Note the dipstick location when you pick your oilpan being sure to select one that will meet your specific needs. . When a sbc -- with V8 Monza oil pan -- is going into a Vega is a V8 Monza engine cross member also needed for clearance ? There are a number of aftermarket oilpan manufacturers, but you can easily make your own if you check the clearances and can weld.
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 Here are a few of the options available. $180.99. Market forces and oil embargoes pushed initial sales to about triple the number of 1971 Camaros, providing plenty of raw materials for clever car guys to create small-block swapped street-sweepers with sleeper aesthetics on the cheap.Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, the V8 Vega told the world that you were in the know, the man, in the club of fast street guys who say, Who me?
1973 Chevrolet vega v8 in Valley Springs, CA 1973 Chevy vega with a small block Chevy 350ci.
In its first event, the untested Vega made 9.6 second passes and won the 1972 Winter nationals. Then, people didnt call such device a power-adder or anything of the kind. Hot Rod News February 27, 2012 "Vintage Tech: V8 Vega Swap" Even though they only came with 4-cylinder engines, we still have a soft spot for the Chevy Vega. The performance is not like a super-muscle car, but by today's standards it is decidedly hot. In this very short video we replace our Don Hardy V8 Vega Engine mounts with some updated polyurethane mounts. Also check that the center hole has threads for 7/16" - 14 bolts, avoid those that have 3/8" - 16. 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. 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. 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. 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. One area that saved Sondles a bunch of time in the fabrication area was the availability of fiberglass body parts for the Vega.
Got ordering questions? 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). With over $70,000 into the car, no expense was spared in building this Vega. This one runs 10s.
You just had to pay attention, keep your wits about you. Don Hardy instructions page 3
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. Hemmings Motor News has been serving the classic car hobby since 1954. Required are V8 Mustang II Motor insulators, brackets, oil pan, oil pump pickup, and accessory mounting brackets.First position the engine, then drill the required mounting holes. 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. These chemicals are found in vehicles, vehicle parts and accessories, both new and as replacements. The "Super Twister" kit (no longer available) was a complete .
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. The cam is a Crower roller, and the intake is a Team G with a Holley 850-cfm carb. cjbiagi@yahoo.comClyde 1975 Monza 2+2 My Monza kcawoo01 15 Registered Member Jun 21, 2007 #5 Mine has the stock little radiator. TRANS-DAPT #4686 Vega V8 Mount Kit. Check out their Phase III Vega in the April '99 issue of Super Chevy magazine, or go to the Motion Performance homepage at
Towne Cpe.). 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. 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. Zero to sixty times are between 8 and 8.5 seconds and quarter-mile times are between 15.5 and 16 seconds. 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). Overall, the car has a modified look without losing any of the factory Vega styling. 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. First, of course, would be its abundant use in the door-slammer competitive ranks. 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. Actually it didnt get that bad.
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. It was a popular swap in the 70s and 80s. Also of note is the front bumper, which was modified to resemble the split bumper of a '71 Camaro-another key design element of the original Hot Wheels car. This is the ultimate performance, durability and safety setup. The back end became quite soft, and started pointing in different directions. Towne Cpe.). 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. Notice the notch starts from the front, is 9 1/2" long and 3 7/8" from the top. To see their headers go here. MIMI was also the name of Blandings 1969 427 Camaro Pro Stocker.". 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 rear end is a narrowed 8 inch Chrysler sure grip with 3:23 - 1 gears. 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.
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.
Lot #23,728. Dave decided to add more pearl so this Vegas skin tone would explode out in the sun. But installing a V8 in a Vega was clearly on GM's designer's minds because a small-block V8 will slide in with a minimum of hassle. Home Fabricated Oilpans
The factory oilpan has a notched place just in front of the rear sump for clearance of the steering drag-link. So what about that vulture on the bedpost? Hes a wealth of old-school knowledge and his stories from back in the day are epic. Reply HELP for help or STOP to opt out. the Vega used either a 6.5" or a 7.5" rear end. Designed to be used with the stock floor and coil spring rear suspension. It's mated to the corresponding LTG six speed manual transmission, and is followed by upgrades such as a Mustang GT500 aluminum driveshaft, and a V8 Monza rear end made sweeter by Moser Axles. The TransDapt kit is very similar to the Adaptec and Hooker SBC kit. In their crusade to snuff the proliferation of illegal, unsafe, modified high-performance cars, the Department of Justice revenuers had come across the King Kong opus, and meaning to set a precedent, threw a hammer-lock on Motion, ordering it to cease and desist. Car Craft on the Hot Rod Network April 17, 2015 said, Do you think the little Camaros are cool? "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.
