Note the dipstick location when you pick your oilpan being sure to select one that will meet your specific needs. 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. And while we might not think of the Vega as particularly ground breaking in 2011, it is the combination of a live four-link rear axle, near ideal weight distribution, low center of gravity, low curb weight, and neutral steering that made it the subject of high praise back in its day. Did he know the whereabouts of any of them? I havent found one yet that wasnt half eaten with cancer. "The unibody was channeled over the Morrison frame, with 2.5-inch rocker panel extensions doing a nice job of subtly altering the Vega's proportions with a road-hugging profile. "We shouldnt like these, right? At the time of this test the King Kong Vega was one of a kind, though Mr. Motion said he was sure that there were three of them and perhaps a fourth cobalt bomb, as well. We think the primary reason is the Camaro-ishness of the front end. 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. This didnt bend Rosen one bit; he merrily continued, dropping small-block V-8s in his Super Vegas for three years. 299,995. Another lesson to be learned from the V8 Monza is radiator surface area. 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. To the right is a scan of how Hooker suggests you modify the pan. Below is a scan of how Moroso constructs their V8 Vega/Monza pan (P/N 20230). A few details could be improved upon, but overall the car looks well built, and with nearly twice the power as a stock four-cylinder model, it should be quick too. A half-hour into the traffic and stop lights, mostly on Sunrise Highway, the Rat puked coolant, but not enough to curtail the investigation. Baldwin, New York 11510-0597 In July 1972, Hot Rod tested a Chevrolet-built prototype Vega featuring an all-aluminum V8. I personally prefer the dual remote kit, twice the filtering area and cleaner oil. Let me know if there are any other aftermarket oilpans or if any of these are no longer available. An ATI Turbo 400 trans and 10-inch 3,500-stall converter get this ride into gear. It was a beast to drive. "Now Motion has econo versions of an LT-1 Vega that'll deliver over 20 mpg on the road and still run quick enough to blow the doors off any new production supercar. However, check out Daves Vega Village in Anmore, BC. Remote Mounted Oil Filters 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. No. As work progressed, the artisans at Woody's built temporary scaffolding inside the body to hold the Vega skin to its factory dimensions while the work progressed. 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 $217.81. Though the small-block conversions were readily accommodated with selective use of a hammer and a 2x4, the big engine needed some surgery in the bellhousing region to situate the 454 in the stock location. When a sbc -- with V8 Monza oil pan -- is going into a Vega is a V8 Monza engine cross member also needed for clearance ? Now, since the main swap had already been done, I had the joy of discovering the weakness of Vega bodies. This is the '72 Vega former drag car that I found in PA. 1976 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega - Opportunity. Call 800.979.0122, 7am-10pm, everyday. I didnt like it as much as I liked the Pintos. And 1975's compact Monza did exactly that with the newly introduced 262 CI (4.3 liter) V8. 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. JEGSTER 940005K1: Chassis Kit for Vega, Monza, Starfire, Skyhawk, Sunbird, Astre RWD - JEGS High Performance Chassis Kit Free Shipping over $199* Same Day Shipping before 7pm* Price Match Guarantee Free Shipping over $199* Same Day Shipping before 7pm* Price Match Guarantee Help Center 1-800-345-4545 Gift Cards Track OrderTrack Order It has a four, dude. For these reasons we want to show you Paul Lawsons stepped-on 1972 Vega he bought in 1988, at the height of its honor, and just never got rid of the thing." It ran a 13.97 elapsed time, as reported in the July 1972 issue. More than 40 years after the fact, all I have to go on is what I wrote, the gleanings of perhaps a two-hour stint on a hot afternoon. Overall, the car has a modified look without losing any of the factory Vega styling. Phone# (516) 223-3172 or Fax# (516) 223-2117 In the beginning, before the Internet or anything like it, hot rodding was an exclusive community that revolved around a simple premise: putting bigger power where not much used to be. For sale! Actually it didnt get that bad. dave verhague. Note:Will not fitangle plug heads,power steering, power brakes, air conditioning or a Powerglide transmission. The geometry was such that when power was applied, the suspension would react by lifting the axle off the ground. 