70 Shortbox Chevy 2wd considering a GM 3800?

[blazerboy_4life]

Hi there this is my first thread. been coming to the site for years though. As the title says I have a 70' Fleetside Short Box. I would love to put a motor in this truck that would make it do a wheelie but with fuel prices steadily rising im leaning more on the practical side of things. I found a GM 3.8 V6 out of a 96 Pontiac van for $150. It has 150,000 miles and runs great. Comes complete with computer and all (Craigslist Find). Also found a complete Super Charger for this motor for $100 (Also a craigslist find) Has anybody ever done this motor swap in an old pickup like this? If So was it easy? What needs to be done with remapping the computer? Im going to pair it up with a Post 87' 700R4 cause i heard the valve body was stronger then? Im hoping for north of 20mpg. Is this even plausible? Also side note is it difficult to switch over to power brakes from all drums. Thanks for all the advice everyone.

PS any mod suggestions or your favorite mods for this Gen body style are welcome to.

[SSC's76]

wow need to reduce that picture down a tad.

For starters van engine is a FWD going to need special mounts to get it to fit different mounting points then the RWD f body engine which are closer to what you would want. Need to use a trans from a small 6 as well v8 tranny wont bolt up. FWD engine has the manifold pointed the wrong way no big deal it fits either direction but the SC intake can only go one way and work. Since you got some room to work with the truck engine compartment and you need to fab custom mounts anyway I could see it being able to be run with the throttle body pointing toward the firewall just would require custom duct work. I know pople that have left the stock non sc ecm and ran a sc on there 3.8l fwd's i recommend getting an ecm made for a sc engine as well as the correct knock sensor.

[Pop's C-10]

it will need more tha jus tha s/c to make that motor run...goggle Top swap & you see what i mean. that lil 3.8 will catch h&^l tryin to pull that truck around

[raycow]

A member on the Chevytalk board installed a Buick turbo engine in his truck and was extremely happy with the performance. His install was a little easier than yours because he started with a RWD engine from a G-body, but I don't think you will have any problems you can't overcome. You will have a huge amount of room to work around the engine.

For a transmission, I am thinking maybe 4th gen Camaro/Firebird. S-10 4 cylinder and 2.8 V-6 transmissions will also bolt up, but the F-body came stock with a 3800.

Ray

[blazerboy_4life]

Originally Posted by raycow

A member on the Chevytalk board installed a Buick turbo engine in his truck and was extremely happy with the performance. His install was a little easier than yours because he started with a RWD engine from a G-body, but I don't think you will have any problems you can't overcome. You will have a huge amount of room to work around the engine.

For a transmission, I am thinking maybe 4th gen Camaro/Firebird. S-10 4 cylinder and 2.8 V-6 transmissions will also bolt up, but the F-body came stock with a 3800.

Ray

Would you happen to have a link to that build? I would love to talk to him and see what he had to overcome to make it happen.

[raycow]

Originally Posted by blazerboy_4life

Would you happen to have a link to that build?

Unfortunately, no. This was a few years ago on Chevytalk and the search over there is kind of flaky unless you can enter an exact text string, which I can't.

Ray

[blazerboy_4life]

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but what body styles do the term F-body apply to? I know it would be better to put a rear wheel drive motor in but the only difference is the intake correct?

[stich626]

ok as above your idea is good but you need a little help..
the van is fwd. get a f body (camaro/ trans am) 3.8(3800)
and the tranny.
I'd if you don't want the wire'n nitemare
get the 3.8 buick(same engine) out of a g body or b body (get the buick it has the dissy in the front, the chevy is dissy in the back and is a 229 the buick is 231)
get the mounts frame stands all of it..
the engines will have a 2brl carb , unless you get a t type or g/n 3.8
it bolts into the truck use'n the sbc frame stands to mount the motor mounts to. (you'll have to drill a few holes in the frame stand(trucks)
other than oil leaks they run forever..
if you wand efi and spark control. the latest f body you can find, some had sticks..
but remember the tranny is at an angle to fit under the floor of a f body..
and may cause fits when installing under the truck..
good luck..
FYI
IF YOU CAN FIND A 3.8 Q JET INTAKE the older 3.8 will get the same mpg as the efi one. within 1mpg.
untill you hammer it.. then all bets are off..

a 2nd gen f body inline 6 will get you better mpg. as it makes more ft lb down low..
but the 3.8 will run away from it when you slam the hammer down

[no talent]

No, it's not a chevy truck they are talking about, but I would go to www.bruntonauto.com. Look at the installs of the 3800 with supercharger. They offer a plug and play wiring harnes to mate the 3800 Park Avenue with blower to a manual transmission. I keep thinking about it for one of my trucks but my kids keep taking all my money. Always wanting something.........food, clothes, shelter, it just never ends.