Author Topic: Nissan, Meet Chevy (Read 11222 times)

New2Drifting · « **on:** 07:38:23 PM / 30-Sep-07 »

That's right folks... I am putting a 350 CI chevrolet smallblock into my S12 Hatch. I got tired of the CA18ET (which is for sale, make offer) because I'm not a "tuner". I grew up building american muscle and working on my old trucks. I am old-fashioned in the sense that I blame all new cars' failure to their electronics. I don't even like Fuel injection, unless its on my brand new toyota, haha. Who wouldn't like 40 mpg? Anyways, I have stuck to my roots, and decided on the 350 swap after being further inspired by Premo. Whether he knows it or not, he has helped me tremendously in many aspects of the build (preparation of what to expect, answers, PICTURES, and other things all add up quickly with me). I have done a lot of progree with the car thus far. I have pulled the engine and transmission out of the S12 and also the Chevy truck that supplied the 350. I have the CA18ET on the floor in my shop, on a pallet ready-to-go, haha. The 350 has made its way to the engine stand, separated from it's 3 speed transmission. I have many pictures and will post them up tomorrow sometime (most likely during class, haha), which show my progress with the motor and the preparation on the car. Since this is how far I have gotten tonight, I will post the further progress in new posts as I go, along with pictures. Like I said, I have a bunch, wait til tomorrow! haha.

A thanks for inspiration from Premo, and another "Thanks" to the good, positive comments that are going to come about as the thread goes along... LOL. Do not bash my thread, any neg feedback will be mentally shoved back up your ass, kidding. Im open to all criticism. LEt me know some stuff if you have USEFUL information.

JuneBug · « **Reply #1 on:** 08:11:18 PM / 30-Sep-07 »

Any idea how much shipping would be for the ca18et to 89052?

JonB · « **Reply #2 on:** 08:14:54 PM / 30-Sep-07 »

I wanna see pics! Now damnit! Just kiddin. The ford seemed like a little better choice though; over-all size and the distributer in the front. But SBCs are cool to. Are you going to keep it street legal?

New2Drifting · « **Reply #3 on:** 08:27:17 PM / 30-Sep-07 »

Quote from: lvDave

Any idea how much shipping would be for the ca18et to 89052?

All the way to nevada? I went to UPS.com and the heaviest you can mail, other than going to Freight is 150 lbs. So that's what I clicked and it would cost $125 to ship it to you in a week / week and a half. Someone give me an estimate weight of this booger and I could get you a better quote. I can spilt the engine too to make multiple pakages if necessary.

The engine is missing the fuel rail and injectors. (I sold them to a member on here)
The turbo manifold is cracked internally.
The turbo is seized.
Comes with no harness.

Quote from: JonB

I wanna see pics! Now damnit! Just kiddin. The ford seemed like a little better choice though; over-all size and the distributer in the front. But SBCs are cool to. Are you going to keep it street legal?

As of Street legal-ness. We probably have differing definitions. I will try and find a title for it, and falsify a bill-of-sale. It will meet no emission code, will have no legitimate state inspection (i get them illegally for my other car), and will not have any sort of lights for a while. I completely gutted the entire car. I literally have a chassis, a metal shell, a roll cage, a seat, a column, and a floor shifter. NO DASH AT ALL. I have gauges mounted up the A-pillar, and more to come where the steering clumn support is.

A 5.5 inch tack, a dig speedo, a water temp, oil pressure, transmission temp, voltage meter and a push button starter are the only "Wires" in the car other than the EIGHT on the engine (sparkplugs), and the coils.

I will drive it on the streets to the track most likely and around town every once in a while for shits and giggles... other than that, mainly just a drag car and something to brag about at shows, and local meets.

JuneBug · « **Reply #4 on:** 08:29:16 PM / 30-Sep-07 »

Quote from: New2Drifting

The engine is missing the fuel rail and injectors. (I sold them to a member on here)
The turbo manifold is cracked internally.
The turbo is seized.
Comes with no harness.

