This is the first time posting for me on this site, I should first
explain my situation. I am embarking on a mission to make
an import powered beast from the sixites. I am useing a 64
Malibu and a Toyota power plant... now before you laugh
thik about this. 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, 750 horsepower, and
hopefully nine second e.t.s, not to mention a daily driver.
Well it could be possible. So you are going to ask why? Well
its simple really why not. I own a 58 chevy panel truck and
that is my first love, but I also like the performance of
modern cars. So thats just it classic styling and modern
performance. This car is destined for great things both in
the import and domestic world. If you want to vent your
frustration at me feel free, use my e-mail. Anyways off to
the question.
Ok I am doing frontend work
on the car right now while the
engine is being built, what is best way to get a good
handling ride out of my car? I have considered both dropped
spindles or lowerig springs, and I am leaning towards the
spindles because they don't alter the suspension
geometery. I am also upgrading with a new front end kit
with polygraphite bushings. What sway bar can you
reccommend that I use with this car and what shocks have
the best record for performance? Also does anyone know of
a manufacturer of a coil over kit for 64 and up chevelles?
And when it comes down to it I would much rather have a
harsh riding car than a car that is going to flip when I make
a 15mph turn. Please help me out, thanks alot.
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Joe454
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 02:28 AM
I weep for this chevelle
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Bob Tiley
Administrator
posted 09-09-99 07:56 AM
Conatct Global West or Hotchkiss or check out thie web
sites. The both have suspension kits for the old A-bodies.
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Buck Mustard
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 08:05 AM
Search through old posts (especially in the Brakes &
Suspension forum). You will find tons of info on upgrading
the suspension on classic Chevelles.
<weeping with Joe454 >
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64elcamino
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 08:15 AM
There can be no advantage to running a Toyota motor. If
you want fuel injection, GM has it, you need torque, GM has
it, want light wieght GM has it, want cost effective
horsepower, GM has it. So what are you looking for????
Poor, poor Chevelle
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Philip Valentine
Lakeside, AZ
Team Chevelle Member #42 GOLD
philip@chevelles.com
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Riffers70
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 08:44 AM
I concur with Bob's suggestion. The have probably the most
selection for any criteria you might want for the '64.
I can't help but join in the others in weeping for the poor
'64, but it's your car and good luck in your venture. I would
be interested in seeing pictures you progress.
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Fred (Southern NJ)
Madness takes it's toll, please have exact change.
'70 Chevelle
www.oocities.org/motorcity/shop/9385/1970Chevelle.html
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Dcairns560
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 08:56 AM
SICK SICK SICK!!!
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72CHEVELLE
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 12:35 PM
I really didn't want to join in the harassment, but WHY??
That's worse than putting a F**D motor in it!!
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66 bowtie
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 01:56 PM
Well i am with joe and others on it but hell i won't be driving
it so do what u wish but don't hack the car into tons of
peices just for the sake of an import engine that will make
you pay double the price for an oil filter. now i am going to
go cry in a corner
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OWNER OF A 66 CHEVELLE MALIBU
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/nascar97/Chevelle.html page
about the progress on my resto. still being made
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amhpd17
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 02:19 PM
What Toyota powerplant makes 750HP?
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Kevin
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 02:24 PM
Or for that matter - Who runs 750 HP in a daily driver even
if you did it with a low strung monster cube motor? I hope
this guy isn't serious.
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Rob F
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 04:58 PM
Now I've heard everything, but hey, whatever floats your
boat...
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Rob F.
Team Chevelle #312
68' SS396 6-spd Elky
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drptop70ss
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 05:10 PM
Im gonna try not to be judgemental on this, at least the
chevelle is getting worked on and not crushed, but I dont
get it. That motor may make 750hp at 9 grand but in a
heavy chevelle? Chevelles need torque and thats what
makes them a blast to drive. I dont see how any lightweight
timebomb engine is going to live trying to make a chevelle
jump off the line. What kind of transmission? Why not put
twin turbos on a smallblock? Just please dont throw
Japanese decals all over it with a 4" chrome tip..I can see
why you wouldnt want to put this engine in a Japanese car
cause theyre so ugly, and Id like to hear how this works
out.
