Corvette Blasphamy
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Everett WA
Corvette Blasphamy
So I know this will be taken as a blasphamous thought. Please forgive me.
Has anyone thought about putting a modern V6 into a C3. I'm rebuilding a friends vette for her. It has more power then she needs stock. Its used as a daily driver and a cruiser not a race car. I'm mainly looking to improve the fuel economy. 15 mpg is killing us over her in Hawaii when gas gets up to 3.75 a gallon. I was thinking a fuel injected v6 would save some weight on the front end, still have enough HP to get over the mountains, and get better fuel economy.
So other then I'm crazy, anyone have any thoughts. We do you begin looking for an engine like that.
Jarrett
Has anyone thought about putting a modern V6 into a C3. I'm rebuilding a friends vette for her. It has more power then she needs stock. Its used as a daily driver and a cruiser not a race car. I'm mainly looking to improve the fuel economy. 15 mpg is killing us over her in Hawaii when gas gets up to 3.75 a gallon. I was thinking a fuel injected v6 would save some weight on the front end, still have enough HP to get over the mountains, and get better fuel economy.
So other then I'm crazy, anyone have any thoughts. We do you begin looking for an engine like that.
Jarrett
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
I dont see why you couldnt find an old S-10, 4.3L
I would imagine I'd fit right in.. and now that I'm on this thought, I bet there would be plenty of room in front of the motor for a good sized turbo...
I would imagine I'd fit right in.. and now that I'm on this thought, I bet there would be plenty of room in front of the motor for a good sized turbo...
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 93
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From: Everett WA
Originally Posted by onaqwst
i got a 98 sonoma for sale...4 banger.... 160,000 ...gets good gas mileage....
if she doesn't like the motor just swap it for a late 70's one that has like 4hp.....
b
if she doesn't like the motor just swap it for a late 70's one that has like 4hp.....
b
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 669
From: FL
Originally Posted by gte718p
Actually I have a '78 180 HP does more then enough. Actually the overdrive is a good idea. Anyone know someone making an overdrive tranny that will fit a 78?
For stick, the Keisler Auto Tremec swap is great. I did the swap before it was available and love the OD.
For auto, I want to say that BowTie Overdirves can hook you up with a since 700R4.
On another note, look into some basic performance mods. With my old 4 speed, I had headers, duals, and a mild cam (Crane Powermax 272). With a properly tuned carb and ignition, I was getting 19-20 mpg on the highway.
If you want 24+ mpg, look into an LS-1 swap. There have been several on the forum.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by gte718p
So I know this will be taken as a blasphamous thought. Please forgive me.
Has anyone thought about putting a modern V6 into a C3. I'm rebuilding a friends vette for her. It has more power then she needs stock. Its used as a daily driver and a cruiser not a race car. I'm mainly looking to improve the fuel economy. 15 mpg is killing us over her in Hawaii when gas gets up to 3.75 a gallon. I was thinking a fuel injected v6 would save some weight on the front end, still have enough HP to get over the mountains, and get better fuel economy.
So other then I'm crazy, anyone have any thoughts. We do you begin looking for an engine like that.
Jarrett
Has anyone thought about putting a modern V6 into a C3. I'm rebuilding a friends vette for her. It has more power then she needs stock. Its used as a daily driver and a cruiser not a race car. I'm mainly looking to improve the fuel economy. 15 mpg is killing us over her in Hawaii when gas gets up to 3.75 a gallon. I was thinking a fuel injected v6 would save some weight on the front end, still have enough HP to get over the mountains, and get better fuel economy.
So other then I'm crazy, anyone have any thoughts. We do you begin looking for an engine like that.
Jarrett
Calculate the savings in fuel VS the loss of the stock value
Last edited by Bob Onit; Jun 11, 2006 at 03:43 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 1
From: Milford Haven Pembrokeshire
You said " get her over the mountains ".........
this does not sound like an overdrive job - it sounds like a smaller engine with carefully chosen gearing all the way through. May I suggest you also look at some older straight 6 engines.
