"Dan La Grou, who did most of the engineering on the conversion, let us test his personal Vega aluminum V-8. Although not required to mount a V8, remote mounted oil filter kits are a plus in any car with limited access and the H-Body is no exception. If you do want to build a V8 Vega make sure that the car hasn't been hacked on. I had people calling constantly for the availability of just such a piece. Two lower control arms, and two upper control arms. Transmission: The Powerglide has a 1.82:1 First gear ratio, an A-1 converter that stalls to about 4,500 with a transbrake, and a Hurst Quarterstick. However, I have received reports from consumers who have tried this kit that some of the holes are in the wrong location preventing the brackets from bolting onto the engine. Then, people didnt call such device a power-adder or anything of the kind. The new pad-printed, Firestone-branded, soft, vinyl slicks are slightly wide for scale but vastly superior to what came before. Check out their Phase III Vega in the April '99 issue of Super Chevy magazine, or go to the Motion Performance homepage at The factory oilpan has a notched place just in front of the rear sump for clearance of the steering drag-link. "The 4-speed conversions usually get shortened coil-spring 12-Bolt rears fitted with 4.88 Posi gears, Summers Bros. axles and Lakewood Velvetouch brakes. Now available through us, the Don Hardy the V8/V6 Vega kits were designed for the 1971-74 Vega and are some of the most popular around. Be sure to check fan shroud and radiator clearances before starting the engine, no sense in trashing a new fan or radiator. So many V8 Vegas I see suffer from overheating problems and in almost every case, a 3 or 4 row radiator is used with a very dense (14-16 fins per inch) fin count. The typical protruding lip at the firewall-to-floorpan intersection point may need to be laid back or trimmed. See our catalog for more information. Also, it has a big-block style oil dipstick mount on the driver's side of the oilpan where the dipstick would enter through the side of the oilpan. Hedman P/N 68330/68340), however the Don Hardy V8 Vega mount kit is best for the 1971-74 Chevy Vega or Pontiac Astre and works well with the Don hardy headers which are the cheapest full . That made it perfect for going fast on the cheap. Wash hands after handling. Motion Performance Inc. You can also use GM P/N 3031734 for Monza (8 Cyl.) Don Hardy V8 Vega Kits (Send me your pictures and comments on their mount kit.) They located the axlehousing with the original coil springs and substituted boxed channel stock for the upper and lower control arms. Notice the notch starts 3 1/2" from the front and is 6" long and 3 3/8" from the top. I felt compelled to tell you the tendency of these cars to run hot is not inherent to the confines of the engine compartment or any other design flaw.The correct combination will yield temperatures in the 175 to 185 range on a typical 100 day and never more than 190 even while idling in 100 ambient temperatures. "Basically, the engine shoehorns right into the Vega boiler room with a minimum of sweat. Their unsleeved aluminum four-cylinder engines swilled more oil than gas, and their poorly treated steel bodywork turned to rust after precious few years. The '71 and '72 annual kits had a body with a separate, opening rear hatch. He tried his best but the thicker radiator core created for the swap and the Flex-O-Lite fanoriginally for an air-conditioned applicationwere not really enough. About a year after I had built and sold my V8 Pinto Wagon, I found it again driving around in Salmon Arm, BC. The story appeared in the January 1974 issue of Car Craft under the title King Kong is Living on Long Island.. TCI full-manual 4L80 trans with trans-brake and converter. 