Hi Everyone, My daughter and I bought her first car, a 64 chevy II Nova that we are fixing up. The 194 was smoking very badly and running very rough so out it came. Our neighbor friend gave her a 3.8 v6 for her car and we are running into a road block....the oil pan hits the steering linkage. Has anyone here ever modified the oil pan on a v6 like this in order for it to fit? Ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated. thanks Jim
Depending on obstuctions like the pickup tube I have cut and installed three inch pipe to clear steering arm. If you remember the hemi under glass car, this was done on it. On mine I did this and cut the open area off.
It would be very similar to cutting a SBC pan for clearance. I did it on my 66 and was easy. On a 4.3 if you step the mounts back so the engine bolts to the bellhousing in its stock location I dont think you will have to cut anything? Great swap coice for that car. Is the 3.8 a buick and from a RWD car?
Which 3.8 V6 is it? The older carbureted Buick 231 V6, the older Chevy 229 V6, or one of the newer EFI 3800 Buick cousins? Either way, oil pan mods will be a must, but you MIGHT find them easier if it's a Chevy V6, since you could probably do some surgery between the stock V6 pan and a stock Chevy II V8 pan. Another option (albeit not a cheap one!) would be to install one of the many bolt-on front clips now available from several aftermarket companies. These new units replace the old Chevy II front suspension and makes fitting engines in the car much nicer...but expect to shell out about $4500 to go that route!! Although the 3.8 V6 was free, it may not pan out to be a real bargain in the end...you'll spend lots of money and time adapting it to the car, and when you're done you will have been better off doing a V8 swap! My suggestion would be to seek out a 250 or 292 Chevy inline six from 1972 or newer. They are still plentifull and dirt cheap...they'll bolt into the car using the 194 oil pan and pickup and they run forever on unleaded fuel! It'd be a nice, cost-effective way to upgrade her car...and will save countless dollars and headaches along the way! Is the car a manual trans or automatic? A transmission upgrade would be a good idea, too. Put a TH-350 or TH-250 Metric behind the 250 or 292 six and it'll improve performance and gas mileage over the old Powerglide. You could even go to a 200r4 or 700r4 for an overdrive automatic! A four speed manual transmission (an old Saginaw will do) would be an easy upgrade from a stock three speed, too.
A V8 in this car uses a front sump oil pan, not hard to modify a pan for your V6, my choice would be the 4.3.
the V-6 is from a 70's malibu. Its a carburated engine that runs well. I've got it bolted to a 700 R4 tranny The car originally had a powerglide. I have tried dropping it in but the oil pan needs about a 2 inch cut out in order for it to fit. I haven't taken the oil pan off yet to see where the oil pickup is. Just wondering if anyone has been there and done it ahead of me.
Here's a pic of a V8 pan "kit" and some info on pumps/pickups (Front sump). May get you started http://www.novas.net/forums/showthread.php?t=628 http://www.classicperform.com/Store/1962_67_Chevy_Nova/CP1009.htm
Then that's likely a 229 Chevy V6. In that case, doing the oil pan mods should get you on track without too much hassle. I was afraid you might be trying to stuff a Buick V6 in there!
Thanks everyone for your help. The 3.8 was a freebie and keeping in mind that my daughter is still in high school her funds are limited. We are trying to give her a nice running car that is relatively economical. It does not need to be a power house. The 700R4 should be a nice addition....it too was a freebie. ( I would have preferred a 200R4 but oh well...) As well, if she ever gets tired of the car, Dad will buy it back and then it gets a V8..lol
The 229 is a good little engine. Had one in a Tehran Taxi, hooked to a 3-speed floor shift. Only options were a radio and air conditioning! A 4.3 is the next step up, but keep the 3.8 top end stuff. Higher compression, and carb. Or find a Q-jet intake off a Chev pickup, '85 I think had 'em. Sounds like a fun lil' Deuce!
You can find that Q-jet intake manifold on 4.3 V6s in 85 Astro/Safari vans as well! It's a high-rise piece, being for a truck, but it works great on a 229 as well as a 262!!
using the 700-r4 you will need to buy or fab a new cross member and shorten your drive shaft . maybe go to www.stevesnovasite.com , lots of info there as well
Send the stock V-6 pan into Milodon/Moroso. Tell them what you're doing and they can modfy the pan. I knew a fella that put a one piece rear seal SBC into an early Nova/Chevy II BEFORE they had a pan mass produced and they did it for him. OR, do it yourself with a notch cut out of the pan and the sump extended. If it were me, I'd go to a mildly built 250, with your 194 head, IF it's the small chamber one. Use your 700R4 trans and some 3.73 gears, and the straight six will surprise you. Butch/56sedandelivery. NEW, these early Novas/Chevy II's that had a V-8 came with a front sump, just like your six. The aftermarket has V-8 pans available with rear sump and a cutout for the crosslink, a better setup for better oiling under acceleration.
I've got a dual bolt pattern 200R4 that I'd be willing to swap ya... but I think the shipping wouldn't be advantageous for us though. LOL Seriously, if you've got a way, I've got one to swap.
Hi Jim, Ted here, its been 10 years since this post , I was wondering how you made out. Did you ever put the 3.8 v6 in the Chevy II Nova? I was thinking of the same idea. Reliablity, fuel economy, daily driver are my main points. Did you get 25+ mpg? Please let me know it would be awesome to know!
The OP's last post was in 2010, click on the avatar and go to profile and all will be answered. This is a 10 year zombie post you dug up, not the record but close.
"I came this close" Bought our 67 Nova in 83 with plans to put a 4.3 V-6 in it with a Muncie, that never happened, well at least the Muncie did.
Yes... I put the later 4.3 V-6 into my 67 Chevy II, with a 4spd. manual shift auto trans. Ported heads, Edelbrock intake manifold, a modified Holley carburetor and Chevy hot rod/off road roller cam. That car was faster than it had a right to be. Handled well too with a pair of larger anti-sway bars and 7" Chevy Rally wheels squeezed in the fenders. It pissed off a fair amount of Mustang and Camaro guys..! I drove it for about six years, then it went to a new owner in Las Vegas. Mike P.s. - Forgot the main thing... A friend and I built a custom set of "6" into 1 headers. All six primary tubes went into one collector, then into one 3" muffler and out behind the rear tire. Made for an increadable sounding little engine. It had a whole wave of different sounds depending on the RPM.
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