Man and I felt so guilty about putting a 4.3 v6 in a chevelle
for a driver I didnt do it!
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70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv
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67_454_Hardtop
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 06:34 PM
Anybody that would put a piece of jap crap Toyto motor in
a perfectly good Chevelle must be on CRACK.I read in Gm
hight tech performance that it takes $13,000 dollars to
make a 2000 pound peice of jap tinfoil run in th low 12,'s.I
have seen some toyota engines before and they are a joke.
They would have anough trouble handling the meager
horsepower they make stock. Ialso saw something about
these stupid import cars an a tv show once and these guys
had 11 secondcars but had to get a new motor after every
couple .races.If your set on a turbo small displacement
motor you would be 1000 times better of with a Turbo Buick
motor
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Joe Harrison
Tech Team
posted 09-09-99 11:44 PM
I would hope your "dreams" come true doing this is gong to
cost you some money. When you start talking about
handling and front ends, you are going to have to start
from sratch. GM already made it work and others have
improved upon that, in some cases by leaps and bounds.
You will have to do alot more than just bolt in your Toyota
engine, you will have to make a combo work thats way out
in left field. Pleas post back and tell us which toyota engine
your planning to use. Is it the lexus/Tundra V8? Is it the V6
or 4cly from the Trucks?? I can't think of any others, all the
rest are front wheel drive. As for the comment by 67 454
Hardtop. I am not going to compare a Toyota pickup with a
Chevy or any othe full sized American truck, you can't. The
full sized trucks are just flat out better at the heavy duty
loads they can carry a Toyota is what it is, a small utility
truck and the 4X4's go most any place. As for the engine in
them the 4cly 22R in the pre 96 trucks is indistructable it's
the small block of import engines and has good power for
what it is. It is far from being a joke, they hold up to alot of
abuse, both in modified form and stock.
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Gold Member #164
sites.netscape.net/1969ss/homepage
San Diego CA.
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elcamino72
Tech Team
posted 09-10-99 09:42 AM
I PITTY THIS CHEVELLE. Here's what you do
64TDRmalibu, You go to your local GM Preformance Parts
dealer and order you self a big 'ol 502ci rat. Why would you
use a Toyata rice plant in a classic anything. This is not a
joke you need help, and we can help if you let us.
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Bryan Shook
Burgettstown, Pa
1972 El Camino
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Clark
Tech Team
posted 09-10-99 10:20 AM
OK why not, I'll add to this thread too.
As far as the suspension goes you should probably check
with Global west and Hotchkis they sell parts that can
drastically improve the handling of your car. Poly bushings
are a good idea and for shocks I like the KYB gas adjusts,
they are very stiff. Lowering springs do change the
geometry but this is not a bad thing. These old cars didn't
have the greatest geometry to begin with, lowering it
should improve it some.
As for your engine selection
It sounds like you have more money than you know what to
do with. If you can do it correctly you should have a quick
car. Keep in mind that if you race it you will probably win
some and lose some. Just be aware that the guys you lose
to will have spent a lot less money and have the faster car.
I'm glad your 64 is not going to the crusher but your wallet
is.
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Clark
TC #68
Ft. Polk, Louisiana
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283v8
Tech Team
posted 09-10-99 11:45 AM
Go for it. I like something different. I'm tired of 350s. I
dislike computer controlled Jap crap due to my inability to
figure them out, but do what you want. I'll never buy it, but
I'll look at it in a show or at the strip.
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Gotta have a Chevy !In Durham N.C.
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66 bowtie
Tech Team
posted 09-10-99 08:28 PM
Forgot to ask something. how you gonna modify the engine
mounts? i am guessing that they are off by alot and the
cross member might be in the way??????
maybe not never thought of putting a imported engine into
a classic but hell i would just spend the money on some rat
like
elcamino72 suggested buy a 502 rat.....
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OWNER OF A 66 CHEVELLE MALIBU
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/nascar97/Chevelle.html page
about the progress on my resto. still being made
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amhpd17
Tech Team
posted 09-11-99 01:45 PM
Anyone get the feeling that this is just a hoax?
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Bruce M.
