With the big-block lard hanging over the front wheels, what do you think the spread was with an additional 400 pounds up front (Vega aluminum four-cylinder: 285 pounds; all-iron big-block: 685 pounds)? Home Fabricated Oilpans Overall, the car has a modified look without losing any of the factory Vega styling. With over $70,000 into the car, no expense was spared in building this Vega. 11 and 11A). But long before ringmaster Joel Rosen gave it the big-block swap, hed converted many Vegas with a 350. The TransDapt kit is very similar to the Adaptec and Hooker SBC kit. Winnie also has Crager Street Super Trick wheels and stainless steel exhaust A Stewart . The factory early Vega rear end is a four-link. 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. That expression ten pounds in a five-pound sack sat on me like a vulture; a better band-aid would have been to vent the inner fenderwells to allow the super-heated air to escape that stifling five-pound sack. "The basic kit ($245) is designed to install the GM ALUMINUM V-8 engine in a late-model, 4-speed Vega. 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. You just have to find parts where you can, and then you have to make them fit. To the right is a scan of how Hooker suggests you modify the pan. Just be sure to remember not to remove so much that the pan hits the reciprocating assembly. 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. Paul estimates 1,800 passes are on the engine. Since I was on the cheap, I kept those. So you may rightfully ask, how in the hell did the proverbial (and literal) wheels fall off the wagon? This car has matching engine and chassis numbers, so qualifies for export to the USA and the rest of the world. TCI full-manual 4L80 trans with trans-brake and converter. Drag racer Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins in the 1972 season, won six of eight National Pro-Stock division events with his Pro Stock, 331 cu in (5.4 L)-powered 1972 Vega, Grumpy's Toy X. Did he know the whereabouts of any of them? Aftermarket Oilpans Headers. See photo. Trans-Dapt 4686 SB Chevy V8 into Chevy Vega/Astra Motor Mount Kit . 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. Thank you! The primary kit contained the motor mounts and the headers. "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. Be sure to check fan shroud and radiator clearances before starting the engine, no sense in trashing a new fan or radiator. TRANS-DAPT #4686 Vega V8 Mount Kit. It has excellent handling, styling, and package size but for some reason the Vega's engine design did not match the rest of the car's excellence. 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 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." Don Hardy instructions page 2 Obviously, what the Vega needed was the old aluminum V-8 engine that was once used by Olds and Buick." It was up for the Ridler Award at the 2015 Detroit Autorama and has already won too many trophies to list", Car Craft History on the Hot Rod Network June 20, 2016 "MIMI, Bill Blandings Chevrolet Vega, at the 1973 NHRA Gatornationals" Last known address Box 875 The geometry was such that when power was applied, the suspension would react by lifting the axle off the ground. For springs you have a couple choices, you can go with H-body (Vega, Monza, Sunfire, Astre, etc..) V-6 w/air conditioning front springs or V8 Monza. Contact the company by e-mailing Showcars@idirect.com (click link) or telephone (905) 857-6345. Next, using the measurements provided here, use a rubber or wooden mallet and lightly tap the area of the oilpan to be modified. If you need a Vega coolant recovery kit let me know. Two lower control arms, and two upper control arms. 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. Baldwin, New York 11510-0597 A stock Vega posed a 53.2/46.8 percent weight bias. The cam is a Crower roller, and the intake is a Team G with a Holley 850-cfm carb. This car only has 5500 miles since complete restoration- - Gray cloth interior GT dash AC Cowl hood. . Add to Cart. Doorjambs were molded, smoothed out, and cleaned up. TransDapt small-block engine mounts P/N ?????. 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. "We shouldnt like these, right? (exc. Street Rodder July 1977 Vtg Magazine Wheel Buyers - V8 Vega Kits NoML VG Pre-Owned $14.95 Seller: sharief1985 (7,845) 99.7% or Best Offer +$5.23 shipping Free returns Sponsored MOOG K700532 Sway Bar Link Kit Front LH or RH for Apollo Century Deville Impala Order by Noon EST and this part ships today! 