Projects 62 tempest

I bought a chevy 350 to drop down into my 62 tempest. I know ill have to mod the motor mounts and all that good stuff, But my car came with that horrible transaxle, Would there be anyway for me to keep the same rear axle and tranny or will i have to buy a transmission too? Any advice is appreciated. This will be my first engine drop.

 

It's the same transaxle that Corvairs used. And Crown put plenty of SBCs in them. Perhaps you could look into that deal and see what they did. Your rope drive shaft may be another kettle of fish, however.

 

Yeah thats what i had read online, Its mainly the rope drive shaft is what Im kinda lost at. I can get a tranny to go with it for another 300$ just wanted to see if i could use what i got first.

 

Mickey Thompson converted one to regular drivetrain back around 1962, yeah it can be done.

 

But how would i go about doing that? Im a novice when it comes to stuff like this. Engines and carbs i can do to an extent. Just swap a drive train in it, Or mod what i have?

 

It's not easy or simple, maybe you ought to find a different car that is more like what you want?

 

I agree with Squirrel, that's not the best swap for a self-described novice to attempt. Is the leaning four cylinder motor in it operable? If so, I'd keep that motor in it and make it run as good as you can, and drive it with pride!

 

Oh i dont mind it not being easy or simple, I like the car i have. I just want to do away with the little 195 I have in it.

 

Yes the 4 cyl still runs, I put 1k miles on it last summer, Up to 75k miles now. Im not the ones that would be putting the engine in myself, I just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas on it. No one in my family has ever messed with a transaxle before.

 

being not easy or simple, translates into being expensive....

 

Yes that I know. Thats why i was posting on here. Money isnt an issue.

 

It might be easier to put a Pontiac engine in there. The 195 is a sawed off V8 and has the same bellhousing etc. I'm no Pontiac expert but I think the V8 is almost a bolt in.

If you want the stock drivetrain to last, it might be best to use a 326 or 350 and not a 428 lol.

 

Yeah 389 and 400 will bolt up to it, Its just finding one down where i live at is the problem.

 

I have good news and I have bad news:

A 326 or 389 Poncho 2 bbl is a drop-in. Add a 4 row rad and limit the hole shots, and you can cruise the boulevard.

Anything beyond that and first rip out everything you see below and start fresh (Hayden Proffit style). You'll also have to cut the driveshaft hump and make it higher, a few minor other details....

 

Where do you live? You can put a wanted ad up here, might be best to keep enjoying the 4 cyl until a Poncho 8 cyl pops up.

 

In 63 they came with a V8 if you wanted to buy one. Changing to a conventional transmission and rear end would require major floor pan reworking. Cutting and welding to make room for the parts. If you had the little Olds or Buick of that era they came with a small V8 and normal drive train. Maybe you could find one for a doner car.

 

hope that you will get your hands dirty helping whoever will be doing install

must be nice

where is that?
do not know which year but, friend's Dad had one with factory 4 barrel on the 4 cyl & factory four speed - that thing would really fly - great sleeper

 

Maybe you could rebuild and hop up the 4. A 4 barrel equipped job made 155HP up from 110 for the base model. No doubt they would respond to the same mods as a Pontiac V8. Later head with larger valves, reground cam, header etc.

 

Back in the 70s I had a buddy with a '63 Tempest 2 door with the 326 V/8 and a stick transaxle. He beat the snot outta that thing and it never broke. Keep skinny back tires on it and hope for the best. I can't help but wonder if using a stamped-steel [Lakewood} scattershield with a chevy bolt pattern would possibly allow you to bolt up the Tempest drive shaft. I don't know because I've never seen that setup.
I do know chevy and 64-up Pontiac bellhousings used the same depth, the same dowel placement and the bottom 4 mount holes are the same if that helps. Maybe you could slap that Pontiac tempest bell housing up against the chevy motor and see what needs to be done. Sorry, not familiar with the bolt spacing on the 61-63 Pontiac bell housings but it doesn't cost a dime to try the chevy motor against the Pontiac bell.

 

I'd find a 326 Poncho and bolt it in and copy the 63. There is always the possibility of finding a 63 with a V8 in a bone yard and transfer everything you need ... Good Luck.

 

Please..Listen to Jim on this one.
I built one of these 5 years ago...455, 200 4R, 12 bolt. Believe me when I tell you . NOTHING will be easy on this build.
Now, if you really like the looks of this car, and money is no object, and you must have a SBC in it, then get an S10 frame, adjust wheelbase accordingly, cut the floor away and drop the body down until it sits right,, and fill in the blanks.
Easier in the long run, plus you're getting rid of all the bad feature, including the Corvair brakes.

 

For the record, this is incorrect.
You'd need a 63 V-8 bellhousing to go with a 63 or earlier 326 or 389. Oh, and a 63 front crossmember to bolt the V8 to.

 

Worked at a gas station in high school, 1968, 69. Guy came in with a Tempest for an oil change. Popped the hood, 421 tri power. Up on the lift, muncie, and a vette independent rear end. Looked factory done almost.Never saw the car again.

 

Where was this? Do you remember the color?

 

In '63 that transaxle was beefed up a bit to better handle the 326 that was offered.

 

Our 61 tempest with a 535 all pontiac block. 2speed glide 12bolt rear with ladder bar suspension. Not much cutting to put ladder bar suspension in with coil overs. Trans and driveshaft tunnel were modified but not much. It runs 9:80s in the 1/4 so there is a lot more done. But i think you could easily use swing arms and a panhard bar for the rear setup.

 

If you go to a more common drive train setup you have to rework the floor board to accommodate the transmission and hang a rear end of the proper width under the back.

With the transaxle you will have to either build or have a custom driveshaft built. I have not built one using the transaxle but I have heard of people using them. My bitch with the transaxle in any of them that I have driven with one was the shifter. It always seemed to me that they were a little less positive than the Corvairs that I have driven. It could be that it was just my imagination.

That little 4 could be built pretty stout as I recall, if you wanted it to go away it could go away to my house, no disposal fee of course.

 

Pontiac built 20 F/X Tempests in 63 and most of them came with the transaxle. Remember the car is a unibody and you have to run frame ties when installing serious horse power. I agree, installing a 326 or same era big block would be an easier install and if you go for a traditional transmission setup, I believe all the BOP engines of the period had the same bell housing bolt pattern. You could talk to Mark at D&D about a bell housing and flywheel clutch assy. http://www.aluminumv8.com/ I hope you build this, these modified Tempests were the start od the muscle car era.

Warren