Northstar motors...anyone thought about running one?!

Add a "Yeah, it's got a hemi!" sticker on the car and most bystanders wouldn't know the difference.

 

Aren't those the engines with the starter located under the intake manifold? That could be a real ***** to change out.

 

got a bud here in ga has one thats been built to the hilt in a 32 vicky gets 26 -28 to a gal and runs 13:40s in the 1/4 and he drives the wheels off of it

 

What is more "traditional hot rodding" than putting something new on something old and making it work? As for the Northstar, it is not 1-800 friendly and actually requires some use of ingenuity, imagination and the ability to take on and finish a challenge.

 

No, I wasn't. For once I wasn't being a smart*** or ****ing with someone.

Notice the lack of smilies in my above posts. I was SINCERELY trying to tell him the way that name reads at first glance. I didnt look at his post count or even notice that he was "formerly" known as someone else. If I would have said the same thing to him in person the intonation and inflection in my voice would show that I was just making an observation. Folks are awefull gun shy here these day.

Once again, let me reiterate, I SAID I KINDA DIG the Northstars. But, I don't talk about them here because they are not really what this board is about.

I would suggest doing a search over on the Rodders Roundtable. Good folks and I am sure there is info galore about Northstars. Hell, Enjenjoe has prob installed a couple in various things!

 

man, i've been thinking that for DAYS but did'nt want to say anything. LOL

...and JESUS CHRIST! does every ****in thread have to turn into a "thats not traditional enough" ***** fest on this God Damned board??? ****. now i know why i had been staying away untill recently.

 

"Traditional" hot rodding involved street racing. Are you advocating that here too?
Sorry but you only get to define traditional in your own mind. You couldn't dictate it even if you knew how.

 

Damn it man people on here like to *****! As for the northstars they are bad *** engines, but not real cheap. I think you might come out cheaper with an SBC, but then again people will ***** about that also, depending on what you are putting it in.

 

That's quotes from the boss. ***led "Read This First!"
AHEM.

 

I'm not going to enter the traditional/non-traditional debate BUT legendary customizer Gene Winfield did use one in of recent kustoms. Maybe you've heard of her, Maybellene?
Food for thought....



http://www.c-we.com/piranha/GeneWinfield.htm
(scroll towards bottom)

 

im sorrry but isnt there something on this website that says something about spreading the "TRADITIONAL" rod and custom gospel.
northstar?are you f#$king with me!
lets start doing tech posts on ls1 motors,c5 corvette suspension swaps,and heated jaguar leather seat installs.

 

I'm not sure I'd call it traditional, but I'm thinking that with the appropriate goodies (including different valve covers), they could be made to look enough like an early Hemi to fool even some hard-core traditionalists at first glance.
Northstar Notes:
You can make your own head bolt thread inserts out of 5/8" co**** thread bolts, but good luck getting the block drilled and tapped straight without a mill or a proper fixture. We use the TimeSert kit, which is expensive, but works cherry every time. If you live in an area where no one has the tools, and you buy it, you can make the money back easily if you care. I would not be surprised at all if many of the guys on this board could make their own drill fixture that would work as good as the store-bought one.

The ****** bolt pattern is like the 2.8/3.1 V6, with one bolt hole in a different place. It is NOT a BOP pattern like the 3.8 V6 or a Chevy pattern like the 4.3 V6. I think (not sure) the dowel pins don't even line up with the BOP and Chevy stuff. The nice thing is that there were 2.8s with T10s in both Camaros and S-10 trucks. Most cheap ****** adapters only use 4 bolts anyway, so 5 should be enough unless you are going with the blower. It may be an amazing engine for it's size, but we are not talking big block torque here.

Engine removal is supposed to be thru the bottom.
Backyard/ U-Pull-It Northstar removal:
Jack up the car, and put a a furniture dolly under the K-member/ oil pan. The K-member unbolts with 6 bolts, the motor mounts attach to the engine with 1 nut each, the upper strut mounts are 3 bolts each, and the exhaust must be disconnected near the firewall. Then you can hook the radiator support with your engine hoist and lift the car off the cradle, and roll the cradle out. This is ***uming you aren't wanting to keep the car nice - if you are, you need a non-destructive way to lift the car 3 feet, like a service lift or something. The engine hoist to the rad support is for junk donor cars only, as it will bend the support and pull the fenders in, and then the hood will be too wide.
You will want to salvage ALL of the underhood wiring, climate control panel from the dash (on some models), and sensors on the ******. With a wiring diagram and some patience, you can build your own harness if you don't feel like paying someone. At least keep the engine harness, because even if you get rid of the EFI, you will need an aftermarket DIS box, which will require some of the engine sensors. The cheapest route is the MSD setup that is for the Northstar. I've seen LT1 and LS1 kits for rnning a traditional distributor, but not for the Northstar. If you want to go that way, look at front-drive stuff like flatheads and BMWs

 

Hell yeah!!!

I would personally like to advocate street racing in school zones, heroin use, satan worship, peeing on Santa Claus, and beating up cute puppies.

And now I would like to apologize for the above statements.


