8.1 Chevy Vortec Swap....

[70rs]

I don't know how to link it. I am a TOTAL computer idiot. Just go to chevelles.com and look in the engine forum for a thread "8.1 heads" .
That site is set up pretty much like this one. You will have to join to post questions.
So far everyone over there has been really nice, in spite if the fact that I don't own a Chevelle. I had my engine build plan posted there. In fact the guy who is supplying the rotating assembly is on that site (Mike Lewis Racing Engines). He has done motors for guys on this site as well. It was another member here (gmorris) that referred me to the Chevelle site and Mike.
Good luck with it and be sure to keep it all posted.

[1nkred1ble]

thats it ????
no updates???
arrgggg!!!

[69MyWay]

Lots more to come...

The engine came in on Friday - I got it out of the crate and on teh stand. The seller did a first rate job of crating it up - very happy with that.

The car isn't here yet - so it will be a bit before I know exactly where to cut/trim...etc.

Some things I see right away.

#1 - pan is way too deep - it falls 3" below the teeth on the flywheel. It is aluminum and shouldn't be a problem having it shortened - I was told they are not compatible with standard big block pans

#2 - It has a cool cam sensor in the front cover, and the crank sensor is on the back of the block on the bellhousing behind the driver head shooting down to the back of the crank.

#3 - The cross over tube on the heads take the place of the old heads and intake mounted thermostat housing

The knock sensors mount low on the block just like the early efi small blocks.

The engine looks really cool in person - and HUGE.

Won't have a whole lot new for at lease a couple of more weeks

I need to get some pics posted of it on the stand from different angles.

[69MyWay]

By the way - I searched the Chevelle forums and found a backtrack to the NastyZ28 forums...

There appears to be some interest in these things - but most guys bail when it comes to needing to get the DBW working...which is no big deal at all.

This post here was very encouraging:

We have one in Brothers truck. 2500 HD, he dropped a bolt in the intake is shattered a piston. I pulled it and disasembeled it. Took it to Ashwoth Proformance in Fuquay NC he bored it to 524 CI to clean it up, Port and polished the heads balance and bluprinted the block ECT..... Had to stay with OEM cam no aftermarket to be found, steel crank so we left it in had it micropolished ECT... 2700 reinstaled it changed the airfilter config to get more air. then took it to a dyno tunning 400.00 later and 4 hours there 590 HP and 545 Foot lbs toqure at the back wheels . Not bad for a stock cam and stock exaust still on it. The block has good potental.

[70rs]

I think 590hp and 545 ft lbs might get your Camaro rolling down the road. You should be able to at least hit the speed limit on the freeway.

Did Raylar have anything for you? I was hoping they would get you all taken care of. It looked like one stop shopping for the 8.1 when I looked at the web site. Get them pics posted!!!!!
That's good you found more info on Nastyz28. I can't imagine having that much weight under the hood. Are you going to use aluminum heads? Do you know exactly how much it does weigh? I thought it might show on the shipping info, I am just curious.

[69MyWay]

Originally Posted by 70rs

I think 590hp and 545 ft lbs might get your Camaro rolling down the road. You should be able to at least hit the speed limit on the freeway.

Did Raylar have anything for you? I was hoping they would get you all taken care of. It looked like one stop shopping for the 8.1 when I looked at the web site. Get them pics posted!!!!!
That's good you found more info on Nastyz28. I can't imagine having that much weight under the hood. Are you going to use aluminum heads? Do you know exactly how much it does weigh? I thought it might show on the shipping info, I am just curious.

Actually, this will be in a 69 Corvette mated to a Richmond six. Yes...more than enough power to push it.

Raylar has been great to speak with about this project. My initial plan is to slip it in as is, get it all running - then hop up the power later. However, I need to open it up and look inside to make sure I didn't get burned on the purchase before I blindly trust it to running.

Weight???? Didn't anybody ever tell you it is rude to ask about somebody's weight?

The shipping lable (with about a 60 lb crate attached) came in at 805 lbs! The only thing I can say in defense to that is my last 69 Vette had a 454 in it and couldn't have been far off with the exception it had aluminum heads. That was also weighed with the massive exhaust manifolds still bolted in place.

While an LS motor is a feather compared to this...getting an LS to pump out nearly 500 ft lbs STOCK...is impossible, so that more than makes up for the weight....then there is the whole handling issue... At least the Corvette sits the motor way back in the frame to push more of this to center than a F body or other type of GM car. My old 69 with the big block handled as good as I could ever want it to for the driving and use that I pushed it through, so I suspect this will be no different. Then again, I'm the same guy that put a V8 in a Fiero...and was so tickled with the kick...that the weight was never an issue for my style.

[70rs]

Sorry about that. I knew from the original post it was for a vette. I just spaced it when I wrote my last post.

805!!! Man, that's fat! Good thing it's going in a plastic car huh?
Ok, I'm just giving you a hard time. I am a big vette fan in reality.
I didn't even bother to think about what my motor will weigh in at because of all the torque but now I'mcurious what an aluminum headed BBC does wiegh.
Taking it apart is a good idea. I hope it all checks out ok.

You're right about any stock LS turning out 500 lb ft. It will never happen (LS9 not included, but it's got a huffer on it)

Once you get it going and bump the power up the ol' vette is going to flat out haul the mail. That would be a blast with the Richmond on the twisty roads around here.
You had a V8 Fiero? That's too funny. I used to work for a guy who built them on the side. I got to drive a few and they were a hoot! He also did a Porsche 911 type (not sure exactly what model) with a sbc in it. It still used the factory transaxle with an adaptor but it had a real problem staying together because of the torque of the small block. A couple others were Fiero chassis and windshields with Ferrari and Lambo body kits. Boy, I sure miss the 90's.
Do you have any pics of the vette you can post?

[deuce4935]

Originally Posted by 69MyWay

By the way - I searched the Chevelle forums and found a backtrack to the NastyZ28 forums...

There appears to be some interest in these things - but most guys bail when it comes to needing to get the DBW working...which is no big deal at all.

This post here was very encouraging:

To achieve the 524ci's, how much of an overbore was used, +30, or +40?

[69MyWay]

OKay...here we are lifting the body back off the frame



Frameless in the midwest....



rolling chassis



Six speed trans:



8.1 dunked in testing fitting it all including the stock manifolds for giggles and grins



and...it is in



Rut row...... the good news is it does clear the hood - with a whisker to spare...bad news is, I don't yet know how I'll connect this to an air filter - to the drawing board.

[70rs]

The intake looks like a challenge for sure. Good luck with that, time to start the fab. Not any thing you'll find at Summit
That engine does fit better than I thought it would. It's going to be a blast when it's on the road!
Is that the factory chassis with some mods or? I don't know enough about the 'vettes to know.
Keep at it, you're off to a great start!