1979 Trans AM - Vortec V6 retrofit

[justme1969]

when I was a kid in Tx. some guy next block over had a 67 bird with a nascar v6 in it.
was really cool to hear starting up while I was going to work in the morning. But it was all but economical.

[79transam]

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3&l=37bfb82d8b

More pictures. Wife refuses to ride in the car until it's "nice" on the inside. Time to wrap up the interior.

[Cd]

Very interested in your project - subscribed !

You are very lucky to have one of the most easily aero-modified cars on this site.
Stock, your car had a drag coefficient of around .45 , .47 - (or even higher.)

I'm guessing at that based on the fact that a 1970 - 1973 Camaro had a Cd of .497 !

With two simple mods, you can drop the Cd down to point 20 !

To put that into perspective, that would be like driving around with a parachute open behind your car, and then suddenly taking it off.

Your car would be sleeker than any car on the road today - yes even the Tesla ( which is .24 ), yet would still retain its' original look.

Hot Rod magazine did an actual test using your body style ( or very similar shaped body style - a 1980 Camaro ) in a wind tunnel.

No boat tail, no wheel skirts, and a barn door flat front end air dam, yet achieved an amazing .201 in the wind tunnel !

So needless to say this could have a wonderful effect on fuel economy -( as well as top speed ! )

Here is the link to the article :Car Aerodynamics - Hot Rod Magazine

[The_Jed]

That's the kind of crossover benefit that intrigues me. An upgrade that not only improves performance but could also improve fuel economy and vice versa.

Good stuff!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by The_Jed

That's the kind of crossover benefit that intrigues me. An upgrade that not only improves performance but could also improve fuel economy and vice versa.

Maybe you could try a 4.2L Essex V6 swap

[bhazard]

I think I would have done a LS 4.8 before the old V6 but I guess its more of a matter of what you have laying around too.

[The_Jed]

Waaaaaay back when I was driving a '78 Regal and completely obsessed with Rally Racing I wanted to yank the 3.8/TH350 and drop in a 2.8/ 5-speed combo from an S10 so I could run in Group 2.
Then I came back to reality...

I used to know a guy who had a 2nd gen. Camaro with a hopped up 4.3 V6. You can get TONS of power out of them.

[The_Jed]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Maybe you could try a 4.2L Essex V6 swap

I run through a long list of swap possibilities every night at work.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by The_Jed

Waaaaaay back when I was driving a '78 Regal and completely obsessed with Rally Racing I wanted to yank the 3.8/TH350 and drop in a 2.8/ 5-speed combo from an S10 so I could run in Group 2.
Then I came back to reality...

In this case the smaller engine might eventually be seen as a downgrade, but compared to an early slushbox a manual can do miracles for performance and fuel-efficiency. I have already seen many old American landyatchs which had their stock V8s replaced by Japanese 4-pots, mostly Diesel and under 3-litre, and 5-speed manuals instead of the 2 or 3-speed automatics or 3-speed manuals which were widely used in old American vehicles...

[cosmick]

Originally Posted by bhazard

I think I would have done a LS 4.8 before the old V6 but I guess its more of a matter of what you have laying around too.

Both the 4.3 and the 4.8 are $100 at the self-serve salvage yard on half price day, so that's a wash. No reason the 4.8 can't equal the MPG of the 4.3, so why not? Especially when it is the easier bolt-in, and can make more power. Which is why I'm doing exactly that to my Camaro.