1979 Trans AM - Vortec V6 retrofit

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by cosmick

Both the 4.3 and the 4.8 are $100 at the self-serve salvage yard on half price day

Definitely I was born in the wrong country. Back here with an amount equivalent to 300 dollars you wouldn't get anything but a small 4-pot...

[79transam]

I have some updates. I drive it on nice cool summer days. Will post some pictures soon.

[cosmick]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Definitely I was born in the wrong country. Back here with an amount equivalent to 300 dollars you wouldn't get anything but a small 4-pot...

That is not all bad if you get one that can be turbocharged, the Mitsubishi 4G63T being a first thought. The GM 2.0L Ecotec has been pushed to 1200 horsepower, but that one probably was not a production version, it probably was a lot of costly race parts. Certainly the pistons, probably the block, crank, rods, head, cams, etc.
The biggest problem with serious power is finding a transmission that is strong enough, cheap enough, adaptable enough, and geared usefully enough. This generally results in anything over 1000 HP getting a built GM 4L80E.
If your budget is far too small for even that, spend some time researching the GM SM465, especially with the available 1.5" ( 38 mm ) input shaft. Its heavy and poorly geared, but unbreakable, nearly free ( $100 ), and still easy to find. It will hold 1000 ft-lbs, and the big input doubles that for another $100.
Adapting it to most any GM engine is possible, or most any V8, but adapting it to a 4G63T would take fabrication.

[79transam]

Some updated pics

[bandit86]

So, next time get a duramax diesel. Then it will be fn to drive and economical. I had a 1980 with a 425 old big block and a 4 speed overdrive out of a 82 chev diesel truck. That engine barely turned, and because it was a big block it had lots of torque. The 400 Pontiac and 3 speed, with giant monster back tires that was in it before, cost me an economical 20 mpg to drive if I could do it sanely.

[Chrysler kid]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

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...

The 83-87 camaros came with a 4 cylinder called the iron duke. They were terrible on power and terrible on fuel mileage

I don't really consider the build an "eco build" besides being economically frugal. The s10 v6 got terrible gas mileage and the efi system gm used on it was garbage