4 cylinder Vega & V8 Monza radiator. This one runs 10s. We got the front valance, lower front grille area, rear valance, and the wing all off the Internet." Sanderson Street Rod Shorty headers and an ATCO radiator An MSD box handles the spark. Ordinarily, a small, light vessel would be the recipient. Its hormonally overendowed engine and chassis notwithstanding, Jeffs notchback Vega seen here is an oddball for a couple of reasons. Dover, Kent County, DE . The test car we drove had a 2.53 axle ratio and a four-speed manual transmission. Made out of 2x3x.083" and 2x2x.083" wall mild steel tubing. "The stock Vega transmission cannot be used. 299,995. Aftermarket Oilpans The solution is to block the thermostat bypass opening on the water pump and add (2) 1/8 vent holes in the Robertshaw 330-160 (160) thermostat. The Kirkey seats, laced with Deist belts, are backed by headrests made from driveshaft loops. I personally prefer the dual remote kit, twice the filtering area and cleaner oil. Add to Cart. Don Hardy instructions page 3 Folks have reported they had to cut re-drill and reweld these backets just to get them to work. In stock. If I were to attempt this, I would fabricate a wooden shape that would fit inside the oilpan and still allow the pan to be bolted to the engine. Motor Mount Insert Pads, Rubber, Replacement Mount Pads For V8 Vega Swap, Kit. I have built V8 Vegas for over 20 years now, first starting when the cars were almost new. First take your existing oilpan and bolt it to your engine (no gaskets required). Paul estimates 1,800 passes are on the engine. 1984 Aston Martin V8 Vantage LHD ONLY 8700 MILES MANUAL (ZF) - For Sale. pn# 10508 : pn# 10555 1 3/4" tubes : pn# 10510: . PPG Jegs Yellow! With over $70,000 into the car, no expense was spared in building this Vega. Notice the notch starts 3 1/2" from the front and is 6" long and 3 3/8" from the top. 1. The ad said needs TLC. When you read that, believe it. When being serviced, these vehicles generate used oil, waste fluids, grease, fumes and particulates, all known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm. This is to clear the crossmember and the draglink. Front Suspension Type: Straight Axle . Gone is the Vega's stock 140ci aluminum inline four-cylinder, and in its place resides a 5.3L LM4 Gen III from a '04 Buick Rainier SUV cribbed from the salvage yard for a mere $800. I hope this information is helpfulRobert. This 1976 Vega GT looks to be rust-free (a Vega rarity) and largely complete. Home Fabricated Oilpans Once upon a time, Hot Rod scored an exclusive tech story straight from the Chevy product planners teaser book. That engine is over 10 years old, and its been in 16 different cars, Denny said. See our & Ordering FAQs page. "We shouldnt like these, right? Some parts are not legal for use in California or other states with similar laws / regulations. Next, using the measurements provided here, use a rubber or wooden mallet and lightly tap the area of the oilpan to be modified. V8 Radiator Next video. For proper valve cover clearance the heater core must be turned upside down. (exc. One area that saved Sondles a bunch of time in the fabrication area was the availability of fiberglass body parts for the Vega. Includes motor mount brackets, bushings, plates and rear crossmember, Uncoated, full length mandrel bent headers, Designed for use with TH-350 automatic trans. 1973 Chevrolet vega v8 in Valley Springs, CA 1973 Chevy vega with a small block Chevy 350ci. Don Hardy instructions page 2 Always consult the head manufacturer before purchasing headers for use on AFTERMARKET or NON-STOCK heads, or contact the Hedman Tech Department at 562.921.0404 (8-4:30pm PST M-F). However, I have seen an aftermarket oil dipstick assembly made by Lokar that uses a flexible stainless steel tube with stainless braided cover and aluminum billet dipstick (see a Summit Racing catalog). Talk to the experts. When looking in the factory parts manuals for these, you'll only find them in Group 1.219 of the Chevrolet Parts Catalog Models thru 1975 (Chevrolet Parts Publication, Book No. You just had to pay attention, keep your wits about you. Although the notch is a must to clear the H-Body steering drag-link, the dipstick option is really for use of the factory exhaust manifolds and is not required for any aftermarket kit that I know of. Transmission is a turbo 35. In July 1972, Hot Rod tested a Chevrolet-built prototype Vega featuring an all-aluminum V8. Location: Fresno, CA 93711. We wondered why GM couldn't just build a nice, small lightweight V-8 that would give the Vega the smoothness and power that Americans were accustomed to. The core is 21" wide. The company, D&D Fabrications is in the business of selling conversion kits." LS Powered Pro Street Vega Swap. Dave decided to add more pearl so this Vegas skin tone would explode out in the sun. View car. Trans-Dapt 9596 Chevy V8 into 1964-1972 GM A Body Cars Motor Mount Kit . This is the ultimate performance, durability and safety setup. Here are a few of the options available. Logistics