1973 Chevrolet vega v8 in Valley Springs, CA 1973 Chevy vega with a small block Chevy 350ci. Unfortunately, I fell in love with it again. Body & Custom IMSA Body Kits, Fiberglass Body Parts, Decals, etc. After a while, the doors wouldnt open, because the body had been tweaked by engine torque. I also wrote some crap about the car being hurried to completion for our magazine deadline. It suffered from a suspension system that was too tightly bound and brakes that flat didnt work well, even when there was no hurry. The cycle repeats, and wheel hop is the result. And Vegas seem to be really rusty. Nothing more came of it. "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. Obviously, what the Vega needed was the old aluminum V-8 engine that was once used by Olds and Buick." When the wheel spins, the axle is unloaded, and drops down. TransDapt small-block engine mounts P/N ?????. TCI full-manual 4L80 trans with trans-brake and converter. (exc. 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. It had a Very tired 283, and a four speed. Check out their Phase III Vega in the April '99 issue of Super Chevy magazine, or go to the Motion Performance homepage at Talk to the experts. Some "Home Made" Solutions (e-mail me yours) Jeff Schwartz bumped the stock power rating from 290 hp to 400 hp by swapping in a discarded LS7 camshaft and adding an LS1 Corvette intake manifold he got off Craigslist for $35.". The rebirth of this shining star took 2 years, two donor cars, and plenty of help from Dennys father; some pals; and his best friend, Ted Wright." The V8 Monza with A/C used a 2 row radiator with a very loose fin count to promote airflow. Factory Oilpan First, of course, would be its abundant use in the door-slammer competitive ranks. 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. Rodder and Super/Stock March 1973, "Boss Vega"Stick a Vee in your Vega or let us do it for you say's Joel Rosen, Motion's super swapper!"Realizing all the problems involved in the stuffing of V-8 power into the little cammer they discovered, first hand, the effects of coupling solid small-block horsepower to the Vega powertrain and suspension." (exc. A custom firewall was also installed. (no longer selling V8 Vega/H-Body kits) Usually Super 200 or Hy-Jacker air shocks are used along with custom Super-Bite traction bars." It was already bored .030, the crank was turned .010/.010, and I just freshened it up with new rings and bearings. There was no nitrous, no popular idea of any kind of power-adder beyond the massive GMC supercharger. If you've used any other aftermarket V8 Vega/Monza pan on a 400/383 successfully e-mail me. A stock Vega posed a 53.2/46.8 percent weight bias. They really needed mini-tubs and a narrowed axlehousing to contain them, but the revenant we drove was rigged with Gabriel HiJackers to lift the body above the tires and they were real good at limiting suspension travel. It had Koni adjustable shock absorbers and an 18-inch diameter Flex-O-Lite fan. Sondles elaborates: "You have to build an internal cage that will be removed in order to keep the car square while you're working on it. The test car we drove had a 2.53 axle ratio and a four-speed manual transmission. If you have a stock V8 pump, people have claimed it's good for at least a 350 with a 600cfm carb under hard driving. "A Griffin aluminum radiator with dual fans cools the Chevy LS3 with a Tremec TKO 500 transmission which has been set . Folks have reported they had to cut re-drill and reweld these backets just to get them to work. Popular Hot Rodding on the Hot Rod Network June 19, 2013 "1971 Chevy Vega - The Jega"Woodys Hot Rodz builds a trend-busting 71 Vega for an industry icon"Historically, the Vega's compact dimensions and light weight made it a staple of race cars and street machines through the '70s and '80s. The new owner had begun painting it, had installed the 9 differential, and had also done some minor repairs. Box 875 Thanks. Works with "short" style water pump. Paul estimates 1,800 passes are on the engine. Motion Performance and Scuncio Chevrolet sold new, converted small and big block V8 Vegas. Except for the door seals, they dont make parts for this car anymore. bvseo-msg: The resource to the URL or file is currently unavailable.. Phone# (516) 223-3172 or Fax# (516) 223-2117 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. K6112 Upper control arm bushing kit (OEM-style) (need 2) K6155 Upper control arm bushing kit (offset) (need 2) K6113 Lower control arm bushing kit (need 2) . 