Those were the main things I wanted. The trans weighs about 60lbs. If shipping is cheap enough I'll take it. I was just kinda hoping to get everything I needed for ca20et and a manual swap in one shot. Thanks anyways.

New2Drifting · « **Reply #5 on:** 08:32:27 PM / 30-Sep-07 »

edit. off topic

gadget1382 · « **Reply #6 on:** 08:55:02 PM / 30-Sep-07 »

My gf's old man has a supercharged 350 in his patrol. It's a bit of a beast but has ripped it out after seizing the engine after having about 1.5" of sludge / mud in the sump.

I told him his air intake hoses weren't sealing. Also the dipstick kept popping.

Anywho, the 350 is a good motor for what it is, and the torque they can get is more than a 1 ton can would need.

Good luck with it, n keep us up to date.

New2Drifting · « **Reply #7 on:** 09:25:55 PM / 30-Sep-07 »

I'm going to keep mine all motor for now with just your average bolt ons. i dont feel like buying forged internals, etc for a supercharger.

My plans, for the record:

"The Wish List"

- A cam swap (edited)- Most likely a Sealed Power 214/224 "baby-cam"... 114 bucks... can't beat it.

- Headers (edited)- Might keep the stock manifolds since huggers dont give anymore horses than the manifolds. If I can find some huggers in a 3", i might do those... but i will see when i mock her up this weekend.

- Carburator. Most likely a 650 since that's all this engine will "need". Looking into a Holley of course, but I have enough time to look for bargains. Might steal one out of a buddy of mine's junkyard... lol

- New oil pump - $16.46 for a Melling, $35.99 for a Hi-tech Engine Components.

- New water pump - $39.99 for an ASC HIGH-VOLUME, Heavy Duty.

- Some style of air breather to top off the carb. Won't know what style I need until the engine is mounted in the car (clearance). Yes, I know I will need a hood scoop, this is another that will have to wait.

The Things I HAVE (edited as I get it)

- Engine dressup. Chrome valve covers, chrome timing cover, chrome dipstick and tube, chrome breathers, etc.

- New plug wires, some 8mm or 9mm silicones and of course the chrome wire separators that keep them looking clean and neat.

- New timing chain, since this one is pretty stretched. (Got the whole set cheap, lol)

- New piston rings (I went ahead and got moly because they were 2 bucks more than regs lol)

- New main bearings

- An Engine Gasket Set Kit (Plain Jane Felpro/Sealed Power)

- Intake manifold. - Edelbrock Performer for 128 bucks

For everything else that I buy, it will be as I find, tearing the engine down tomorrow. I'll keep you informed with pics of everything as well.

JuneBug · « **Reply #8 on:** 12:06:24 AM / 01-Oct-07 »

Sounds like a good build up. You should post the pictures and updates in the club-s12 garage section though.

Premo · « **Reply #9 on:** 01:46:35 AM / 01-Oct-07 »

no worries man..and cant wait to see some pics! oh, and if you're going carb too dont forget to swap out your fuel pump as the pressure will be way to high

deadpirate · « **Reply #10 on:** 02:15:28 AM / 01-Oct-07 »

I Definatly cant wait to see how this turns out

gadget1382 · « **Reply #11 on:** 07:47:53 AM / 01-Oct-07 »

if you keep the boost below 7psi it'll cope with a blower!

They are very hardy engine's. Just have to be sure to get the air / fuel mix right.

New2Drifting · « **Reply #12 on:** 07:34:42 AM / 02-Oct-07 »

Ok guys, so I stayed home from school yesterday like a bad student... BUT it was due to my wife having labor pains. She has 5 weeks left til the due date and my wife and I were both 3 weeks pre-mature, meaning the little squirt could come any minute now. I brought her to the doc and got her checked out (everythings fine, incase you're concerned), then I got to tear on the engine some more. I was going to tinker with it for a little while, but it got addictive and I ended up finishing the disassembly. Cam, crank, pistons, etc are all out and taken apart. I have pics of ALL of this and most of the process that I will be posting as soon as my wife can find her damn jumper link to her camera. Worse comes to worse I'm going to go buy one! lol. I think I have about 30-40 pics to share if I had to guess... I get out of school at 6 today and plan to atleast do some more cleaning and degreasing when I get home. I have some parts to check off the list as well, so I will edit the list up top as I get the parts. As for boost, we'll see a little further down the road. (Probably this summer when I'm taking home 1800 a week in the plant on turn-around...)

