Aluminum Chev 350 in DI.... can it be done?

[p m]

Didnt this engine also come in RWDs like the GN, olds cutlass, etc?

yes, but that was way back. If one's serious about a swap, engine's date is important.
Ford 4.0 and Chevy 4.3 can be had later than '97. RWD Buick engines cannot.
Jeep guys are crazy over Northstar/Shortstar Caddy engines, and those were used in FWD applications. Must be possible to use them.

 

[robertf]

Where did the "spec" just over 300hp number come from? Even if that's rwhp from a Mustang dyno, I would have it checked out before bying it. That's pretty low for a stock LS6.

Just for a loose comparison, my (sold) LS2 GTO put down 365rwhp bone stock on a Dynojet. (then made a little better on nitrous 5 min later, lol)

He's in colorado, its amazing what a few thousand feet does to factory ratings.

PM- buick changed bellhousing patterns when they went iron to BOPC. That stuff won't bolt up.

 

[realdeal]

He's in colorado, its amazing what a few thousand feet does to factory ratings.

Makes sense - I had no idea it would be that drastic!

 

[p m]

PM- buick changed bellhousing patterns when they went iron to BOPC. That stuff won't bolt up.

Thanks - I didn't know. Does it mean nailhead and later BOPC patterns are different?

 

[maxyedor]

Here are a few tidbits:
- A Buick 350 is likely to bolt directly on in place of a Rover V8. However, the last one went off assembly line in 1980, so it would not be a legal swap. I'd still consider doing it, along with entire Rover EFI setup. It would take a lot of tweaking, but it might work. A cast-iron Buick V8 is a beautiful thing.


- Max: about Turbo 400. It's a great and indestructible transmission, but it has 3 gears, no lockup torque converter, and is a huge power hog. Like Chrysler's 727, it sucks about 45 horsepower on average. In big jeeps and trucks, it had a low-rpm (~1500-ish) stall torque converter - which has mixed consequences on driveability. Namely, my jeep's turning 3k rpm at highway speeds because the TC is completely locked up, you'll hit the steering wheel if your foot slips off the gas pedal because of engine braking, and you're looking at 10mpg regardless of the type of driving.
In any case, I would not mate a 4.3V6 Chevy with a TH400.

The OP is in Colorado so motor swap laws may be different enough that the buick 350 wouldn't be too hard.


As far as the Turbo 400, yes it does eat power, but that honestly isn't a bad thing in a Rover if you don't plan on an axle swap, I'm not worried about my axles with 33s and a Rover v8, but add 100hp and things start to get a little iffy. They're really common to mate with a 4.3 in desert race applications because they are damn near impossible to grenade, infact the 4.3 and the th400 are about the only 2 GM powertrain parts I'd ever consider running. Doesn't really matter what motor and tranny combo you put in a Disco, if it burns gasoline, you're going to get around 10mpg.

 

[p m]

There's a federal law prohibiting using the engine older than the vehicle. The eagerness of local authorities in enforcing it is another matter.

I am with you on a 4.3V6/TH400 combo. I don't think a 4.3 can possibly, ever, grenade a TH400 - which can't be said about a (any) 350 with a 4HP22.

 

[CBiDrive]

I am in a non emission county so I pretty much have free reign in what I do ( I could get away with straight exhaust. The motor is out of an '06 so I dont have to worry about that either. It is kind of nice to just be able to show up at DMV and be registered with no questions.

 

[robertf]

I think you would have to be on something to swap a non overdrive transmission into a daily driven disco. They already hover over 3 grand at highway speeds with stock tires.

if you are going to go through the trouble of a drivetrain swap, shouldn't you go more modern? A 5.3 with transmission can be had for around $1000. While I'm not a fan of putting heavy iron where light aluminum was, I think that would be a much better plan than a 4.3. the aluminum ls1,2,3,whatever the budget allows would be ideal, and its got the right intake for a swap.

 

[daur4x4]

LS6 swap with adaptorplate and original ZF 4HP22 is a good idea, but only for highway use!!! If you like to go real offroad is LS6 +4L80e (4L60e) and compushift-box and LT230 Adaptor (marks-adapt came from advanced adapt in U.S.atriotthe better way.
also you must upgrade your drifetrain

LS7/4L80e/LT230 DiscoII axels, 127" Wheelbase take a look(only the first pic): www.daurperformance.com

 

[robertf]

LS6 swap with adaptorplate and original ZF 4HP22 is a good idea, but only for highway use!!! If you like to go real offroad is LS6 +4L80e (4L60e) and compushift-box and LT230 Adaptor (marks-adapt came from advanced adapt in U.S.atriotthe better way.

1st- how would you hook up the throttle valve linkage to the ETC throttle body?

2nd- why would you run a compushift box with a pcm that will control the transmission?

 

[mbrummal]

1st- how would you hook up the throttle valve linkage to the ETC throttle body?

2nd- why would you run a compushift box with a pcm that will control the transmission?

What ETC throttle body? Land Rovers don't cut the throttle for traction control.

 

[robertf]

What ETC throttle body? Land Rovers don't cut the throttle for traction control.

the throttle body on the ls6.

 

[mbrummal]

You would just get a regular throttle body for it.

 

[daur4x4]

1.) drive by wire (i hope i understand your question correctly)
2.) i like to use a shiftstick or padels and can easy calibrate in every gear the shift position.

sorry for my very basic english:banghead:

 

[robertf]

etc is the non hillbilly way of saying drive by wire

you could spend less than half of the cost of compushift for a ls1 tuner program that will let you change shift points along with everything else the engine does.

switching to an earlier throttle body is an option, but you won't find a factory tune for the ls6 and that.

 

[KyleT]

sounds like way too much work. you could just drive it until you need an engine then take the 2k and buy another one and freshen it up...