1973 V8 Vega TRADE. First off the driveshaft has to be shortened and the rear fitted with new shocks and traction controls. Hes been editor of Car Craft, Hot Rod, and Chevy High Performance. While the ready-made kits would get the V8 into any Vega, the Panel Express was the preferred version because of the lack of a rear seat, as well as, ironically, 'increased' rear-biased vehicle weight which would help traction somewhat (something that was really needed when a high-horsepower engine was stuffed into a small, lightweight car . Kits were created to make swapping a V8 into a Vega, and all of the downstream components were soon engineered to make use of all that . 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. Monza radiator (pictured) is GM P/N 3033825 (Towne Cpe.) 5.0 out of 5 stars. The V8 Monza radiator requires modification to tackle engine cooling problems on V8 Vegas by relocating the upper outlet to the Vega location and mounting it 3 inches lower, requiring relocated lower radiator brackets on the Vega. Reproduction Steel Parts Used Parts (Everything available!) Dover, Kent County, DE . 1984 Aston Martin V8 Vantage LHD ONLY 8700 MILES MANUAL (ZF) - For Sale. This time, the item was a Vega fitted with an all-aluminum 302 V-8 and a Turbo 350 transmission. "Basically, the engine shoehorns right into the Vega boiler room with a minimum of sweat. The Kirkey seats, laced with Deist belts, are backed by headrests made from driveshaft loops. Bolting the pan to the engine will prevent the oilpan from warping while you shape it. See . . 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. Back to Building the V8 H-Body Reply HELP for help or STOP to opt out. A picture gallery is included along with full price list. Be sure to check fan shroud and radiator clearances before starting the engine, no sense in trashing a new fan or radiator. Instructions and Tech Info. Folks have reported they had to cut re-drill and reweld these backets just to get them to work. The '71 and '72 annual kits had a body with a separate, opening rear hatch. The Vega never came with a V8 engine from the factory (all Vegas had 2.3- or 2.0-liter straight-fours), though the closely-related 1975-1980 Chevrolet Monza / Buick Skyhawk / Oldsmobile. The primary kit contained the motor mounts and the headers. It can be found perched on top of a trailer in Helena, Montana, and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,500. "Putting all 620 hp and 590 lb-ft of twist through a unibody that was assembled by an indifferent union shop over 40 years ago was not in the cards. Don Hardy instructions page 4, Hooker big-block engine mounts P/N 12603. 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. Headers. Of course the wooden shape would be removed once the reshaping was complete. You can also use GM P/N 3031734 for Monza (8 Cyl.) . Forget about crappy aluminum motors, sketchy rustproofing and so-so build quality and take a look at how natural a LS1 V-8 looks nestled under the hood of this black and gold, 1975 Cosworth Vega. "Most of the conversions to date have involved the use of modified Turbo-Hydro units for bang-shift operation, fitted with Hurst Auto Stick controls. Towne Cpe.). Now when the car was under power, the axle would react in such a way that it would push the wheels against the ground. MPC produced stock Vega hatchback kits and promotional models for all years, '71 through '77. I babied it back to the shop, and tried to figure out what to do next. Lastly, a set of Wilwood brakes helps this Vega stop on a dime. "Dan La Grou, who did most of the engineering on the conversion, let us test his personal Vega aluminum V-8. Trans-Dapt 4686 Vega V8 Swap Mounts Only. Use a quality oil filter to protect your engine from contaminants and while you're installing the kit why not add an oil cooler as well. Note the dipstick location when you pick your oilpan being sure to select one that will meet your specific needs. 