Buffalo, NY
Team Chevelle #197
69 SS Chevelle
80 Malibu
members.aol.com/amhpd17/index.html
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normnather
posted 09-12-99 03:00 AM
I won't go there on the Toyota thing but for the suspension
thing the best thing to do is put on close ratio power
steering, front disk power brakes, new coil springs (keeping
in mind the weight of the new motor and tranny compared
to a 6cyl or a small block V-8 or even a Big Block), and
most importantly at least a 1.25 inch front sway bar. You
already said that you plan to go with poly urathane
bushings - do your self a favor and rebuild the rear
suspension with poly bushings too.
There is NO NEED for a coil over shock system on that car.
You can use a power steering unit off of a mid to late
1970's Camaro, it bolts right on and I am sure you will have
to use the Toyota power steering pump the power steering
lines should easily be fabricated to work. (I actually new
someone that did this with a Toyota Power steering pump
on a GM car. DON"T ASK)
As for the sway bar you can pay up to $200. for one from
one of those suspension superstores or you could get one
off of a mid to late 1970's Trans AM, for about $20. from a
you pull it wrecking yard. If you get the Trans AM sway bar
keep the frame bushing brackets and bolts from the Trans
AM, you'll need them. Just make sure that the sway bar
gets the poly bushings too.
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Doug Garland
Tech Team
posted 09-12-99 06:27 PM
Also make sure to order at least a 4.88 gear to go out
back.Get a tranny with a deep 1st also.Your gonna need it
to get it going, and if you are turning 9000, you can live
with it. Why not a 6cyl and call Clifford and get a 4bbl
intake, a hot cam ,and maybe some nitrous.I saw a "6" at
Super Chevy in a '65 turning 12.30's and outran many a Big
Block. Just My .02
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Buck Mustard
Tech Team
posted 09-13-99 06:37 AM
Just to expand abit on what normnather said:
The list of mid-70's F-bodies is not limited to Trans-Ams but
also includes Firebird Formulas and Z28s. Actually any
F-body front sway bar will swap - but only these vehicles
are likely to have a 1 1/4" bar. You do NOT need to keep
the brackets - I recently swapped a 1 1/4" bar onto my '70.
I ordered my front end kit from PST and they include the
brackets with the bushings. I re-used the bolts from the
original sway bar on my car.
Again: search through the old posts on this site. We have
covered these topics many times.
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Gene Chas
Tech Team
posted 09-13-99 08:56 AM
Bruce M., I'm with you and he sure got the boys revved up.
I don't know what kind of designer drugs they brew in Simi
Valley, but, son, lay off! It's really tweaking your
sensibilities.
If not a hoax, I must ask what it's going to cost you for 750
HP out of a Toyo? Whatever the dollar value, streetable
with 15:1 CR or big squeeze, and a power band of
5500-9500? Really.
Ball's in your court. We're all ears. How much?
In unhip Buffalo NY, boys run 557 ci rats to do 9's off the
bottle. And the way those Camaros,Chevelles and Vettes
are set up, they won't go around a corner at 55. ANd that's
my serious response to your query. You'll find that in
suspension design there is a great tradeoff between
straight line launch optimization and cornering optimization.
Especially for the goals you quote.
If you're serious, have a blast with it. It'll sure be unique.
And I'll run you anytime with my 1960's technology 427.
Good luck.
[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited
09-13-99).]
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Cam
Tech Team
posted 09-13-99 10:27 AM
Years ago they made a kit to swap a small block Chevy into
a Toyota Land Cruiser. Why? Because it made sense to
lighten it with the small block & get more torque. Nowadays
the Japanese wring a lot of power out of an engine, much
like motorcycle engines. I don't wish to dis Toyota since my
'89 Corolla GTS has 277k, doesn't burn oil and is more
reliable than the sun. They are very well engineered for
their pupose. Jap cars are also built light for a purpose. I
can also tell you that you could rebuild 3 small block
Chevies for what it would cost to rebuild a 1600 cc
twin-cam; maybe you could rebuild 4 for the price of a 3
liter twin-cam six. As for Chevy power; surely it makes
sense to stay with an engine for which an entire speed
industry supports. I would say you have guts & style for
suggesting the swap, but don't create an orphan. It isn't a
proper marriage. Hmmm, on second thought maybe you
should consider that Toyo-six for an early sixties Falcon...
