Question: Putting 6Cyl Vortex in my 87 Vette

[Conniie]

I am at the age where I don't care about speed. I love the looks of my black convertible and want to drive it forever. I was wondering about the problems to change it over. Like I said speed is not my friend but having a nice ride and green in my pocket plus the up keep cost of a high performance engine is not my cup of tea. Maybe I am a head of the curve and others will follow my lead? :bash So a Vortex I may go.

 

[Tuna]

Personnally, I hope not. The conversion cost alone would not make it worthwhile and it would also diminish the value of the Vette considerably. You might want to consider trading for a Saturn Sky - good looks, 4-cylinder engine, nice ride.

Btw,

 

[Hib Halverson]

I'm going to pass on the opinion part...I think Tuna did that well. As for the execution of the idea technically, putting a Vortec V6 in a C4 ought to be pretty easy. The engine mounts are similar to the V8, so it would probably be easy to make adapters if you know how to fabricate metal parts. The transmissions in a C4 should bolt up to the V6.

That leaves you to fab-up the exhaust and intake and do the electrics.

As for "green in your pocket" well that's all a wet dream of yours. You'll never recover the cost of the engine swap in improved gas mileage unless you plan on driving it a long, long, distance. Let's say the engine swap cost you 7,000 bucks.

 

[dogfish246]

:coolThere is no point in a swap. The gas mileage for the v6 is just about the same as the v8, the v6 will kill the value of the car, cause custom fitting nightmares and so on.

You are better off rebuilding the engine and fix the things that need to be fixed because you will probably lose money with a V6 swap.

Just a thought!

 

[93Rubie]

If you really want fuel mileage, you need the latest and greatest corvette. So C5 or C6 which ironically has more power and better gas mileage than your 87. Technology is wonderful sometimes isn't it.

Hib posted about a sky or solstice, I agree if you want the sports car feel,etc...with great gas mileage get a SKY/SOLSTICE GXP not the base car as it's fuel mileage is actually worse than the GXP, which as a 2.0L Turbo Direct Injected 4 cyl. Ecotech, with 260hp more than your 87, with better gas mileage and performance. Isnt technology wonderful sometimes...

 

[Conniie]

6 Cyl Vortex Switch

Thanks for the input. Maybe I am not an elitist
I bought two driveable black Corvettes for $8K.
I live in a depressed market with many mechanics
looking for jobs. I have a contact in a scrap yard
has a Vortex with all the parts for $250. I am not
wanting to sell that car but enjoy the ride. Should
there be a war in Iran we will see $10 a gallon gas.
I have to add I drove a Corvette new in 1966. Since
then I have owned a couple even a Delorean. I see
some Corvette enthusiasts as very picky even to the
peak of snooty. Perhaps you have seen these people.
I am looking for why not better gas mileage in a
chassis that looks great C-4 were the best in my
opinion. It is easy to be complacent. If I were
you would not be reading this. Thanks subframe out
host should supply front motor mounts. Welders
are out of work here to; Thanks NAFTA , GAT and
our illustrious politicians.

 

[bucket]

I am at the age where I don't care about speed. I love the looks of my black convertible and want to drive it forever. I was wondering about the problems to change it over. Like I said speed is not my friend but having a nice ride and green in my pocket plus the up keep cost of a high performance engine is not my cup of tea. Maybe I am a head of the curve and others will follow my lead? :bash So a Vortex I may go.

..............

it should bolt right up..with a little nose room to spare..
and it should improve the balance of the car..
can you get aluminum block.?
that with a large blower and some long tube headders..should do the trick..
it would sound weired though..:confused

how about putting two 4.3's making a very cool 8.6lt V-12...


now were getting somewhere:cool

 

[bucket]

Should
there be a war in Iran we will see $10 a gallon gas.
.....
should there be a war in iran...buying gas will among your low priority problems

 

[89blackvette]

You will be able to do it, but why a used V6. The electrical component of this swap will be a bad dream come true. Is the engine in the car bad or are you just attempting to get good gas mileage? Are you planning to do ALL the conversion work yourself? A small block Chevrolet engine can be rebuilt very cheaply and you would still have some amount of power and good gas mileage with out the problems you are going to run into. By the way we are not SNOOTY, just trying to help you.