And yeah, northstars are rad motors. But talking about them here will likely result in someone's feelings being hurt, and the loss of 25 rockabilly cool points, daddyo.

Stay golden ponyboy.

 

I sure am glad there is a bunch of GAY COPS on this board!!

When I get done with my 27' Ford RPU I will be sure to fax over the build sheet so you True Blue Traditional Drag Queens can let me know if I'm up to code!


Use that northstar, it looks real good like that pic you posted.


NGFY!!

 

I find it ironic that the folks defending the Caddy and making the biggest stink registered in the last 2 years.........................

Neat engine, not traditonal.

Notice use of smilies.

 

Who cares when you signed on, I've been buiding Hot Rods since age 11 I'm 30 now, and besides my acount was lost when I originally signed on 01' -02'....Any Cadillac V8 or bigger RULES! At least he aint trying to put a Nissan motor in his Rod.

Please post build pics when you put that motor in dude, some of us appreciate American made parts used with ingenuity.

 

Lighten up Francis

 

**** man, two years ago i was on a ship defending your freedom to be on the HAMB and dictate exactly what people can and cannot talk about.

to me what these guys are doing is hotrodding. this is my second year as an alliance member, i have done HAMB auctions and met a bunch of cool guys here.....hey i guess at least out of all of this i got a new signature line

 

Have you seen what the sand-rail guys do with those Northstars? Stupid HP numbers, and very light weight. Cool technology. I agree with Tman, it's out of place here, but I can picture one with an older style intake and lake headers, I think it would look good.

It's funny, I said the same thing on a thread last month where a guy talked about using a Quad4 or ecoTech instead of an old 'banger. I said they are good engines, but if you must use it, either ditch the EFI or put a hood on the coupe, 'cause EFI is a long way from traditional. Some guy really took offense at that, because it would cost HP.

IMHO, EFI instantly converts your hot rod into a street rod. I'm sure there are exceptions though.

Can't make everyone happy I guess....it's all about doing what you want for yourself anyway.

 

PS: if you set back and read this whole thread, it is pretty funny, all in good fun. Especially gaRAGEr's new sig line. LOL ....funny stuff.

 

my feelings aren't hurt. no worries

(notice my use of smilies )

 

I would trust a ***an v8 more than a northstar. I know people with northstars that are blown up, and ***ans that run fine. I wouldn't put it in my car, I'm just sayin...

 

Blah blah blah.... yeah street racing happened... I'm not advocating it but I'm not being a grandma about it either. If you had done any digging around or paying attention here you'd see that this board is about traditionally built/styled hot rods and customs, i.e. as if they stepped out of a time warp back in the 40's, 50's, or early 60's. So quit being a dumb*** and get a clue. There are lot's of people that have other interests on here but know better than to push it. The boss (that would be Ryan, this ain't no democracy) is kind enough to let us indulge. His game his rules... If you feel the need to be an *** maybe you'd be better off over at ruffrodders or OSR or a street rod forum.

Yep... some people just don't get it....

 

NOT TRADITIONAL ...
But good engines ... in the cars they came originally equipped in ...

I have owned three Northstar equipped Cadillacs ( still have two ... his and hers )
They run great and get great mileage ... I get 22 to 24 MPG on the road in a 2005 Sedan Deville.

That said ... I do not believe I would install one in a early car.

.

 

Thats IT!!


I'm done with Hot Rods and Kustoms they are gay Rage r!! I mean Gay!! I'm converting to hopped up roller skates to go with my traditional feet.

 

Its amazing.

Guys that did this stuff in the 50s would be the first to chuck a Northstar in there. How much power? How efficient?? Sign me up!

The teens doing this thing then begged, borrowed, and stole to get their hot rods faster. Now we idolize and dissect their history as if were a code of conduct.

Traditional? They just wanted to go fast...

 

Since when did spreading tradition become dictating what is traditional? I'm wondering if 5 of you self anointed preachers of tradition could even agree a****st yourselves what traditional means exactly.

If I buy a SBC crate motor from Jegs does it have to be pre 64 to be "traditional"? And speaking of that, just so we can all be on the same page, from what era is the "traditional" gospel you're spreading?

Someone posted (to me) something about poodle skirts and The Beach Boys as if The Beach Boys only sang songs about surfing and "traditional" girl friends/wives of hot rodders never wore poodle skirts but were instead covered with tattoos I suppose.

I got news for you, not to say anything about women choosing to be tattooed, but, "back in the day" (I was there) the "tradition" was for women to NOT have tattoos because tattooed women were "traditionally" in circus side shows, not car shows.

 

You deserve to be proud of that because I and many others did the same 40 yrs ago, only then we were called "baby killers" not defenders of freedom.

 

You know, I've heard that certain parts cannot be found for these, as they just aren't made. Cadillac at the dealer says they're "throw away" motors, and will do a unit replacement instead of a rebuild sometimes. I guess after 100k miles or so they're no good?

This is what I've gleaned from reading a lot of stuff online.

~Jason

 

I talked to some folks that did this - said it was a real ***** to do.

I hit 'em up with some info, as I was curious about one in my '60.

~Jason