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Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:44 am
by Tailssideup
spyder_xlch wrote:Seeing that motor out of a car it doesn't look like it is as wide as a SBC but I bet it's taller. It should still fit pretty well. So a 5 speed out of a 2WD S-10 or F-body should bolt up. But what flywheel?


I would have to guess a 2.8 flywheel.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:02 am
by res0o7eb
Tailssideup wrote:
spyder_xlch wrote:Seeing that motor out of a car it doesn't look like it is as wide as a SBC but I bet it's taller. It should still fit pretty well. So a 5 speed out of a 2WD S-10 or F-body should bolt up. But what flywheel?

I would have to guess a 2.8 flywheel.
I detect a hint of sarcasm, there, Tailside. :)

I think these guys should know what flywheel works for these motors:
http://www.killerbv6.com/ wrote:Flywheel - Machined and balanced for Ford or GM transmission. $179.50

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:28 am
by Tailssideup
Not trying to be sarcastic. Just thinking of the first RWD flywheel for a 60 degree.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:23 pm
by res0o7eb
Astre-mutt wrote:I've seen some good performance parts on line still available.
Yeah, Edelbrock makes a manifold for this engine - I did not know that. Says only for 82-85 RWD engines. So I assume the Edelbrock 4-bbl manifold doesn't work with the canted-valve aluminum heads from later FWD models.

I certainly wish the car magazines would devote more ink to V-6 engines. There is more than enough paper out there about V-8 and L-4(FWD) engines. Could start a new trend, though. That's bad. No magazine wants to have anything to do with V-6's 'cause all of their advertising dollars would dry up.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:55 pm
by 73_Vega_GT
60* v would be a great swap in a H-body. A few things to consider regarding the FWD blocks(DOHC, 2.8, 3.1,3X00 ect). The starter mounts on the drivers side of the block and all the RWD trans mount on the pass side. GM did make a few bell housings with starter mounts on both sides, but they are like hens teeth. I was into cavaliers for a while and learned this from that era. A 3400 with a cam, 3500 heads and intake runs real well. Ask me how I know :D Just like the small block, almost all 60* parts are interchangeable with a little tinkering. Best parts bin combo for RWD app would be to use a camaro 3.4 block with 96+ 3100,3400/3500/3600 heads, intake man and pistons. You need to use the FWD pistons in the RWD block to keep the compression to pump gas standards. You will need to figure out the ignition, megasquirt is great for this. There are a few other things, I will answer any questions. The camaro 3.4 had iron heads with smaller valves and ports along with larger combustion chambers. All 3400 heads have the large valves/ports and 96+ 3100 share the same. 3500/3600 got even better ports and combustion chambers. Another thing to consider also is that some of the 60*s dont have a provision for a distributor. Early 3.4s out of camaros run a distro, later 3.4 run coil packs. Just some food for thought. Good luck with the build.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:03 pm
by spyder_xlch
73_Vega_GT wrote: The starter mounts on the drivers side of the block and all the RWD trans mount on the pass side. GM did make a few bell housings with starter mounts on both sides, but they are like hens teeth.
I thought FWD and RWD had starters on opposite sides. And I think you mean GM made engine blocks with starter mounts on both sides. I sort of remember that.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:22 pm
by 73_Vega_GT
spyder_xlch wrote:
73_Vega_GT wrote: The starter mounts on the drivers side of the block and all the RWD trans mount on the pass side. GM did make a few bell housings with starter mounts on both sides, but they are like hens teeth.
I thought FWD and RWD had starters on opposite sides. And I think you mean GM made engine blocks with starter mounts on both sides. I sort of remember that.


I guess that was worded wired, let me clear that up. All front wheel drive blocks, the starter mounts to the drivers/front of motor and all rear wheel drive blocks the starter mounts to the pass side. The blocks differ in the mounts as well, so custom mounts will be needed to put a fwd block in a rwd car and vis versa. And I did mean the bell housing for the starter mounting, dual cut outs to mount on the starter on the pass or driver side. Hope that clears it up for you?

