View Single Post
Old 02-22-2008, 09:09 PM   #11 (permalink)
Big Dave
Master EcoModder
 
Big Dave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Steppes of Central Indiana
Posts: 1,319

The Red Baron - '00 Ford F-350 XLT
90 day: 27.99 mpg (US)

Impala Phase Zero - '96 Chevrolet Impala SS
90 day: 21.03 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 186 Times in 127 Posts
Actually this guy has been around for some time.

One thing he had working for him is that everything GM ever built will bolt up into everything GM ever built, so the engine conversion had some minor challenges but since that model corvette could have had a 454, the 6.5 was an easy conversion. Going with the mechanically-injected NA 6.5 saved him a bunch of heartache doing electronic brain surgery or the plumbing involved with turbo engines.

The 700R4 is probably the reason he doesn’t drive it more. I had a 6.2 with a 700R4 and went through transmissions like a teenager through potato chips. Not just noise but spectacular failures with parts and tranny fluid scattered down the road.

I do agree that much better performance could be possible with a stick and a very low gear ratio, but getting much below 3.08 is problematic. A T56 has a 0.5:1 overdrive that would drop RPM a lot.

This is a very do-able conversion. There are lots of C4s and some older C5 ‘Vettes available for under ten grand. Find one with a stick – stick ‘Vettes are moderately common – hoist out the gas engine and bolt on the 6.5 (or 6.2 if you really want good MPG.) You will have to monkey with the accessory drives a bit.

Get a set of front springs for a 454. The 6.5 is 200 lb heavier than a mouse motor.

‘Vette have good aerodynamics to start with as long as you stay away from the “Sting Ray” mid-60s versions, but these are all held by collectors anyway. ‘Vettes take a little getting used to. To many people they seem “loose.” They are. Fiberglass has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than sheet steel has, so the car has to be built loose so it won’t buckle in mid-summer.

__________________
2000 Ford F-350 SC 4x2 6 Speed Manual
4" Slam
3.08:1 gears and Gear Vendor Overdrive
Rubber Conveyor Belt Air Dam
  Reply With Quote