Chevette Ideas?
 

I'm looking at some dirt cheap Chevettes and I was wondering what should be done to them. The pitiful horsepower ratings don't help but they are efficient. What engine/transmission swap ideas do you have? Or rear end swaps? Obviously a boat tail or a kammback would work out well too, a grille block, a lower front valence, pizza pans. But what could be done to the drivetrain? I love saving gas but I need to move faster. If I found one with a T-5 that would be nice of course but they're not too common.

V-6 swaps are popular.

60 degree motors are narrower and fit better.

However, if it were me, I would use a GM 3.8 90 degree

With a light foot it would deliver 30 plus mpg easily.

It would also haul a$$ when the go pedal is pushed.

>

Find one with a Diesel and 5 speed

The 60 degree V-6 would be cool but I feel like that's overdoing it.

The diesel is even slower than the gasoline engines.

1982 Chevette 2 Door 1.8L Diesel 5 speed:
0- 1/4mile (s): 21.6
speed at 1/4mile: 101 km/h / 63 mph
0- 1km (s): 40.1

1982 Chevette 2 Door 1.6 L 5 speed:
0- 1/4mile (s): 19.8
speed at 1/4mile: 112 km/h / 70 mph
0- 1km (s): 36.6

I thought all Chevettes were little more than a brown stain on the ground up there in the frozen tundra by now.

regards
Mech

My aunt had one, the windows eventually got tinted with smoke stains from 100 MM menthol cigarettes. She still lived just past 102.

regards
Mech

What is this? ANY engine + ANY trans + ANY rear end can be put in. Only you know how ridiculous you want to get with it.

The good thing about the Chevette is exactly that nearly anything can be shoehorned into it, no matter if it's a random stationary 3-cyl or a small-block V8. I have often lurked about using one as a base for a fuel-savings project car, preferably with a Diesel backed by the stock 5-speed transmission they used back here, just not sure about the differential ratio.

I thought this was a fuel saving not go fast forum :D
Ok get the diesel and throw a turbo on it.
Or get a TDI from a VW and use that.

I've seen where a couple of enthusiasts swapped in small diesels under the hood of compact pickups, S-10s and Rangers. They picked up serious fuel economy and I don't hear too many complaints about the vehicle being terribly slow.

Since the 'Vette is starting from the position of already being terribly slow, I think you could upgrade to a much more modern diesel, gain some power, retain all or gain some fuel economy, and actually get out of your own way. A turbodiesel can be tuned to make some major grunt down low and take good advantage of a tall rear end.

This is just me but: the crude nature of the Chevette just screams for a mill from a tractor. A Kubota or Yanmar or, if you can find one, a Caterpillar C1.1 up to a C2.2. The 2.2 poops out up to 60hp and can probably be tuned up to something more, but I can totally see that mustard yellow mill peeking up out of the engine bay of a Chevette.

Plus with 60hp you'd be enjoying a nice 50% power bump.

It isn't a "go fast" forum, but it isn't a "fuel economy at the expense of safety" forum, either. Other drivers are out there and we're not trying to be jerks to them. It'd be nice if everybody slowed down for the sake of fuel economy, but since that isn't about to happen we have to take the realities of other drivers' behavior into consideration.

There was a diesel one for sale not long ago on Craigs list, 50 mpg, reasonable was sitting for 10 years. I think it was a Isusu OEM engine, rare. There was also a diesel ford escort. I don't know why anyone would spend the time to put a Buick v6 in a ****vette, I can see doing it to a Fiero. My view it would be easier to ecomod a saturn sc1, at least it doesn't show rust.

Pretty car (not) a little square in front could use a duck bill. Hood scoop and ornament too. Rear spoiler wind should be fully functional, to keep this mean machine on stuck to the road.
http://images.craigslist.org/00r0r_Q...iN_600x450.jpg

1982 chevette 40to60mpg

I still see many Chevettes around here.

1984 Chevette Curb Weight 2094 lbs
2003 Jetta TDI Curb Weight 3009 lbs

That is a lot of weight difference I think the TDI would be plenty of power.

So the whole "too slow thing" isn't going over well it seems. Well my point is that I would need to get up to speed a little quicker because here in Northeast Ohio nobody seems to know how to drive and flies no matter where they are. If I were ever in front of someone in a Shove-It accelerating, it would not go over well. I'd be a threat to myself (in a tin can basically) and others around me. I was just curious if there was a better, higher output, more efficient engine on the market. 21.6 seconds in a 1/4 mile with a top speed of 61 miles an hour certainly won't work around these roads. Plus, a 1/4 mile and only achieving 61 miles an hour didn't come with fuel economic-friendly driving habits. So imagine that acceleration.