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Havoc
Tech Team
posted 09-13-99 11:59 AM
I bet this is a joke...
If not, I'd rather see you riding around town in a 950HP
supra than a Toyota powered chevelle. No high-winding,
low cube motor could ever push a chevelle, even the 307 in
my dad's malibu would result in better 60 foot times at the
drag strip. How about you give me the money you'd spend
on building a Toyota motor and I'll build you a nice EFI 502,
with enough money left over to put 502's in my dad's 3 307
cars. Hey, build an all aluminum 427. Build a hemi. Put a 40
Ford Flathead V-8 in it. Or, how about a BMW V-12? GM
built a caprice like that - using a 740i motor. How about a
Viper V-10? You ever drive the Lexus (TOYOTA!) GS-400?
Supposed to have 300hp right? My girlfriend's dad has one,
it's a dog below 4000 RPM, and above that, it feels like a
mild 350. The japanese know how to build cheap/effecient
cars, they don't know squat about horsepower, and more
importantly, torque.
As for handling, look into hotchkis upper and lower control
arms, for both front and rear. get the fattest swaybars you
can find, like 1 3/8" front and 1 1/8" rear. You'll need stiffer
springs. See if you can get edelbrock shocks for chevelle
(do they make em, anyone?). The best way to improve
handling would be a set of big, lightweigh rims (like 18x9)
and 295/35R18 tires on all 4 corners.
I didn't know they let you access the internet from inside
the "home"
------------------
Ian McDermott
1970 Chevelle SS 396
Gold Member #101
E-mail: havoc@chevelles.com
Web page: www.columbia.edu/~ijm6/chevelle (This should
work...)
ICQ UIN: 3923441
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cali-guy
posted 09-13-99 06:06 PM
Well, I reckon if you drive it off a cliff(find a 1/4 drop zone
somwhere), and gravity does it's job (accelerating @ 12.8
meters a second), you'll still only do a 13 second 1/4 mile.
Sorry dude
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Havoc
Tech Team
posted 09-13-99 07:47 PM
haha, physics! except i thought gravity did it's thang at 9.8
m/s/s? I guess that means a 15 second quarter mile.
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72chevelle350TH350
Tech Team
posted 09-13-99 09:44 PM
HAVOC, you wehre much much closer with the 9.8 (9.8526
at sea-level ) and I like the /s/s deal, brings back H.S.
memories.
This "import powered" guy doesn't seem to be keeping up
with his post. Maybe he had to sell his computer to buy a
clue? Or he is just 5 months overdue on April fools....
Either way, we need to stop replying and let it go quietly
into the night. If it makes anyone happier, I am 20 and
can't stand ricers. And my dad drives fords, what kinda
child hood is that~~~~~~
just my .02
[This message has been edited by 72chevelle350TH350
(edited 09-13-99).]
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tired69
Tech Team
posted 09-15-99 06:09 PM
I,m a Jap/American, and even I say this import engine in a
Chevelle is forbidden stuff (sacrilege). I'm with all the other
guys. It hurts me to see this or even hear this violation.
Anyways, a front/ rear sway bar kit that is meant to work
with eachother from Hotchkis, tubular front A-arms from
Hotchkis, machined tie rod adjuster sleeves from Hotchkis,
boxed rear trailing arms (lower) and adjustable rear control
arms (upper) both with polyurethane bushings from
Hotchkis, trailing arm brace kit from Hotchkis, Edelbrock
performer IAS shocks all around, Eibach or similar
aftremarket coils that are stiffer and lower the ride height
one inch, together with the 2 inch dropped spindles (will not
negatively effect suspension geometry), a good light wheel
and wide tire combo, and a set of polyurethane body
mounts. I think that should help in the handling department,
but you still gotta think about that engine thing, I'm asking
you please, put a killer small or big block Chevy powerplant
in that baby. The engine is the heart and soul of the car, it
holds personality, character, attitude, and is the voice of
the car. Don't let it whine down the highway with a high
pitched tone, let it rumble and shake the earth as it
muscles it's way into the sunset.......
(I wonder if this post IS a joke.) John 69MalibuChevelle