 

[Hib Halverson]

"Should there be a war in Iran"....we'll have a hell of a lot more to worry about than the cost of gas.

 

[redvett]

My 87 A4 with performance axle got 31 mpg stock. Dont think you will improve on that much without tuneport induction.

 

[CROOZ1N]

All I got to say about this is................


Are you outa yer damn Mind?

 

[XLR8]

All I got to say about this is................


Are you outa yer damn Mind?

:L
CROOZ1N, you forgot to add the "winking smilie".

I agree with the others re: war in Iran, swap is not the best idea, etc... BUT... it's your Corvette. Do what makes you happy.

Jane Ann

 

[KANE]

I have a contact in a scrap yard
has a Vortex with all the parts for $250....

I'd like to see it!

Having done engine swaps, I think it would be an interesting swap.



Years ago, I saw a 3.8 GN turbo six dropped into a Vette. Wow- that car's power to weight ratio was impressive.

 

[Hib Halverson]

..............
(snip)
how about putting two 4.3's making a very cool 8.6lt V-12...
l

Actually...GM did that about 15 years ago. There was a concept C4 variously called "Conan" or "ZR12" which was a 2Gen ZR-1 with a 10" plug in the chassis ahead of the fire wall. The engine was a Falconer V12 which was two V6-90s grafted together. See 1990 Corvette Conan ZR-12

But I digress...

From a technical standpoint, putting a Vortec V6 into a C4 wouldn't be very difficult for an intermediate level DIY, however, the savings in gas mileage would not be much so, to recover the cost of the V6 in improved mileage would mean driving the car a hell of a lot of miles.

Interestingly, it wouldn't be the first time someone used the Vortec V6 in a Vette. On the recent National Corvette Caravan the SoCal/SoNev Section had a '54 which had a Vortec V6 fitted to it.

 

[G Winter]

If the engine in it is still strong you would do better to just do a gear change. The engine will live well with higher gears and would most likely get better mileage than the overworked V6.
I have an 06 Grand Prix that has a hard time keeping up with my 90 on gas mileage.

Glenn

 

[92BlackVette]

Since your not worried about power and are aimed at creating a custom "green" vette, I would get a I4 from a Honda CRV and convert it to front wheel drive. I like the idea of driving a vette, regardless of what's in the engine. I wouldn't say I am snooty I just don't like certain cars like Mustangs, Trans Am, etc

 

[philbillyvette]

It's your car and your money, so have a blast and do what your heart desires.
IMHO I don't think that you are gonna have a super economy car there by putting a V-6 in there. If you use a 4.3 which is one of the best V-6 chevy made, you are still looking at a bore and stroke that is the exact same as a 5.7, just minus 2 cylinders. Small engine pushing a big car is not going to give you that much of a gain without other mods. Who knows how much it is gonna cost to do a full conversion and make it run right.
I would think you would have better results, if you are looking for a gain in gas mileage and money savings by swapping in a 5.0 TPI/TBI out of an fbody. Smaller bore cylinder to deal with fuel consumption, plus most everything off of your current engine will swap right over, some might take a little coaxing to fit. Put a tall gear like a 2.73 in the back and im sure it will get better mileage than the 5.7 TPI.
Just my thoughts, have a blast with whatever you deceide.

 

[Rex S]

Why not use the 5.3 V8 instead of the six? Cost will be about the same and MPG should be too. Nobody wants the 5.3s but it makes for a clean install and it's still a V8 but upgraded so it will be accepted and not hurt the resale.

 

[KANE]

Why not use the 5.3 V8 instead of the six? Cost will be about the same and MPG should be too. Nobody wants the 5.3s but it makes for a clean install and it's still a V8 but upgraded so it will be accepted and not hurt the resale.

Great idea!!

Hey Conniie- why not an L99?

V-8... looks like the LT1... but only packs 4.3 liters.

Keep the V8- lose some cubes!