Parts include: Don Hardy Chevy 12-bolt with 3.73 gears and Strange axles, Don Hardy 5 lug conversion rotors, Don Hardy motor . V8 Radiator
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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. With a goal to go road racing this Chevy is one of a kind! Note that factory V8 Monzas used short style Corvette water pumps. See below table for gallery. Jenkins' 1974 Vega sold for $550,000 in 2007.
I did a compression test, leakdown test, and emissions test, and then yanked the 283. 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) . 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. Moroso V8 Vega oil pan.
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. MPC produced stock Vega hatchback kits and promotional models for all years, '71 through '77. 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 . Everything else is a bolt-in affair.
"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." P.O. Slight modification to oil pan and car's floor pan will be needed.
Be sure to check fan shroud and radiator clearances before starting the engine, no sense in trashing a new fan or radiator. First take your existing oilpan and bolt it to your engine (no gaskets required). Chevy Vega Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community.
If there is any arguments about whether or not GM should have built the Vega with the aluminum V-8 engine they are settled when you drive the car. All interior tinwork was done by East Coast Muscle Cars in Craley, Pennsylvania. The factory oilpan has a notched place just in front of the rear sump for clearance of the steering drag-link. "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." We are largest vintage car website with the. Sure, there were options: a heavy-duty cooling core, a narrowed 12-bolt, and a shorter prop shaft.
Below is a scan of how Moroso constructs their V8 Vega/Monza pan (P/N 20230). SORRY, WE DO NOT ACCEPT TELEPHONE ORDERS.
The left-side lower control arm ripped itself free from the frame after a hot-rodding session out to the Burger King in New Westminster.
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. The weld-in design substantially reduces chassis flex and does not change the location of the rear suspension parts. Town and country driving gives 24 mpg. "Throw something together from junk and do well against the big names at autocross events." 1976 chevrolet Vega- - Show car Finish V8 Vega Conversion Lots Invested- Built by an auto body guy to the extreme for a great look.- Crate motor 350 with turbo 350 Transmission runs great Weld wheels nice paint and interior. 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 . 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. bvseo-msg: The resource to the URL or file is currently unavailable.. MID-LENGTH Tube Headers- UNCOATED Headers Part# 44061 Full Details Add to Cart $924.43 JEGS reserve the right to determine the eligibility of all price matched items.Cannot be combined with promo code offers. 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. This is the '72 Vega former drag car that I found in PA. 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.
I triangulated the bars to I wouldnt need a Panhard rod, and I left the lower arms attached. Brand New 2 product ratings $23.49 "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. Logistics were painful. Unfortunately, I fell in love with it again.
The engines existed in limited quantity in '72, and were never offered on a production car or through a parts program. The GM LS engine has quickly become the high-performance standard in the performance aftermarket. Next, using the measurements provided here, use a rubber or wooden mallet and lightly tap the area of the oilpan to be modified. Next video. The test car we drove had a 2.53 axle ratio and a four-speed manual transmission. Box 875
They still make them new if you can believe it. But as the saying goes, if you dont break traction, youll break something else.. The only modification required when using these parts is the construction of a pair of drop brackets to lower the stock vega radiator mounting points 3 overall. Top. Except for the door seals, they dont make parts for this car anymore. Some "Home Made" Solutions (e-mail me yours)
Since I was on the cheap, I kept those.
About the Author: Ro McGonegal began in this business back in 1968.
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)?
Folks have reported they had to cut re-drill and reweld these backets just to get them to work.
It was a faded, rusty orange, and looked almost as sad as it was. If you do want to build a V8 Vega make sure that the car hasn't been hacked on. http://www.v8monza.com. There was no nitrous, no popular idea of any kind of power-adder beyond the massive GMC supercharger. 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. $167.99 /each. I personally prefer the dual remote kit, twice the filtering area and cleaner oil. This car was considered for production by Chevy executives for 1974, according to Hot Rod. Notice the notch starts 3 1/2" from the front and is 6" long and 3 3/8" from the top. The new owner had begun painting it, had installed the 9 differential, and had also done some minor repairs. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but it used high-performance camshafts, increased . Nothing more came of it. It had a Very tired 283, and a four speed. Motion Performance and Scuncio Chevrolet sold new, converted small and big block V8 Vegas. The cycle repeats, and wheel hop is the result. VEGA V8 MOUNT KITMotor mount brackets, bushings, plates and rear crossmemberFor use with TH 350 automatic transmission onlySB CHEVY V8 INTO CHEVY VEGA/ASTRA. 1973 Chevy Vega GT Hatchback, stock, 4-speed. 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. 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. 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. Promo Code discounts cannot be combined on orders with price matched items. A special radiator is also needed and Motion fabricates an aluminum crossflow job similar to ones used in hot Corvettes."