Yep,,,, but consider ALL your options.... the absolute best combo that I have seen in engine swaps is the 64/65 lark with the Grand National engine in it... it fits good, gets good mileage, and is fast..... its the only one that i would consider besides a nailhead... and those cars that I have seen definitely look factory.... all the brackets, and every thing is in the proper place....
Doc, I have to agree with you, I have not seen a bad turbo V6 swap at all. Everyone I have seen is sharp as a tac and super sano. That is a great option Doc that I havent given alot of thought, but you are right it makes sense! I wonder if anyone is in the process of installing a roots style blown V6? Doug
I think you are on the right track and thinking of all the right things. IF you were looking for a 13 second car, then yes we would be having a different conversation and if you want to consider other engine choices then I'm with Doc. The Nailhead would be my first choice for the 65, and I would love to have a GN turbo 6 in one. Both of those options would involve a bit more work and money than the engines that you have. There is a good thread on building the 300 for performance on this board. If you did a search for it you would find it. Plenty of guys that know a lot more about the potential of that engine than I do have shared knowledge in that thread. For seat of the pants fun, not going for beating everyone you may come across at the track, not dealing with things like oil mods or girdles, the 350 is a good platform that should be able to give you that hotrod sound and eat some tires to make the cruising fun.
Well,,, the GN engine and trans is tough,,, there is a ton of stuff to modify it, it is light and wont overwhelm the suspension of the lark,,, there is plenty of room for it under the lark hood... both are rear wheel drive cars.... you would have to set up the rear suspension to take the power... good gas mileage,,,, what is there not to like???? if I were 40 years younger, :laugh: I would be hot on that trail.....also what might be possible , might , I say,,, is the supercharged 3800 engine.... my 98 riv runs good , gets good mileage , and would work fine in that body if there is a rear wheel drive transmission that will hook up to it.....
Dave and Doc, I like the idea of the turbo V6, a turbo 300 and the idea of the roots style blown V6, 300 and 350. All of which I think would be fun to play with. I'd think the smoothest install would be the turbo and or blown V6 due to the amount of room in the engine bay. This is very interesting to me. Last night I saw on ebay a twin turbo (chevy 350) Skylark which is a very interesting concept (with the chevy portion removed). Doug
From a power standpoint, the turbo motor will be considerably stronger than that roots blower. However, from "wow, look at that!" standpoint, well we know what rules there.
Steven, I think you are probably correct in reguards to turbo vs blower, I don't possess enough knowledge on the turbo side of the house. I read your LQ9 install thread on the other site and found it a very interesting read. Congrats on the install, I would agree that it is a completely different car, has to be pure seat of the pants fun! You did a real sanitary swap that is one of the cleanest I've seen. If you had to do it over again would you go the LQ9 route or the turbo V6? It's getting hard to beat the LS swaps now with the ease of producing power and the reliability they afford. Doug
I don't think I could do it all over again. That was a lot of work! But seriously, I considered the Turbo 6 swap. I had two brand new Turbo cars. One GN and one T-Type. I loved Turbo 6 feeling. Those cars are a totally unique experience. However, I never really fell in love with the sound. I think they sound like angry tractors. Also, that technology is 20+ years past. Other than specialty places, there is very little support for them. Cores and used parts are all but dried up - etc. I wanted the V-8 sound. I love the feeling of a high compression V8. To me the experience is soulful. So, you see what I chose. In retrospect, I can tell you something that would have surprised me before the swap. I would have likely been just as happy with a mild 455. I was so concerned before the swap about how fast the car was going to be. Now that it is done, I realize that I spend the vast majority of the time just cruising. Now, I won't kid anyone, this thing is scary fast. Full throttle below 45 MPH is just not possible without some serious steering. But, very seldom do I have an opportunity to really crank it up where I live, so a mild 455 would have been more than enough for the occasional "wild hair".
Steve, I completely understand what you are saying and where you are coming from. But, I will bet everytime you get it, fire it up and get on the road with it you are more than happy to have done the work and are even happier more so even with the swap. I'd have to go back and look over your thread because I can't remember, but what did you get you LQ9 out of (model and year)? I read every time you posted on here about it, then read your thread on the other site twice so far! It was a clean swap man you did a great job on it. I'm trying to determine what way I want to go, but it is a lot of info to digest. I just don't want to regrete it when I get it done or wished I'd gone another route! Doug
I think these cars are like the girls we dated as young men. No matter which one your chose, you will always wonder what if. :laugh:
Wouldn't the newer turbo engine swap take quite a bit of electrical work? Would even the 86 or 87 GN have some computer input? I know that you are in for some additional plumbing work with the exhaust, intake and upgrading the fuel system. Seems like more work than and money than a dual quad 425 with a 4 speed? Not that I know jack about those more modern engines. Now tell me what would be cooler than a dual quad 425 four speed in that car!