Just an example and nothing else but my use and ownership of a lot of 1980's BMW straight 6 engines.........
BM is heavier, is shaped like a brick but if you drive half sensibly with either auto or stick - can get towards 40 mpg Uk - 30+ mpg Usa gallon.
Engine is first generation injected 3.5 litre - about 220 bhp.
this does not sound like an overdrive job - it sounds like a smaller engine with carefully chosen gearing all the way through. May I suggest you also look at some older straight 6 engines.
Just an example and nothing else but my use and ownership of a lot of 1980's BMW straight 6 engines.........
BM is heavier, is shaped like a brick but if you drive half sensibly with either auto or stick - can get towards 40 mpg Uk - 30+ mpg Usa gallon.
Engine is first generation injected 3.5 litre - about 220 bhp.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
I would drop in a V6 with 5 speed from a late model camaro. That V6 had more power than the late L48 engines anways. But unless you do an OD or unless you have really low diff gears, the V6 would help no more than an OD.
So I say go for it. You can always put the V8 back in. But you will have to cut off a coil or two because the front end will be a lot lighter and it will be up too high.
So I say go for it. You can always put the V8 back in. But you will have to cut off a coil or two because the front end will be a lot lighter and it will be up too high.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Why not sell the vette and put the proceeds plus the money planned for mods into something more appropriate?
That said, my 68 big block is pulling down 20+ mpg because of an OD transmission. 2000 rpm @ 75 mph
That said, my 68 big block is pulling down 20+ mpg because of an OD transmission. 2000 rpm @ 75 mph
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,875
Likes: 3,554
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Let's do some math...
IF you are getting 15MPG and drive 10,000 miles a year with gas at $3.75 a gallon-Then your annual fuel costs are about $2500.
So- if you manage to "create" a Corvette that gets 25MPG on AVERAGE- not just on a good day-Drive 10,000 miles a year- gas is $3.75 /gallon-THEN your annual fuel cost is now "only" $1500.
Guess what? You have "saved" $1000 a year or about eighty bucks a month.
Now -tell me you can modify the car for less than a thousand dollars-EVEN if you do ALL the work and your time is worth nothing. You'd be better off getting a job that pays ten bucks an hour and working an extra 10hours a month!!!
The real kicker- if the car is only driven 5k a year than your "savings" are cut in ½ or $500!!!
Leave it alone....Do the math!!!
Richard
So- if you manage to "create" a Corvette that gets 25MPG on AVERAGE- not just on a good day-Drive 10,000 miles a year- gas is $3.75 /gallon-THEN your annual fuel cost is now "only" $1500.
Guess what? You have "saved" $1000 a year or about eighty bucks a month.
Now -tell me you can modify the car for less than a thousand dollars-EVEN if you do ALL the work and your time is worth nothing. You'd be better off getting a job that pays ten bucks an hour and working an extra 10hours a month!!!
The real kicker- if the car is only driven 5k a year than your "savings" are cut in ½ or $500!!!
Leave it alone....Do the math!!!
Richard
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
By "get her over the mountains" do you refer to the Pali?? They're not THAT bad- I drove gutless rental cars over the Pali w/ no problems. A C3 Vette is roughly 3300 lbs, swapping in a V6 would take 100 lbs. off of that, and if you get one out of a late Camaro or Firebird w/T5 behind it the tranny will also be lighter than the TH350 or TH400 that came out. Making the driveshaft and/or shift linkage fit would probably present some issues though, depending on your skill/patience. But if you can get past the sacrilege (or blasphemy or whatever) issue I would think such a combination would work pretty well- I've driven a couple of those old V6 5-speed F-bodies and they're actually fairly good runners. Good Luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
I think a conversion to Tuned Port would solve your mileage concerns. Overdrive is also a great idea. If you are bound and determined to go V6 then a 4.3 is as close to bolt-in as you will find. Not sure what you will do for exhaust manifolds, but most everything else should be relatively straightforward.
