putting a 4.3L Chevy V6 in a '73 124

leif-amber · Post by **leif-amber** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:06 pm

I've been thinking lately about the possiblity of putting a 4.3 Chevy V6 in my spider. Anybody that knows anything about chevy's will tell you that this engine is basicly the same as a SBC with 2 of the cylinders cut off. Its high performance, as well as light weight, alot of jeep owners put them in for that combination. What I want to know is has anyone on here done that, or changed out the engine to anything else period? Other than the obvious clutch, transmission, drive shaft and probably shocks and struts what kind of modifications am I looking at to make it fit? What kind of gear ratio would I need?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:58 pm

it has been done, there's a member in Wash I believe that has done the swap. He's now building a tube frame Spider to better utilize the 4.3.

Gerard Del Monte · Post by **Gerard Del Monte** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:01 pm

Yup. Rob at V6Spider.com. Very knowledgable cat. Posts here and at fiatcenter.com. I have personally seen Version 1.0 of his car, wild. He is rebodying into Version 2.0 now.

Jim DeShon · Post by **Jim DeShon** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 6:37 pm

My first question is...why ? I've seen Chevy conversions into everything from Jeeps to Jaguars. A crude engine into a sophisticated chassis. You usually come out with a less desirable car. Just one man's humble opinion. ...J.D.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:17 pm

I'll agree somewhat; I'd rather build the Fiat TC into a firebreather. But then I haven't ridden in Robs' car

Jim DeShon · Post by **Jim DeShon** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:10 am

I don't want to step on another man's joy. If it works for you, great ! I would stay with the TC myself. My 3 grown sons and I do a lot of arm chair designing around here. This topic brought a lot of talk. What would we use in this car besides the Fiat TC ? I think, if I felt I had to make an engine swap, I would go to a Mazda rotary engine and trans. Compact package, great horsepower potential, good weight balance. But...the twin cam Fiat is the very essence of this car. I would make some modifications but keep the original motor. ...J.D.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:31 am

I'm impressed with the Honda 2.0 from the S2000, and I'm intrigued with the idea of variable cam timing for the Fiat. A system based on the Alfa 2.0 variable timing set up might work

Jim DeShon · Post by **Jim DeShon** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 12:19 pm

It certainly produces great power for it's size. I must admit I don't know a lot more than that about the Honda S2000. In engine swaps, you need to find something that fits the package well. The GM V-6 & V-8 are obsolete. GM has forgotten they must move ahead. This is part of thier business problems. In this world there are so many great designs out there. You must compete. My current favorite in a V-6 is the Mitsubishi 3.0. No concidence that I own one. ...J.D.

leif-amber · Post by **leif-amber** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:31 pm

because i can rebuild one on the side of the road with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back, plus the chevy design for a block has changed little over the years because it works, don't fix it if its not broken.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:59 pm

also the cheapest to build and easiest to find perf stuff for.

leif-amber · Post by **leif-amber** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:04 am

exactly

brad131a4 · Post by **brad131a4** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:34 am

Leif if you are going to try this swap you need to get hold of Rob. He has done extensive modifications to make it work. It's not just a straight swap. First of all you have to move the steering from behind the motor to in front of it and change to a rack instead of the box. He had to do quite a bit of research on steering geometry to get it right . There is also the body and the running gear neither is ready to handle the extra torque the motor is going to produce. Thats just for starters I could go on for awhile with all that needs to be done. Hell I could fuel inject, run a stand alone and turbo and probably kick the snot out of the v6 and still have the handling of the stock car. All that being said I still think that the 2.0 version is going to be a kick in the pants as the first one looked like it would shit and git really well and with the mods that Rob has planned to go for the nice stock sleeper look ahhhh I just can't wait until sum little pud in his fart canned honda get's his ass handed to him. Damn now I need to get hold of Rob and see how its going.

leif-amber · Post by **leif-amber** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:28 pm

how do i get ahold of him?

brad131a4 · Post by **brad131a4** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:23 pm

I have his number just need to find it. He has a web site that is linked to his sig. I have it in my favs on my virus infested pc which is usless so I don't have it right off hand. He should be in the memberlist.

brad131a4 · Post by **brad131a4** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:27 pm

Lief here is his email.rob@v6spider.com

putting a 4.3L Chevy V6 in a '73 124

putting a 4.3L Chevy V6 in a '73 124

why a chevy...