were painful. Hemmings Motor News has been serving the classic car hobby since 1954. Classic cars for sale in the most trusted collector car marketplace in the world. Since these are front engine mounts, they will fit virtually all header designs. Towne Cpe.). Doorjambs were molded, smoothed out, and cleaned up. Custom/Fabricated Super Chevy selected Grumpy's Vega one of the 100 Most Significant Chevys Of All Time. The stiff control arms nulled wheelhop but, of course, did nothing to curtail the (4.56:1) wheelspin that punctuated every gear when I banged the BorgWarner. I also wrote some crap about the car being hurried to completion for our magazine deadline. Don Hardy instructions page 1 After nearly a decade of amassing an army of big-block soldiers (Corvettes, Chevelles, Camaros, and Novas), there was one source yet to be tapped: the hapless, heinous Vega. Be the first . Add to Wish List. . you just need all the proper V8 Monza parts to do the swap- frame mounts, engine mounts, and oil pan. The car GM reacted with was the Vega, called a sub-compact. See . The engine build started off with a Chevy small-block punched out to 355 ci10.5:1 pistons. Jenkins' 1974 Vega, Grumpy's Toy XI, was the first full-bodied Pro Stock drag racer with a full tube chassis, as well as the first with MacPherson strut suspension and dry sump oiling. This 1972 Chevrolet Vega is an unusual choice for a restomod with an equally interesting drivetrain swap, a 3.8 liter V6 and 5-speed sourced from an '02 Camaro. With a bit of exasperation in his voice, Rosen said, I hate to think about that car now.. On the other hand, the stock 4-cyl and V6 pumps aren't going to work well with a V8 (then again, see the notes from Robert Herndon.). Upholstery expert James Jacobs brought the flame motif into the Vegas jet-black interior, adding embroidered and embossed details to the supple leather seats and wheel-tub covers. Thats what we call star power. "A Griffin aluminum radiator with dual fans cools the Chevy LS3 with a Tremec TKO 500 transmission which has been set . They still make them new if you can believe it. It was already bored .030, the crank was turned .010/.010, and I just freshened it up with new rings and bearings. 30+ days ago. Beyond that, the ghost Vega was utterly reliable and worked as it should have. Below are links to some printable instructions on our web site. JEGS reserve the right to determine the eligibility of all price matched items.Cannot be combined with promo code offers. 30+ days ago. Clyde, what exactlly is the recovery kit. Factory Radiator For engines over 300 hp, or with a manual transmission, a narrowed 12-bolt differential is required, replacing the stock Vega unit. Instead of running out and buying a fourth Pinto (gasp! Be sure to check fan shroud and radiator clearances before starting the engine, no sense in trashing a new fan or radiator. 11 and 11A). 1976 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega - Opportunity. In reality, Motion was working with the integrity of a Dixie cup never meant for the girth or the output of a V-8 engine, never mind an all-iron Mark IV engine. GM probably killed the idea because of pending projects including the Cosworth Vega and Wankel (rotary) engine. It ended being a great source for parts as it contained all of the period correct 70s v8 conversion parts made by Don Hardy Race Cars, which are no longer made. And Vegas seem to be really rusty. While high fin counts do offer more contact area, they are also more restrictive to airflow and more susceptible to plugging with debris. But on cruise, the load felt well placed. The factory V8 Monza radiator is a 3 core unit that is 16.5" tall (3 inches higher than a 4 cylinder Vega single core unit) and it has an irregular tank that makes it 25.25" wide at the bottom and 26.25" wide at the top. The first time the car ran was at the '72 Winternationals and after tweaking on the suspension a bit he was able to win the event. Jenkins' 1974 Vega sold for $550,000 in 2007. An ATI Turbo 400 trans and 10-inch 3,500-stall converter get this ride into gear. Our experience with the rubber mounts has lead us to avoid mounts made in Korea as the bolt pattern often won't fit the engine without some difficulty. The Motion hood looked cool but wasnt necessary for carburetor clearance. Then while I hammered I could be sure that the wooden shape would prevent me from causing the