The newer diesel idea does intrigue me though.

Just floor it and stink smoke out those insistent tailgaters!

I understand the not wanting a slow car. I have 2003 TDI Jetta it is not a fast car but it is no means a slow car either.
Same engine in a car 1000 lbs lighter would be a very fun car :)
TDI Conversions - TDIClub Forums

Oh- then I think it should have a Maserati Bi-Turbo or a Bugatti W16.

Why not ?

1984 Chevette - 1.6L 65hp inline 4, 2000lbs, manual trans. Consumer Guide testers managed "an honest 29 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway." with a cd=0.42

1989 Buick Park Ave -3.8L 165hp V6, 3339lbs, slush box. 19 mpg city - 30mpg highway, with a cd=.40

Lets see.

With a manual trans. fuel injection and a 100 additional horsepower in a car that weighs 1300 lb. less than what the v6 came out of, with nearly a identical coefficient of drag ,it could easily be expected to deliver high mpgs.

A big plus is that nearly all GM products (engines and transmissions ) are interchangeable.

A GM 60 degree V6 is a direct drop in.

The 3.8 however is a 90 degree. It would require a little more work. (exhaust)


This is the way I see it.


1980's Chevette = dirt cheap

1990's GM V6 = cheap

Having a inexpensive classic 1980's eco box that hauls a$$ and gets great mpg

= Priceless

;)


>

Chevettes are like the four-square LEGO block: it ain't big, but lots of stuff can be snapped onto it to make something more.

I've seen some pretty hairy V8 swaps into the Chevette, and they were completely stealthy. You could drop in almost any RWD system you wanted, within (most) reason and still have a stock hood.

I like the idea just for its off-the-wall-ness. But if low-buck economy is your primary goal, you're starting from way behind. Wouldn't you be better off with a 10-year-old Civic?

Just shove a tdi in it bigger injectors and a straight exhaust. it'll do fine in your car. Its not an issue of power in ohio, its your mindset. Keep in mind ive driven 100hp - 230hp cars in NEO for 5 years and 100hp is enough . I can agree 61mph is not a high enough top speed, but there is not a need to go faster.

Saturn sky redline engine and tranny for a sleeper. A S-10 2.2 with 5 spd would be economical.

I agree that 100 HP is enough, but the Chevette has about half of that at best. Most Dyno test to well under 50 at the wheels, and about 40-50 at the crank.

A Skyline engine/transmission would be awesome. The s10 drivetrain is a good choice too. I'll look into that one.

That's a great way to put it.

considering there is atleast 5 very different bellhousing patterns that gm has used over the years in north america; just swaping the 3.8l would be a problem(bop or scb) and that the chevette uses really wierd engines to begin with.

best bet for a 3.8l swap would be to get a wrecked f-body.(only modern fuel injected rwd 3.8l)

Yes, yes.

I was just generalizing for comparison.

>

Just incase you questioned the anything will fit in there
http://cdn.speednik.com/image/2013/0...17-312x207.jpg
Video: What Is That Thing? Chevette? Why Does It Sound Like That? - StreetLegalTV.com
427 Big block. Go big or go home :D
Ok not sure you could get any descent MPG out of it but it would not be to slow.

I think you are in the wrong forum, you'll be lucky to have half a tank left after driving home from the gas station! That's would be a scary car to drive, probably have to replace the rear tires every month, probably brakes them loose in top gear at highway speed. I still think a turbo v8 Fiero would be funner to drive, at least it would get some traction and handle and not all smoking tires. The Vega was designed for a Wankel engine, which GM never got working. I can hear the owner. I said 427 Corvette, not Chevette!

faster
 

If your faster means cruise velocity rather than acceleration,consider reducing your road horsepower requirement first, with aero and rolling resistance.Then if unsatisfied,go after the power train.
My standard-power, streamlined pickup has better HWY mpg than early,lighter,smaller diesels.

The 1.4L turbocharged engine from the Cruze might be nice too.

A 100 hp engine is quite enough to cruse at 80 mph in my saturn, in fact I have 180 degree air going in so its probably only 80 hp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERK_krZfxiU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFF3syhBrwc

Musta been a diesel Tempo- sheesh.

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.

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 :D

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.

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

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

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.

^^ 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.

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:thumbup:, 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.