75 - 80 LSx to Factory SBC V8 engine frame brackets: Headers: V-Band Collector flanges available: 71-80 4cyl LSx engine adapters : Factory V6 Use with pn10501 plate set. We are largest vintage car website with the. I think it may be time to freshen it up. The .030-over 350 makes about 480 horsepower, and features GM camel-hump heads, a World Products Motown intake, a Holley Double-Pumper Carburetor, and even more go-fast goodies. It was a popular swap in the 70s and 80s. In the engine bay, welds were ground and seams smoothed. That engine is over 10 years old, and its been in 16 different cars, Denny said. The Hottest Design Shopping Made Fun 3 Row Racing Champion Radiator W/ 14" Fan for 1971-1977 Chevrolet Vega V8 Swap The latest design style cch-rc.com, C $798.06 Free shipping for many products Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 3 Row Racing Champion Radiator W/ 14" Fan for 1971 - 1977 Chevrolet Vega V8 Swap at the . 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. WARNING: Motor vehicles contain fuel, oils and fluids, battery posts, terminals and related accessories which contain lead and lead compounds and other chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm. The ad said needs TLC. When you read that, believe it. Add to Cart. To top it off, over $3,500 worth of ARP fasteners adorn this ride; from the engine bay to the wheels. MIMI was also the name of Blandings 1969 427 Camaro Pro Stocker.". 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. 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. I found a four-bolt 350 (3970010 casting), with 882 (1.94) Heads and an Offenhauser Dual-Port highrise manifold for a case of beer. Car & Truck Safety & Security Accessories, TSD4686 Trans Dapt 4686 V8 Vega Mount Kit, Trans-Dapt 4686 Chevy Vega SBC Small Block 350 V8 Engine Swap Mounts Only, 2 Cerwin Vega 8" V-8, VS-80 2 Speaker Foam Surround Repair Kit - 2CV8-08, Cerwin Vega REW8, V8, VS80, W84, XL8S Single Speaker Foam Repair Kit - 1CV8, For 1961 Facel Vega HK500 Crankshaft Seal Kit Rear Felpro 73919KR 6.3L V8, Lot of 5 Vintage Passenger Car Rear View Peep Mirror Bracket nu Ford Chevy Look, For 1962 Facel Vega Excellence Automatic Transmission Filter Kit 21623DZ 6.3L V8, For 1962 Facel Vega Excellence Automatic Transmission Filter Kit 58522ZK 6.3L V8, NOS 1956 Mercury 12V Kant-Ker-Rode Accessory Battery Hold-Down FD3 NEW Free Ship, Original 1960's Ford Motor Company Truck Hubcap 10-3/4", Vintage airstream travel trailer tool stabilizer wrench socket lug nut, 1941-1954 Chevrolet ACCESSORY GM Spotlight CROWN 1942 1946 1947 1948 1949 1952, ACDelco PF454 Oil Filter Kit Set of 10 for Buick Cadillac Chevy GMC Olds Pontiac, Kant-Ker-Rode 1958 FD7 NOS Battery Hold Down Ford Lincoln Mercury power pack, MOOG Front Stabilizer Sway Bar End Link Pair Set of 2 for Buick Chevy GMC Olds, NOS Vintage Namsco Accessory Car Truck Chrome Hubcap Wheel Center Cap Pair, NOS Mercury 1961 12V Kant-Ker-Rode Battery Hold-Down FD10 NASH RAMBLER COMET, 1930s 1940s 1950s 60s 5 CLOTH ELECTRICAL WIRE TAPE CHEVROLET FORD DODGE GM, Street Rodder July 1977 Vtg Magazine Wheel Buyers - V8 Vega Kits NoML VG, ACDelco PF454 Oil Filter Kit Set of 6 for Buick Cadillac Chevy GMC Olds Pontiac, Vintage airstream travel trailer jack part, MOOG K700532 Sway Bar Link Kit Front LH or RH for Apollo Century Deville Impala, Original 1930's 1940's Car Truck Under Dash Heater Vent Deflector Assembly Part, Original Vintage Desoto Coupe Sedan Convertible Interior Dash Radio Delete OEM, Original 1950's Car Truck Under-Hood & Trunk Trouble Light Assembly w/ Switch. One area that saved Sondles a bunch of time in the fabrication area was the availability of fiberglass body parts for the Vega. Notice the notch starts 3 1/2" from the front and is 6" long and 3 3/8" from the top. 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. Sondles explains: "You can actually find bolt-on fiberglass parts that were made back in the day. Installing a larger radiator will also require a larger fan. They still make them new if you can believe it. I did a compression test, leakdown test, and emissions test, and then yanked the 283. V8 Monzas had a unique short water pump with a high-flow impeller that differs from the standard GM Short (Early) Water Pump. Thank you! SC said, Bill Jenkins' "Grumpy's Toy IV" Vega was the first tube chassis vehicle to run the Pro Stock class. I think they are using S-10 spindles, rotors, and brakes. These swap kits have been engineered by Holley for a easy bolt-in . Just be sure to remember not to remove so much that the pan hits the reciprocating assembly. Zero to sixty times are between 8 and 8.5 seconds and quarter-mile times are between 15.5 and 16 seconds. These were subsequently modified to more closely match Shaw's rendering. Front Suspension Type: Straight Axle . Unfortunately, I fell in love with it again. 