oilpan to interfere with the reciprocating assembly. It suffered from a suspension system that was too tightly bound and brakes that flat didnt work well, even when there was no hurry. "Introduced in 1971, the Vega was hustled as a sub-compact promising less weight and better gas mileage. bvseo-msg: The resource to the URL or file is currently unavailable.. Grumpy Jenkins, Wally Booth, Jeg Coughlin, Bruce Larson, and more campaigned these tiny terrors through the quarter-mile. Full-length Header Tube Type, Temporary Paint, Steel. Wheel hop isnt the same is losing traction, and If you dont break traction, youll break something else.. ", Motor Trend March 1975 "The $850 V-8 Vega"This could be the car GM should have built in the first placeHerb Adams said, "By 1970, after foreign manufacturers had won back all the customers Detroit had gained with cars like the original Falcon, Valiant and Corvair, the need was once again recognized to react to buyer demands. A picture gallery is included along with full price list. I've been told that only the Milodon oilpan P/N 31070 will fit the Chevy 400/383 small-block engine and only if the factory connecting rods are used. The V-8 conversion added only 30 pounds to the front of the Vega so the handling, steering effort, and ride are unchanged. Also, it has a big-block style oil dipstick mount on the driver's side of the oilpan where the dipstick would enter through the side of the oilpan. The back end became quite soft, and started pointing in different directions. I havent found one yet that wasnt half eaten with cancer. Got ordering questions? I've been told that only the Milodon oilpan P/N 31070 will fit the Chevy 400/383 small-block engine and only if the factory connecting rods are used. These swap kits have been engineered by Holley for a easy bolt-in . Headers. Motion built the initial tubular exhaust headers but if the project rocketed, he said hed already made arrangements with a major source to handle that chore. Still, the formula of small, RWD car with a V8 is tough to beat. Nestled under the Vegas hood is a Chevy mouse motor built to last. I think they are using S-10 spindles, rotors, and brakes. It had a Very tired 283, and a four speed. Baldwin, New York 11510-0597 A custom roll cage adds necessary protection and some extra rigidity to the vintage Chevy wagon, while a B&M Pro Stick shifter, MSD digital delay box, and a Dakota Digital electronic dashboard complete the race-ready cabin. The only fabric in the interior is on the seats. He stopped for a long moment and said it started at $4,000 and went to $6 or $7,000 US dollars. $217.81. by Thomas Voehringer said, "The Chevrolet Vega capitalized on the Camaros stylish lines and the publics growing interest in smaller cars. However, I have seen an aftermarket oil dipstick assembly made by Lokar that uses a flexible stainless steel tube with stainless braided cover and aluminum billet dipstick (see a Summit Racing catalog). The lack of interest in a classic rear-drive compact that could famously swallow a V-8 sounds odd in light of the fact that GM built nearly 1.9 million of them from 1971 to 1977 (Chevy and Pontiac combined), but these cars lived hard, short lives. As a preface to this episode, several months earlier for another Car Craft assignment I had lived a week with an LT-1 conversion that Scuncio Chevrolet in Greenville, Rhode Island, was marketing. A handmade velocity stack, with over 25 hours of metalwork, covers a 750-cfm Holley Dominator carb. If you also need to know what rubber mounts to use, you need 1966 Chevy truck small-block chevy mounts. The factory V8 Monza radiator is a 3 core unit that is 16.5" tall (3 inches higher than a 4 cylinder Vega single core unit) and it has an irregular tank that makes it 25.25" wide at the bottom and 26.25" wide at the top. Some examples of these chemicals are: lead from lead-based paints, crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry products, and arsenic and chromium from chemically treated lumber. Original Left Hand Drive Manufactured The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was hailed as "Britain's First Supercar" for its 170 mph (270 km/h) top speed when introduced. Floors, door panels, and dash are all handmade from aluminum. Built in an era where V-8 powerplants were ubiquitous even in lightweight domestic compacts, the '71-75 GM H-platform compact was never offered with one, although much to their credit, engineers left enough room for one. SKU. The single headlights and factory hood shape say 1970 F-body and the round parking lights and peaked egg crate grille say 1969, or even 1955 shoebox if you pull the bumpers off." If you still have the stock rear parking brake, the Vega, unlike all other GM cars, did not have a conventional means of self-adjusting the rear brakes. you need a trans with provisions to hook up the torque arm, and you need to find the proper headers or manifolds to hook it up and figure out how to get a decent radiator in there. 