Chevette Ideas?

[elhigh]

You know, looking at it...

That Chevette with the big block 427 might get halfway decent fuel economy, if you can just avoid that big right pedal. If.

It isn't like the engine is heavily loaded, or anything. It might not be in its best BSFC zone, but it'll be pretty far down on the chart in any case.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by elhigh

That Chevette with the big block 427 might get halfway decent fuel economy, if you can just avoid that big right pedal. If.

Going downhill with the engine off, even if the Chevette was fitted with a W16 engine out of a Bugatti Veyron it would be "efficient" enought

[theicecreamman]

Best compromise: 427ci LSX, 6 speed, 3.08 gears in an 8.8 Ford rear ( low parasitic losses compared to 9" ). A stock LS7 will probably get near 30 mpg on the freeway in that tiny car without the weight penalty of the big block. Then put a lean burn map together for it.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

A V8 would be nice, but also considerig city traffic a V6 makes sense. Or a kill-switch must become nearly mandatory

[arcosine]

Put a turbocharged Cadillac 500 ci v8 in it, 800 hp should be enough.

The Caddy 500 "Other Engine" Build Up | HorsePower | PowerBlockTV.com - Video

[theicecreamman]

All right, cheap and easy then: Nissan VG30 or VG33 ( SOHC ), Nissan 300ZX 5 speed, Euro cams, keep it naturally aspirated with tall gears, Megasquirt, set of Injector Dynamic injectors in the stock size ( better spray pattern ), wideband O2, tune till it gets 40 mpg at light throttle or better. Add a J&S Safeguard knock controller and get the fuel and ignition to the edge.

One more and I'll stop: Vortec 2800 or 2900 4 cylinder Atlas motor out of a Colorado/Canyon pickup, 5 speed Tremec, stock truck intake manifold for maximum bottom end torque, stock cams, standalone EFI, tuned header, quiet exhaust. 180 or so hp and keeps it all in the family. Would be quick in a light car like that, with the cam timing and careful mapping it would mpg well too.

[elhigh]

^^ I like the way your brain convolutes.

An LL5 under the hood of a Chevette, hmmmmmm.....

I like that. I like that a lot.

Sorry, wandering into my old Jalopnik thinking patterns.

[theicecreamman]

Originally Posted by elhigh

^^ I like the way your brain convolutes.

An LL5 under the hood of a Chevette, hmmmmmm.....

I like that. I like that a lot.

Sorry, wandering into my old Jalopnik thinking patterns.

Actually considered this combo for a Chevy Vega, except it would be a high compression, high rev build on ITBs. No one is playing with this engine it seems and the prices reflect that. Probably could pick up a complete runner with the harness for 800.00 to 1200.00, then talk them down. I haven't heard of this engine having any weird problems like the 5 or 6 cylinder versions. It's a 4 for a 4 cylinder.

[elhigh]

I think that would be a major step up, power-wise and economy-wise. The Vega is a pretty lightweight chassis and won't give the LL5 much to do, and if you screw in a new tranny with ratios that take advantage of the new engine's torque, you could enjoy some long-legged, thrifty highway cruising.

Where did you find a Vega that hasn't rotted away to lace? Must be somewhere in the arid Southwest.

If you take it on, it would be a pretty cool thread to watch. I'd subscribe to that.

[theicecreamman]

Originally Posted by elhigh

I think that would be a major step up, power-wise and economy-wise. The Vega is a pretty lightweight chassis and won't give the LL5 much to do, and if you screw in a new tranny with ratios that take advantage of the new engine's torque, you could enjoy some long-legged, thrifty highway cruising.

Where did you find a Vega that hasn't rotted away to lace? Must be somewhere in the arid Southwest.

If you take it on, it would be a pretty cool thread to watch. I'd subscribe to that.

Better wait for the ADD to settle down in my head, my brain runs around like this all the time. I have seen several Astre/Vega/Monza chassis around that have not gone the way of the dust, but mostly out West. There have been some that are in the Midwest, but they by and large are V8 swapped.