ANOTHER THING, tell me your opinions on which would be best for my application:
Edelbrock Performer OR
Edelbrock Torker 2

I'm leaning toward the Torker, myself.

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc...olds_main.shtml

New2Drifting · « **Reply #13 on:** 08:50:26 AM / 02-Oct-07 »

Quote from: lvDave

Sounds like a good build up. You should post the pictures and updates in the club-s12 garage section though.

Why when I can place it in the Hybrid and Engine Swap Section that has the subtitle about "squeezing what you can fit in between the fenders". I figured (and maybe it's just me) that my project truly "fit" in this category...

on another note, I could write up a rebuild for a Chevrolet 350 Engine... what category should I put that one in? lol

New2Drifting · « **Reply #14 on:** 09:03:49 AM / 02-Oct-07 »

I'm going to be doing many random double posts and triple posts to let you guys know... don't shun me for this, it's my thread, haha.... anyways I will do this however frequently I have an update or idea. I usually do edit when something I have posted gets updated so I try to follow the rules lol.

As for electronics, I have finally come to the conclusion that I am going to want some afterall... haha. Here's a list aside the engine of course

- Windows, since mine are power (never thought I would complain about having pwr windows)
- Headlights, just incase I am out at night for some reason (crusing around shows and meets)
- Tailights, once again (night)
- Brakelights, the most important ones...
- Flashers, so I can flash them when beating someone (HAHA KIDDING, no need for them)
- A hidden push-button start, since I have no lock cylinder, nor anything on my column other than a steering wheel
- Main engine switch, most likely a toggle between coil and distributor
- All of my many gauges, of course

Premo · « **Reply #15 on:** 01:14:27 PM / 02-Oct-07 »

go preformer man, you'll have enough low end torque for that car as it is, you'll want a bit more top end.

JuneBug · « **Reply #16 on:** 03:01:38 PM / 02-Oct-07 »

Quote from: New2Drifting

Why when I can place it in the Hybrid and Engine Swap Section that has the subtitle about "squeezing what you can fit in between the fenders". I figured (and maybe it's just me) that my project truly "fit" in this category...

on another note, I could write up a rebuild for a Chevrolet 350 Engine... what category should I put that one in? lol

I meant to say. Post all about how the swap goes here, but have a thread in the garage section as an overview of the whole car. Technical here. Showoff there.

New2Drifting · « **Reply #17 on:** 03:08:09 PM / 02-Oct-07 »

Premo, appreciate it... as always

and gadget, i understand what you're saying now... i just kind of like having all of it together because they intertwine so much. It would be confusing to have two different pages going at once, and it's easier to reference back to if someone else wants to try it. I read all 14 (might be 15) pages of asparagus build and i loved every bit of it. I kind of want the same type of "build up page" but in the hybrid engine section for those who are searching for different engine ideas

New2Drifting · « **Reply #18 on:** 08:24:19 PM / 02-Oct-07 »

New2Drifting · « **Reply #19 on:** 11:01:02 PM / 02-Oct-07 »

and after I pulled them out, i replaced all the bearings and rings and put them back in... i ran out of time (it's 11 here) and i have school at 6:30

i have a bunch more pictures step by step of reinstalling the new moly piston rings, the pistons (polished with a buff wheel), the new main bearings, and new rear main seal.

i placed the 8 pistons back in the cylinders, but didn't seat them yet nor attach them to the crank. i bolted the crank back in with the new main bearings so that i could revolve the engine stand back upright without worrying about the crank falling out. more pics in the morning when i get to school and have time.