81 corvette engine swap
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81 corvette engine swap
There is this 81 vette I wanna buy and I wanna put at least a v8 with at least one turbo, but ideally twin turbo, and ideally supercharged. I also wanna put a 5-6 speed transmission in it. I know this is going to take some engine bay mods but do you think I could do this, or even possibly make it work with a v10? v12 even? (Highly doubt v12, but would be cool if I could). Right now I’m thinking Ferrari California t v8.
edit:
For context I’m redoing the entire car, repainting it dark red, new engine, new trans, new exhaust, new interior, paddle shifters, new wheels, complete revamp.
edit:
For context I’m redoing the entire car, repainting it dark red, new engine, new trans, new exhaust, new interior, paddle shifters, new wheels, complete revamp.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
There is this 81 vette I wanna buy and I wanna put at least a v8 with at least one turbo, but ideally twin turbo, and ideally supercharged. I also wanna put a 5-6 speed transmission in it. I know this is going to take some engine bay mods but do you think I could do this, or even possibly make it work with a v10? v12 even? (Highly doubt v12, but would be cool if I could). Right now I’m thinking Ferrari ... .
Welcome to Corvette Forum.
Link below to GM 1980 Twin Turbo Corvette, so that's a possible route.
As to V10/V12, might be cheaper to just buy a Ferrari.
Mapman
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...te-turbo-1980/
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Not gonna lie, this car is somewhat for ***** and giggles as a project car but it will fun and imma still go with the plan I have, and I actually managed to find a Ferrari v10 for like 10k. It’ll need work, but I was gonna rip apart the engine and tune it and cam it and do everything I can to squeeze every last bit of hp I can out of it
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
I believe we have a guy here with a 10 or 12 cylinder bmw drivetrain in his c3.
This kind of thing is feasible if you have the skills or a lot of $$ to pay someone. If it were me id start with everything else that would need to be customized to handle it like the rear end and transmission along with the suspension.. and of course a lot of expensive fab work.
By then you may be fine with a hot v8.
This kind of thing is feasible if you have the skills or a lot of $$ to pay someone. If it were me id start with everything else that would need to be customized to handle it like the rear end and transmission along with the suspension.. and of course a lot of expensive fab work.
By then you may be fine with a hot v8.
Thread Starter
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Yeah you right, but its gonna be a multiple year project funded by engineering, and i just wanna know if I can fit a twin turbo and supercharger in there with it. I mostly just wanna know how big i can physically go as far as engine size, also, if anybody knows what the best twin turbo and supercharger would be for a v8 or v10, please let me know.
Last edited by Pig30; May 13, 2024 at 09:22 AM. Reason: I wanna add something because i forgot to add something
Race Director
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From: Virginia
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I would personally love to see this come together! Please make a thread for it when you start this project.
I think, with some engineering you can fit that v10 in there. Technically there is room enough already for a big block. But remove the air box, put in hydroboost master, and do a rack and pinion conversion; then you’ll probably have enough room.
You will definitely need some custom brackets and custom fittings, but that’s half the fun right?
What are you thinking for the driveline? Will a T56 trans bolt up to that v10? Also you’ll have to do something about that aluminum Dana 44…
I think, with some engineering you can fit that v10 in there. Technically there is room enough already for a big block. But remove the air box, put in hydroboost master, and do a rack and pinion conversion; then you’ll probably have enough room.
You will definitely need some custom brackets and custom fittings, but that’s half the fun right?
What are you thinking for the driveline? Will a T56 trans bolt up to that v10? Also you’ll have to do something about that aluminum Dana 44…
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Intermediate
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Not entirely sure yet for the driveline, I’m still getting the basics figured out, such as the engine and color and trans and all that stuff, I don’t even know what suspension I want, but I will defenitly let you all know when I get the car and start the project, I’m excited for it. I’m most likely going to have a bunch of videos on my YouTube channel if it coming together and when I finish, make it all one vid. I’m planning on getting it in 5-7 years, because I’m not actually even in college yet, so I’ll have plenty of time to plan. As of right now, it doesn’t run, it’s this ugly yellowish cream on top of this ugly red color, the interior is broken, there is a rat nest in the engine bay, needs a new battery, spark plugs, fluids, and probably has chewed wires, but I’ll worry about that when I buy it, seeing as it will go from 8k to 12k of it runs. I know it won’t be sold to someone else because it’s my cousins grandpa (not from my side of the family) and I’ve already told him I’ll buy it when I can, and it goes to my cousin if he passes before then and I know she’ll hold it for me.
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From: Virginia
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Perhaps you saw @Richard454's car? That's a V12 from a BMW, so more British than the royal family. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ8d0VGLlR4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ8d0VGLlR4
