Need Help RWD-ifying a Cav 3.1

[Phill]

I'm sure this is a common question, but I did do a couple searches and didn't find the info I needed. I need to know which front accessory drive I need to use. It's a 3.1 from a '91 Cavalier. If I spin the induction around it interferes with the water pump (and probably more) of the Cavalier setup. I want to use a serpentine setup like the Cav had (I'm so sick of V-belts!!) and I'd like to keep the Cav plenum.

Any suggestions are appreciated. I plan on no A/C or power steering and I can modify/fab up pieces if I need to. Also this is going into a Chevette so it can't be too wide at the bottom of the engine.

Thanks,

Phill

[sharkey]

should be able to use an 88+ rwd timing cover, water pump and alternator/brackets. this will still allow you to use the serpentine belt. you may also need the balancer from the rwd as the water pump and such stick out farther.

[Guest]

should be able to use an 88+ rwd timing cover, water pump and alternator/brackets. this will still allow you to use the serpentine belt. you may also need the balancer from the rwd as the water pump and such stick out farther.

QFT!

You will need to make adaptor plates for the ends of the heads since the iron head and aluminium head use different bolt patterns in the ends of the heads for the accessory mounts. Or just make complete new mounts.

You will need to use the RWD bancer, since the RWD pully uses 4 bolts and the FWD only has threaded bosses for 3, plus it's not a machined flat surface.

One issue you will run into using the serpintine set-up is that the water pump spins the opposite direction of the engine rotation, so getting that to tension properly would require a couple extra idler pulleys.
I believe the 1986 (maybe 1985) S-10 front cover had the proper oil pan ridge to seal with the newer pans (bolted vs press seal), and has a forward rotation pump, then grab a pully that you can use to make a forward rotation water pump pully. A friend of mine started with a (I believe it was) a Ford Taurus Water pump pulley, to make a forward rotation serpintine water pump pulley for his 409.

Worse comes to worse, you could take an older front cover, and a new cover, cut them apart, and weld them back together.

[bigj-dog]

Would any of the parts off of a '88ish camaro 2.8/3.1? Or are they totally different?

[sharkey]

it should all work, but your still gonna need adaptor plates for anything that bolts to the heads.

[geoffinbc]

The 2.8L and 3.1L in the Camaro are the same block and heads as an s-10. Only the accesory drive and mounting are different and of course the fuel injection and intake

[BMC]

Phil,

You can also use a timing chain cover and oil pan setup from a 1984 and older vehicle. Fiero, Camaro, S10 or whatever. They all fit to the best of my knowledge. I prefer the later pans that the people have discussed, but the early pans are still an option for you.

You are better in most conversions to use a Camaro/Firebird or S10 2WD oil pan. 4WD S10 oil pans are a bit too deep in the back and are more likely to stick below the crossmember.

Also, there is an aftermarket 5 rib serpintine belt system that fits the short nose clockwise waterpump, alternator and balancer off the RWD iron head 60 degree V6 motors if you want something that works well with your system. A bit more cost, but easy install and leaves lots of room up front with the serpintine system.

This kind of conversion is very similar to the MGB V6 conversions.

-BMC.

[Phill]

So, if I'm reading all this correctly, the serpentine drive system from 2.8/3.1 Camaro will bolt up with a little creativity for the front of the heads and allow me to use a newer oil pan, correct? This would include the water pump and idlers so I don't have to worry about the pump turning the right way, correct?

What about the crank? Will I need to grab the pulley and balancer from the Camaro too?

For the oil pan I'm probably going to start with the Cavalier pan and do some fab work to add clearance for the steering and add some extra oil volume.

Two more questions- if the Cavalier intake plenum won't clear everything, will the top half of a Camaro plenum bolt to the bottom half of the Cavalier plenum? Also does anyone have a 4x4 s-10 pan they could take some measurements off of for me? I need the depth in the front and the distance from the front to where the sump kicks down. Then I can start playing with the welder some more

Phill

[Phill]

Oh I almost forgot- anyone with a V6 Chevette- How deep is the sump on your oil pan and how much ground clearance do you have?

Phill

[CNCguy]

Here's some pics of a serpentine belt setup I threw together for display. The lower pulley is a March underdrive unit since I didn't have a stock one here for display. The small pulley under the alternator is used for tensioning. The ALT bracket in the pic will be available in the 60V6 store in the near future. If you're interested, PM me with your time frame and I will get some over to Ben for the store.

The cover and pump in the pics are from an early model Fiero and are CW rotation but still gives you an idea of how the Camaro setup would be.

[Ortie666]

Oh I almost forgot- anyone with a V6 Chevette- How deep is the sump on your oil pan and how much ground clearance do you have?

Phill

We have always just used the s-10 2wd pans, alot of people say you have to use a 4wd pan, but there very deep. If you mount the motor rite you can use the 2wd pan, and with the 2wd pan there is plenty clearence under the car. The k-frame blocks the front of the pan nicley for protection against bottoming out..