3800 swap to 72 Nova

[bing98]

Here's a new one for ya. Any thoughts on how to accomplish a 3800 series II into a 1972 Nova? I was going to swap in an LT1 from a late model Camaro. This can be done quite easily. I have done my research and have found all the resources necessary to make this happen.

I love my 97 Bonneville with its 3800 so it got me thinking. I thought it would be cool to have an L67 supercharged 6 in my classic. After researching this I found it can be done but with extensive mods. The FWD 3800 accesory/pulley locations interfere with the frame and the supercharger intake extends so far back that you have to cut a hole in the firewall.

I thought maybe a rwd v6 out of a camaro/firebird would do the trick. If the LT1 swap is so straight forward why not the 3800?

I found the resources to swap an L67 supercharger to the L36, but I can't find anything on the engine swap itself.

[SappySE107]

l67swap.com

[Guest]

I'd rather build a 3400 turbo, lighter as much power = quicker.

Though I did see an '83ish Chevette on the weekend with a Mitsubishi Eclipse engine, that was pretty cool.

[Mr.H.O]

I think the 3800 SC would be an excellent candidate! You could polish up that supercharger and rocker covers to make the motor look solid under the hood as well! Bolting it up should be nothing more than fabing up some mount brackets but I dont even know what it looks like under the of a nova so I cant say for sure!

Trans wise I think you could probably use a trans from a Grand National or Regal and probably a bunch of other older cars with the RWD 3.8.Im not sure if the bellhousing is the same on the newer cars but it could very well be.This is something you'll have to discover on your own! The 3800 SC's can put out a pretty serious amount of HP and Torque if done right and they are reliable as anything.

[korbendallas68]

Meh, way wrong forum.

[jp_grasshopper_007]

What's wrong with this guy?

[Doubt_Incarnate]

go for it, you'd definatly get an A+ for originality. things to think about are the fwd and rwd blocks might have different starter locations, and even differnt patterns for the bellhousing. the boosted motors suposedly has much bigger bearings than the n/a versions. so you might hava durability issue with a rwd camaro block with a gp or bonneville supercharged setup, unless you found a shop to bore out the mains for the boosted crank.

[jp_grasshopper_007]

When is someone going to put a LS6 in a grand prix? I'm not trying to be a dick, but why under power something so big?

[korbendallas68]

For companies it's all about how cheap they make them.

95% of the people who buy these cars don't care, or have no idea the difference between motors. They also think they need new muffler bearings...

[RednBlack]

l67swap.com

Gotta lighter? Ah, don't need it.

[Mach10]

With that much room under the hood of a 72 No-Va, you'd be stupid not to twincharge the fawker.

Two medium-sized turbos feeding into the supercharger? 'Coures, you'd blow the ring-lands for sure.... Rebuild it properly to take some HEAVY boost.

*sniff-sniff* I smell sex!

[Doubt_Incarnate]

it almost sounds like a project dad had a couple years ago. or at least it should have been with his demands. he wanted to put a 455 in a 68 chevelle conv. but still wanted to get double digit gas mileage.
i told him just to turbo a small 8 or big 6 so he just ccrnk the boost up or down for gas or performance, but i think it sounded like i was preaching blasphemy in tounges. then he sold the car since "the boys don't want to build it for me", like i don't have my own projects... ethnic bastard.

[Manitcor]

When is someone going to put a LS6 in a grand prix? I'm not trying to be a dick, but why under power something so big?

because most consumers are stupid and HP means little to nothng to them. You honestly think its worth it for GM to do the R&D to develop a FWD platform for an engine so powerful. Not to mention it would add close to 10-15k to the price.

No one would buy it.

200-250hp for a 3500lb car really isint that bad. Considering there is no a 303hp V8 option I would say thats good. I dont think much more would be a great idea for a FWD car. Now if the speculation that they are going to make the next W-body and AWD platform that would deflinty warrnt some rockage with the powertrain.

[bing98]

Twin turbos would cost a small fortune.

I can buy a used firebird or camaro for less than 2k. This will provide me with the engine, tranny, wiring, computer and god knows what else. Maybe even cool bucket seats.

You can buy a brand new eaton for 600 and the manifold to adapt it to the l36 for an additional 75.

My intention the plan is to start small. This car has a 100hp straight 6. I could spend 1000 to 1500 to add a bunch of power goodies and we only get to a little over 200 hp. That's twice the power so the car should move pretty good. You can get a lot more hp, up to 600, out of the straight six but it become much more difficult after this point.

With the 3800 I already have the 200 hp. Add the eaton and i'm up to 250. As you know this is stock hp and simple odds improve on this immensly.

All I want to do is get it up and running and then eventually break it down and make it really move out. I want to be able to cruise in this thing and have some fun while I restore the rest of it.

Any resources or tips wold be greatly appreciated. I have found the usual ones like 3800pro.com, l67swap.com and a bunch of f-body sites, but I need more detailed pics and specs of this set up so I can decide how to proceed. Is there a resource that might show detailed pics of the f-body engine compartment and chassis along with the engine? I don't have access to an f body to take measurements. I certainly can't buy one only to find out it wont work.

There's this guy out there that did a great job putting an l67 into an older rwd cutlass, but the mods he had to make were extensive. I have yet to find another set up like his to get some tips from. I feel that starting with the rwd set up from an f body is a good route for me as you can already easily swap the lt1 from these cars.

Thanks for the input.

[firechiken]

You can get lots of info on THIS sight. Just not for an l67.