We have a dual quad 401+.030" in a '66 Skylark GS running a 10.8ET@125MPH. I'm surprised to hear this from you Doc. I'm not sayin' that a GN set-up isn't the way to go, but don't cut the ole "Nail" short you of all should know better. LOL Tom T.
Yes,,, but dont blow smoke up my butt, Tom....:laugh: that is a well prepped , race only car that is regularly maintained.... and down to min. wt... with a well set up suspension.... any car that sees street use and is not maintained extremely well aint gonna do that good....:Brow: :Brow: nuh unhhhh:laugh: :laugh: and sides that,,, I done been to the gs nats.. and see both types of cars running... and the GN's that I have seen are far and away the faster than the ole nail.... I love them but sometimes a guy gotta look at reality......
Doc, a well prepped race car it isn't. We have traction problems being a 4spd. With the weight of the car & the 125MPH that 10.8 should have been closer to a 10.5 or 10.6 in reality. Those who do some racin' can attest to that. It can & occasionally IS street driven to nearby cruises, etc. It's not as light as one may believe at 3300+ pds. with driver. Although lighter than an original street car. My friend bought the car new thinking that a Post car was lighter than a Hrdtp but found out it's actually 50+ pds. heavier. It's NOT a cut-up race only car. I wouldn't, & have been tryin' to prevent it from being & getting chopped up to be a race only car. But, it IS HIS car, not mine. To me it's a piece of HISTORY that needs to be preserved. As it stands now & into the foreseeable future, except for the roll bar, for safety & rigidity, can be put back to it's original status as an original 4spd. post car. What kinda makes it so unique is that everything that has been done to it is mostly ALL bolt-on stuff. If brought back to true street driving status I'm sure it would still be an 11.3ET car. Now with that said I have proven that a "Nail" COULD run & that's all I'll say 'bout that. As for GN's, they are now into the 7's & there's NO WAY a "Nail" will EVER be that fast. Tom T.
Well,,, that just shows to go ya that what me and you have been saying all along ,,, its the total combo that really puts the power to the ground... and in its class the nails can hold their own.... in their class.... of course the GN's are several classes above a vintage nail head car....but like you guys have done , put one in its class, with some real gear under it... and some traction and they will beat a lot of cars that are above them in class.... Its good to see someone doing that because it lets the younger ones just getting started know that it can be done... and it reeducates some of the older ones that think that a Buick cant cut it....:laugh: :laugh: If I ever get this 65 Skylark GS back on the street, I intend to re educate a few around here.....:Brow: :Brow:
Steve, I would agree to that they are just like past girls! It goes to show you that you are right, you just really never know!! Dave, I would think you are right, extra plumbing, wiring and the computer (I would think), the return fuel line and system upgrade, all this would be a pretty good undertaking. A 401 I would think would have to be easier in some aspects due to the fact that it isn't a modern motor and need all the extra stuff! Doc, I would think that the reduction in weight with a higher power to weight ratio would be somewhat stronger to run. I don't think that it would be a easier swap, but would be a more complex and involved swap over the 401. Both would be able to provide great fun once completed! Tom, Sounds like the car is stout at 3300 + lbs and 10.8 at 125 is very respectable not to mention fun. I'd believe alot of the younger crowd is somewhat surprised the first time out against it! That has to be worth it alone!! I have a lot of information to dig through and figure out which route to go with. I love getting all the different perspectives from every one it is great! Thanks all of you for the input so far, and I look forward to receiving much more input as well! Doug
As much as I want to keep mine original (as much as possible) under the hood, the best 300 I had in my original '64 with a high 2.xx rear and a ST300 was 17.xx back in 1979. The thing was a dog. D O G dog. I REALLY want to put a 3800 & newer 200R4 in it, but money is a factor too. If I had the money I'd drop a late model V8 in it but that's $$$.
I swapped in a Buick 350 into my 64 Special and it was a good little motor. It was not what I would call fast, but it would run 15s. It sounded good, drove good and was super reliable and durable. It was a really easy swap too.
I followed the build up and installof your LQ9, seen all the video footage,seemsyour really happy with that route. Seems like it has more power than you'd ever need. Any regrets or any additional info on that idea? Doug
