Northstar in a 32???

So I went down to the cl***ic car auction at the fort mcdowell cascino in Fountain Hills. (totally not worth it, for those of you who were thinking about going) I was looking around, and I saw your typical gold chainer roadster...and then I looked at the motor, and it was a New Cadillac Northstar 279 (4.6L).

Now that, for those of you who arent familiar with them, is normally transversly mounted, in a front wheel drive car. So how could they have done this? I think its a cool engine, just not for that car. But yeah....there wasnt anyone there to ask, so I'm curious.




Thanks guys

 

A couple car mags ran articles on that changover, didn't read them as had no interest. Sure someone here can hook you up. The infos out there........OLDBEET

 

Before the introduction of the new series Northstar in RWD platforms the "traditional" way of running a Northstar in a north-south configuration involved the modification of the transmission from behind a 2.8L V6 because the bolt patterns were similar.

 

Rod and Custom ran an article a few years back. If it had a 350 ****** and was carburated then its the same car. It was black I think. And if I remember correctly the guy that built it was an Ind. Engineer on nuclear subs. Pretty wild car...

 

I have one set up here in my Dads 1937 Ford Cabriolet. Let me tell you for all the positive aspects of this fully modern engine it is pacakged poorly for hotrod use. If anyone is in town for the auctions, feel free to stop by the shop!

Even in Carrol Shelby's Series 1 they had problems fitting it all in.

The waterpump is on the back of the engine and hangs over the bellhousing of the trans. Yes the small pattern V6 trans bolts on except for one hole on the p*** side, the trans needs to be modified for that. All the accesories are on one side directly over where your steering needs to go so custom brackets are needed. There are a few companies making aftermarket stuff now like carb manifolds, blower manifolds and turbo kits as well as engine managment systems. The Sand buggy guys love these engines. With a stock Northstar and 8 pounds of boost you can expect 400+ horse. Hell just a good set of exhaust headers can net you 325hp STOCK! There is great potential for these engines in the future but as a TRADITIONAL engine forget it.

 

These guys have some cool stuff for the Northstar.
http://www.chrfab.com/
It can end up looking pretty cool and retro, while being pretty powerful and lite... Just FYI

 

I think Hot Rod Magazine has an article about these motors on deck for next month.... (always knew that reading that "and next month.... section would be good for something someday....)

 

here's one set up w/2x4's

 

I didnt realize they could make a motor that new, that cool. Would be kind of fun to put one of those in a traditional car. Just to get people to argue over what type of engine it is. I can just hear people screaming, "NO, its a HEMI!!!"

Yeah the Roadster I saw had the engine in its standard cadillac dress, which made it look kind of funky.

Boy, now I want to put one of those superchargers in my STS.... I wonder if it would look kind of hokey facing sideways?

 

I wonder what they use in place of a distributor]which is not one of its options].......I have two of these [longblock] that I wanna sell for 300 for the pair....they each have a [block] thread pulled on a head bolt hole......common ailment I hear/need a helicoil to repair......come get em or Ill ship!

 

Most common is to mount the coils in the cab on the other side of the firewall and run them out to the motor...