newbie: Thinking about an engine swap...need help

[wheels]

It's great to find this board!

I have an old Rambler American with a flat head 6, I tried the old tried and true 350 but it's just to wide and I really don't want to run the exhaust manifolds over the top like in a boat application. A friend stopped by the shop and asked why not a 60 degree V6, so here I am trying to get some info before I go hunting.

My car came with no computers, ps, ac or any other luxury you can think of and it doesn't require any state inspections because of it's age and the way I have it registered. So, what's my best powerplant? I'm open for any and all suggestions, carb, computers pushrod, non pushrod it doesn't matter to me. I would like the most simple to install with the least amount of wiring but if I can hide most of the wiring then I'm game. My friend suggested a crate 3.1 with a 200 trans but he didn't know what year, what car or any other info. Thanks for reading my long winded question.......

K

[RidgeRunner]

3.4 from a 93-95 Camaro would be a nice choice. GM also sells a 3.4 crate motor intended for the S-10 pickups.

Add an Offenhauser or Edelbrock intake manifold and a good carb, and you've got simplicity and decent power in a narrow V6.

Also, Fageol makes a supercharger for the 60v6.

[geoffinbc]

What he said. Perfect swap. Use a Weber carb everyone loves them. Headers can be had. If not that then use Camaro manifolds they are better than S-10 ones.

[wheels]

OK, please educate me, I can get a 3.4 from a 93-95 camaro, strip all the computer components off, run a intake and carb and I'm done? What will the trans take to make it work, should I run an auto or 5 speed? Sorry for the questions but I have two of these cars and I have a rebuilt flathead on my engine stand and I'm over 2K and still have a ways to go before it's ready. So all this gets me thinking V6 is the way to go.... thanks again

[RidgeRunner]

Well, you could run either an auto or a 5spd. I don't know much about the automatics, other than they shift by themselves.

Now a 5spd, that's my game... a T5 would be nice, but you'll have to determine how far back the shifter needs to be to decide which T5 would be best. The S10 T5 and Camaro T5 have the shifters in totally different locations. Also, some (or is it all of them?) of the Camaro T5s are actually tilted slightly towards the driver... a simple bellhousing swap or modifications to some bellhousings will set them back straight.

[geoffinbc]

Tilted is not bad at all it points the shifter at the driver. But you could use a 4L60, 700R4 or a TH2004R and they would all work perfectally. For the Camaro motor all you need to do is strip off the intake and emissions stuff get a manifold for carb applications and put on your carb. You can then use any mechanical distributor from a 660. Then your acessory drive will be a descision you will have to make.

[RidgeRunner]

Tilted is not bad at all it points the shifter at the driver.

True that, but I did want to make mention of that, in case the particular vehicle would be better with the shifter centered. I'm not familiar with his car, so I can't really say what's best.

[BMC]

Dont worry about the tilt... Thats not a problem. WE use the tilt in the MGB, but the Camaro shifter is DESIGNED TO COME STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FLOOR. Did I shout it enough? Sorry..

The bellhousings can also be interchanged, there are other manual gearboxes that fit as well.. You can use a S10, Camaro V6, Camaro V8, or Ford Mustang T5, with the correct combination of parts. We do this in MGBs all the time, and even a Triumph Spitfire or two.. ohh, also an MG Midget with a GM 60 degree V6!!

If you run the 3.4L SFI motor (The L32) from the 1993-1995 Camaro, run with the fuel injection for goodness sakes! Its not that much more expensive once you figure all the costs that come with converting to a 4bbl carb and high rise manifold, although I admit to my prejudices as part of my business is to help people use the L32 3.4L in SFI form without changing much at all- we even have a easy install to remove the AC and power steerin and leave the alternator in teh stock location running the reversed water pump (http://www.bmcautos.com -go to "V6 conversions".. We also sell a header, somewhat of a "block hugger" that allows good flow, but works perfect in tight motor bays. We are having the first ever known (That I am aware of) run of Aluminium flywheels done for this motor that are a bolt on application for 2.8L and 3.4L S10s and Sonomas and big bore Throttle bodies for these as well, so we are always adding a few more options to the list of goodies. I have measured with a few peoples help, teh overall height of the various motors and as far as we can tell, from teh centre of the crankshaft to the top of all the GM 60 degree motors, the 3.4L L32 Camaro comes in 1/2 inch shoter then any of the other ones and quite a large jump shorter then the 4bbl systems.

-BMC.

[dohcfiend]

have u thought about a caddy northstar? or dare i say it...... a l67. but i would run it past the guy above me he sounds like he has been there. these are just random suggestions and shouldn't be interpreted as anything more.

[wheels]

Very good info, I'm now going looking for a 3.4 with T5 or Auto in the Texas area. I'm still going to ask stupid questions and bug the crap out of ya'll but this time around I would like to be well educated before I lay the greens down.