DirtyT rolled outta here a short time ago to head home and drop the Donzie-Jay 216 into his ride to get it running for next weekend! I never woulda guessed that a whole 216 with bellhousing and three speed trans would fit in the rear of a Civic hatchback along with a complete engine hoist!! It was quite a sight...TWO dinky ricer hatchbacks loaded down with used engines and*******s in ONE location! We got the old Chevy out into the street and shuttled stuff around to pick the Vega motor out of the back of my car and swing it into the garage. My brother-in-law stopped over to help push the old hulk back up into the driveway nose-first this time. After they left, I popped the hood and did ALOT of measuring with the complete Vega motor sitting just a few feet in front of the car! Damn, it's almost like that engine was MADE to go into an old 49-54 Chevy! The length, width, and mounting positions all jive with what will work under the hood! The block height on the Vega mill is a little taller, probably due to a slightly longer stroke, but it should still fit okay! The HEI Vega distributor MAY be a tight fit in the cove near the firewall, but aside from that, this should be a VERY easy swap! Scrapmetalart was kind enough to sell me the Vega motor COMPLETE...with motor and frame mounts, hoses, accessories, EVERYTHING...so I was able to measure and calculate the fit pretty well. Vega engines use a funky oil pan with a very flat front that almost SCREAMS "Made to fit a 49 Fleetline!", so maybe it's a Sign from the Heavens?!!? Will it be SLOW? Yeah, likely...but no more so than a Stovebolt powered Chevy for sure! I'll have to run it against DirtyT's car when it's done to see!! Mine's lighter!!! Thanks again, DirtyT (Bryan)...all in all this was a VERY productive weekend...getting so close to running now I can TASTE it!!! Hopefully in about a month or so!
Yeah, Bryan is a********* mofo. He said yesterday he was gonna borrow a truck to pick up the engine, but when he showed up with his Civic... But that engine fit in complete with everything but the aircleaner... I mean everything right down to the adapter for the torque tube! He definately earns the HAMB spirit award in my book... 2 engine hauling trips over an hour from his pad in 2 weekends with a Honda Civic (which runs 15's BTW ), DAMN!!! I hope it works for ya bro! If it doesnt, you'll hafta blame Donzie. Jay And Hack... well... I still have a 305/700R combo if ya come back to your senses!!!
thanks for the kind words.. i just got ina little bit ago my self. it was a scary ride home down i94. the front end was floading all over the place. and every big bump i hit i got the sweet smell of burning rubber comming from the back tires scraping the wheel wells. i headed out side to start the trying to get things going but of course the damn rain came back. thanks jay for the good**** deal on the motor! and thanks greg on letting me help u push your car up the drive way hehe o well time to go take it easy with the ole lady .. see yall saterday!!! Bryan
Bryan your a good man......I could'nt believe it when we squeezed that heavy 261 into the Civic and you still ran 80 on the highway!! .......You have the HAMB spirit for sure and your girl friend must have that same spirit to be so supportive of all those long days working on your car and Fat Hacks!! See ya at the party and I'll be the first to buy ya a brew!!.......oh ya .....and you to Fat Hack.
BUhaahahahahahahhahah ha. Doubtful. Even if I hit the 52 mill tomorrow night, and I had all of my friend come over (not a typo ) It still wouldn't be ready...
The Jalopy Journal
