefier for a little guy.

[v6spider]

Hey Brad, beautiful job!!! I have an 80 Spider with the v8 conversion also. Lot of work and still in progress but its on the street. I went with a 331 stroker with 8.8 rear. I started reading this forum because i seen the pics of the 5 lugs on the front of yours and was curious how. Not sure if I'll go the same route but very informative and glad to see it can actually be done. I'd like to find something that would work with the ford bolt pattern that matches the rear I installed. I turned my hood into a cowl induction and also took off that gawdy front bumper. Made my own lower bumper/spoiler. Makes it look a little beefier for a little guy.

How about some pics of your conversion?

Rob

[badss65]

I can't seem to figure out how to post pics. Maybe the fact that I'm using my phone and not an actual PC. I'll try the PC route maybe tomorrow.

[badss65]

Still a little rough but it'll get there some day

[spiderrey]

I like

[v6spider]

Clever execution of the cowl induction.. Although I'm not a fan of it.. Looking good though.. I'm definitely wanting to see the rest.. Specifically suspension mods.. Brad's spider is probably the nicest v8 conversion I've seen..

Rob