5.0 out of 5 stars. Note the dipstick location when you pick your oilpan being sure to select one that will meet your specific needs. Here are a few of the options available. Enter product and shipping information below to match the price when you checkout. "The traction bars do a good job of fighting wheel hop but nothing short of a set of slicks will keep you from going up in smoke when pulling out of a traffic light under full throttle conditions. Factory Oilpan This one runs 10s. Free shipping when your order includes this part. There are a number of aftermarket oilpan manufacturers, but you can easily make your own if you check the clearances and can weld. Designed to be used with the stock floor and coil spring rear suspension. Will not fit Monza chassisTrans-Dapt Performance started offering transmission adapters and engin . I always liked V8 Vegas. Clyde, what exactlly is the recovery kit. 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. Under the hood is a LSX 454, equipped with F.A.S.T. Got ordering questions? Baldwin, New York 11510-0597 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. We got the front valance, lower front grille area, rear valance, and the wing all off the Internet." Super Chevy selected Grumpy's Vega one of the 100 Most Significant Chevys Of All Time. Vega styling has stood test of time. The V-8 conversion added only 30 pounds to the front of the Vega so the handling, steering effort, and ride are unchanged. 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. Classic cars for sale in the most trusted collector car marketplace in the world. http://www.baldwinmotion.com. The big-block Vega felt just as contained as the small-motor version Id driven, but then I was only peddling it steady-state and in a straight line. "Before the engine is lowered in place Motion technicians replace the front springs with GT assemblies and bolt in custom Super Bite shocks and conversion mounts." See our & Ordering FAQs page. Notice the notch starts 3 1/2" from the front and is 6" long and 3 3/8" from the top. Below is a scan of how Moroso constructs their V8 Vega/Monza pan (P/N 20230). The V8 Vega movement took the idea of a small car and a big engine to various levels of extreme. After countless hours of hand sanding and blocking, they laid out a splendid Synergy Green finish over the wagons dead-straight exterior. Looking for v-8 kits for my "77 vega. I havent found one yet that wasnt half eaten with cancer. 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. 30+ days ago. Grumpy Jenkins, Wally Booth, Jeg Coughlin, Bruce Larson, and more campaigned these tiny terrors through the quarter-mile. "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. What would I do differently? The cycle repeats, and wheel hop is the result. Brand New 2 product ratings $23.49 Those engineers were always busy boys, concocting and producing succulent what-if combos that were guaranteed to make enthusiast press wanks drool and stutter. Note:Will not fitangle plug heads,power steering, power brakes, air conditioning or a Powerglide transmission. 97,995. The color? Below is a scan of how Moroso constructs their V8 Vega/Monza pan (P/N 20230). If you also need to know what rubber mounts to use, you need 1966 Chevy truck small-block chevy mounts. When a sbc -- with V8 Monza oil pan -- is going into a Vega is a V8 Monza engine cross member also needed for clearance ? Once all the critical fabrication was complete by Dane Heninger, the car was painted in-house by Woody's Hot Rodz and the steady hand of master painter Jamie Reedy. Fits: V8 Vega/Monza chassis Accepts up to 3.48" stroke with steel rods; will not work with 400 cid (3.75" stroke) Fits 4 bolt Dart, GM and Merlin main caps Trap door baffling for improved oil control Specially designed to fit with stock Vega & Monza cross-member Reduces oil temperature Compatible with most starter/flywheel combinations Instructions This is to clear the crossmember and the draglink. Its a Vega. Never mind the glass-rattling camshaft and 3-inch Flowmasters. Providing a heartbeat to this compact fastback is a modern American V8. Some "Home Made" Solutions (e-mail me yours) 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. You will have to double check what years to look for. He admitted that the big-block idea wasnt completely his. . The prototype had a stock Turbo Hydramatic, stock Vega rear differential and street tires. LS Powered Pro Street Vega Swap. 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. I modeled the suspension1 out of cardboard, and I was able to clearly see how the suspension was reacting. The Kirkey seats, laced with Deist belts, are backed by headrests made from driveshaft loops. 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." This is to clear the crossmember and the draglink. See our catalog for more information. Trans-Dapt 4686 Vega V8 Swap Mounts Only (5) Attachment Style: Bolt-on. Minimal cutting and welding required. 03/07/23 , pending manufacturer availability.