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. $18,000. The engines existed in limited quantity in '72, and were never offered on a production car or through a parts program. The new owner had begun painting it, had installed the 9 differential, and had also done some minor repairs. Providing a heartbeat to this compact fastback is a modern American V8. Latest Video: Arc Welding Safety Equipment, Latest Video: Curved/Wraparound Windshields. Hemmings Motor News has been serving the classic car hobby since 1954. Vega 71-81 - Subframe Connectors. This is to clear the crossmember and the draglink. This 1976 Vega GT looks to be rust-free (a Vega rarity) and largely complete. 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. Their unsleeved aluminum four-cylinder engines swilled more oil than gas, and their poorly treated steel bodywork turned to rust after precious few years. As far as engine mounts and headers you are going to have to go with an aftermarket kit. I had people calling constantly for the availability of just such a piece. Most have already returned to the earth from whence they came. Trans-Dapt 11/07/95 CJS Chevy Vega V8 Conversion Kit made by Trans-Dapt, for as low as $591.59. Moroso's oilpan P/N 20230 will only fit up to a 3.48 stroke with steel rods, it will not fit the Chevy 400/383 engines. Once upon a time, Hot Rod scored an exclusive tech story straight from the Chevy product planners teaser book. 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. 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega #404 in Lutz, FL Notice the notch starts from the front, is 9 1/2" long and 3 7/8" from the top. Check out their Phase III Vega in the April '99 issue of Super Chevy magazine, or go to the Motion Performance homepage at First take your existing oilpan and bolt it to your engine (no gaskets required). There are several outfits that sell V8 kits and Hedders for the Vega. Don Hardy instructions page 1 4 cylinder Vega & V8 Monza radiator. Jeff was lucky enough to obtain the mint Vega from an acquaintance, Ryan Gideon, for $1,500. These chemicals are found in vehicles, vehicle parts and accessories, both new and as replacements. Notice the notch starts from the front, is 9 1/2" long and 3 7/8" from the top. If you intend to use factory V8 Monza exhaust manifolds then the dipstick location may be a problem. Every now and then Don Hardy accidentally ships the kits without instructions. "GM sold the aluminum 215 engine tooling to Rover." That made it perfect for going fast on the cheap. 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. But as the saying goes, if you dont break traction, youll break something else.. Includes motor mount brackets, bushings, plates and rear crossmember, Uncoated, full length mandrel bent headers, Designed for use with TH-350 automatic trans. Slight modification to oil pan and car's floor pan will be needed. "Dan La Grou and Dutch Schepplemann (The D&D) told me that they could convert a a customer's late-model Vega for a total cost of $850." Sure, there were options: a heavy-duty cooling core, a narrowed 12-bolt, and a shorter prop shaft. The factory early Vega rear end is a four-link. He admitted that the big-block idea wasnt completely his. Auctions Search Auctions Live Now 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. pn# 10508 : pn# 10555 1 3/4" tubes : pn# 10510: . For engines over 300 hp, or with a manual transmission, a narrowed 12-bolt differential is required, replacing the stock Vega unit. It has the IECO kit from The 1970, s. It consist of steel sleeve. Brand New 2 product ratings $23.49 As we expected, it is a truly a delightful car to drive. Parts include: Don Hardy Chevy 12-bolt with 3.73 gears and Strange axles, Don Hardy 5 lug conversion rotors, Don Hardy motor . The V8 Vega Building a V8 Vega About a year after I had built and sold my V8 Pinto Wagon, I found it again driving around in Salmon Arm, BC. The interior is a work of art, being custom-made from fabricated sheetmetal. A special radiator is also needed and Motion fabricates an aluminum crossflow job similar to ones used in hot Corvettes."