5.0 out of 5 stars. prices variable by condition, availability (exc. (2) $726.95 JEGS 30065 - Painted Long Tube Headers for Pontiac 326-455 (17) $232.99 Trans Dapt 4689 - Engine Swap Motor Mount Kit Small Block C. (2) However, I have received reports from consumers who have tried this kit that some of the holes are in the wrong location preventing the brackets from bolting onto the engine. If looks aren't important and you want to save time and hassle, it may be possible to modify the oilpan without welding, but it will require care on your behalf to prevent damage to the engine or the oilpan. "The basic kit ($245) is designed to install the GM ALUMINUM V-8 engine in a late-model, 4-speed Vega. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Part Number: SNH-CC13AP-BEC Not Yet Reviewed Estimated Ship Date: Mar 13, 2023 (if ordered today) Drop Ship Oversize $9.99 Special Order $547.99 Add To Cart Compare Wish List The reaction of the body to this was to squat. When an abnormally large amount of power is applied, when the axle lifts, the wheel spins. It ran a 13.97 elapsed time, as reported in the July 1972 issue. Contact the company by e-mailing Showcars@idirect.com (click link) or telephone (905) 857-6345. Nothing more came of it. Let me know if there are any other aftermarket oilpans or if any of these are no longer available. I always liked V8 Vegas. Since there wasnt enough real estate underneath the forlorn H-body, Motion routed the blast through side pipes that exited right below the drivers headall the 350 conversions had their exhaust systems completely undercar. Some "Home Made" Solutions (e-mail me yours) Later, Rosen admitted that the best transmission for the car would have been a Turbo 400. Unfortunately, I fell in love with it again. Special Order; $34.99. . 1932-34 Ford 4-Bar Tube Axle Kit for Chevy Spindles, Chrome. The GM LS engine has quickly become the high-performance standard in the performance aftermarket. TransDapt small-block engine mounts P/N ?????. On All Cylinders February 5 2016 "Superstar: Charley Dennys 1976 Chevy Vega Station Wagon" by James Millar said, "Vegaone of the brightest stars in the nighttime skyis located in the constellation Lyra, trillions of miles from planet Earth. Is this the coolest H-Body on record? Also check that the center hole has threads for 7/16" - 14 bolts, avoid those that have 3/8" - 16. But we said most." Home Fabricated Oilpans Some "Home Made" Solutions (e-mail me yours) A fellow by the name of Robert Herndon sent me an email outlining how to keep a V8 Vega cool. To the right is a scan of how Hooker suggests you modify the pan. Free shipping when your order includes this part. 1932-34 Ford 4-Bar Tube Axle Kit for Chevy Spindles, Chrome. There are a number of aftermarket oilpan manufacturers, but you can easily make your own if you check the clearances and can weld. The new owner had begun painting it, had installed the 9 differential, and had also done some minor repairs. Soon enough, the Vega platform would spin off the Monza (among others), which was powered by both 305 and 350 small-block Chevy V8s, although by that time they were saddled with early emissions controls that sapped power. The breadth of the engine and the tube headers (built by Motion) scotched traditional side engine location, so they fashioned a saddle-type front mount reminiscent of the 62 and earlier Corvettes to position it. To ensure the conversion, it needed surgery and chassis upgrades that posed giant warranty problems and legal liabilities, so none of Rosens usual dealership contacts wanted anything to do with it. Worry about break bolt off from water pump . Rather than backing up & applying the brakes, you have to actually use the parking brake occasionally (might not get used if you have an automatic). This in effect raised the back end under power.