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:55 pm
by NixVegaGT
Great first couple of posts, Man.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:41 pm
by bsvega33
Don't kick me off the site, but I put a 60 degree German ford Capri v6 (and it's 4spd) in a '73 Vega about 30 years ago. That had to be the easiest swap anybody ever did. Didn't even have to fabricate motor mounts. It was way better than the 140, but probably not going to be popular in this neighborhood.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:52 pm
by spyder_xlch
Well, I don't agree with the choice of engine you used but atleast it was a cool looking car (73 vega). I was actually thinking of swapping a Honda engine in one of my Monzas for fuel economy and since I already have the engine to use. I don't think that swap would get any popularity votes either.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:58 pm
by gerbsinmd
bsvega33 wrote:, but I put a 60 degree German ford Capri v6 (and it's 4spd)


I had a Mustang II that had that combo in it. I loved it! The car rotted away around it but the engine ran good. I sounded tougher than hell with the factory duals dumped out in front of the axle! Never thought of putting that in a Monza. That trans didn't like a lot of abuse tho, I messed up the 2nd gear synchros power shifting too many times. It got real hard to shift fast for a while, but it seemed to heal itself to some degree.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:54 am
by res0o7eb
bsvega33 wrote:Don't kick me off the site, but I put a 60 degree German ford Capri v6 (and it's 4spd) in a '73 Vega about 30 years ago. That had to be the easiest swap anybody ever did. Didn't even have to fabricate motor mounts. It was way better than the 140, but probably not going to be popular in this neighborhood.
Cool. 8)
The key is that it was an easy swap. Ford engine or otherwise, doesn't make any difference to me. You are welcome to stay here on this site.

Since you mentioned Ford, look for another engine swap idea in a separate post here in the Engine Tech forum in a few days. If you know me, you know it won't be a V-8 swap. It will be VERY interesting, though. [Edit- Look for it here ==> viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24721]

I had a 76 Mercury Capri (German) with a V-6 that I rebuilt - I guess I didn't realize that it was a 60-degree V-6.
Nice car. Too bad I couldn't bring it up here to Seattle when I moved from the DFW area 21 years ago.
Sold it cheap to someone. I do wish that I still had that car.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:23 am
by cozwurth
Where were you when you made that swap? 20 years ago I saw a yellow '73 Vega wagon in San Angelo, Texas with that engine/tranny swapped in. There can't be too many of those around...

bsvega33 wrote:Don't kick me off the site, but I put a 60 degree German ford Capri v6 (and it's 4spd) in a '73 Vega about 30 years ago. That had to be the easiest swap anybody ever did. Didn't even have to fabricate motor mounts. It was way better than the 140, but probably not going to be popular in this neighborhood.

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:46 am
by NixVegaGT
I'm pretty sure we have no ties to a particular Make here. If we do I'm in big trouble with my Rover/Buick/Ford/Pontiac/VW/Chevy engine! LOL! Do you know if that 4-speed was the early Borg Warner T4? That would be cool. If so I bet you actually saved some weight.

That was a 2.8 right? Or was it 3.8 or something? I remember I helped my Dad and the neighborhood guys change the timing belt in one of those. Was it overhead cam? It could be I'm remembering a 2.3 Capri. How long did they produce that V6?

Re: 60-degree V-6 Swap

PostPosted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:53 am
by gerbsinmd
That v6 was a 2.8. I don't know if it was a Borg Warner T-4 I know it was German, as was the engine. At the time I was told to take very good care of that trans as a replacement was non-existent in the salvage yards. The 2.8 V6 had a gear driven cam so no belt in that. It was one of those plastic upper gear with a metal lower. They were famous for coming apart after 70k miles, usually on the road causing destruction of the heads when the valves stopped and the engine was running 3000 rpm. I got lucky with mine, I pulled it out of the shed and as I went for second gear still in the driveway it killed. I think it was available until 75 after that they put the 302 in the Capri and Mustang II's