Cadillac Catera 3.0 into '72 Vega?

[GroceryGetter]

Newbie, just wondering about this swap for giggles. '72 totally stock and unmolested car with Powerglide. Actually leaning towards S10 4.3 with SFI and AT.

GG

[T-FATTY]

Welcome and ill be the first to say "We need pics"

[GroceryGetter]

Thanks, T-Fatty. If I post pix you're all gonna line up to buy this car. Just sayin'...

GroceryMan

[hammerdown7]

Okay, now you have to post pictures! Welcome

Dick

[GroceryGetter]

Thanks. Hmmm...at least poke holes in my Catera idea,

GroceryThug

[hammerdown7]

Here you go, from Wikipedia,

"General Motors' Opel subsidiary in Europe designed a compact V6 engine with an odd 54° vee angle. It was an iron block/aluminum head DOHC design with 4 valves per cylinder. All 54° engines were assembled at Ellesmere Port in England.
This engine was used in American models as well. The engine was reworked substantially between the 3.0 L L81 and 3.2 L LA3, but the bore centers and deck height were retained. In its 3.0 L form, this engine was notable for recalls of all units installed in Cadillac Cateras due to timing belt tensioner bearing failures, which could cause catastrophic damage to the engine because of its interference design.

The Catera's engine was a 200 hp (150 kW) 54° L81 V6 manufactured in England at GM's Ellesmere Port facility, using a FR layout. The GM 4L30-E automatic transmission was manufactured at GM's plant in Strasbourg, France."


I think the 4.3 will be much a easier swap unless you have the AT the Catera came with, but parts could also be a problem.

[T-FATTY]

Does it involve twin turbos?

[GroceryGetter]

Twin turbos...why not? There are times when you don't just need a tomato; you NEED a tomato. Re: 3.0 Catera mill, if they recalled ALL engines, then would I expect to find some kind of service sticker under the hoods of the cars at the yard?

GetGroceriesFast

[res0o7eb]

Do it.

[Fastmax32168]

I wouldnt waste my time with that turd of a motor. Most of those Cateras are DOA now because of it. Too many other better options.
Roy

[GroceryGetter]

I was mostly playing devils advocate on the Catera thing - leaning towards 4.3 S10 engine, probably not do much on it until Spring. Tried to take pix of the car but lighting was terrible so will try again on that. Hey, on another topic, when I try to post to this forum from home the page goes completely black when I put the cursor anywhere so I can't post. On my laptop right now, with wireless, it dims but doesn't go black. Anybody know what I can do to post from home? A setting? Thanks,

GG

[Brian]

Hey, on another topic, when I try to post to this forum from home the page goes completely black when I put the cursor anywhere so I can't post. On my laptop right now, with wireless, it dims but doesn't go black. Anybody know what I can do to post from home? A setting? Thanks,

GG

If you are using Internet Explorer to do your web browsing, look to the far right of the address bar. See if there is a small icon that looks like a broken page. Click on it and it should fix the problem. It's called the compatibility view and is needed for this site if you have IE9 or higher.

Or, you could switch to another browser like Chrome.

[spencerforhire]

Glad to see you're not too serious about the Catera V6 swap. That motor is a real "dead end"; only available in one vehicle for a few years and zero aftermarket support.

[GroceryGetter]

Thanks, Brian! The compatibility thing works! Check back with you guys soon,

MoGroceriesBeMoBetter

[monzabug350]

If you plan to do the 4.3 v6,check out the junk yards and look for the 4.3 LU series engine. Its also known as the Vortec 4300. Also there are 3.8 v6 3800 series III and 3800 series III supercharged.Would that wake up your ride!!