Name two cars that if you swapped the drivetrain, would improve each car.
I can't think of anything, but I bet someone comes up with a viable answer.
Name two cars that if you swapped the drivetrain, would improve each car.
I can't think of anything, but I bet someone comes up with a viable answer.
Cadillac with the 500ci motor and a early 90s GM 1/2 ton with the 6.5L Turbo Diesel.
Reasoning:
The Cadillac would actually see some MILES per gallon instead of the other way round and the Truck might actually be able to tow something (like if it were the 454 version). 
1988 corvette and a 1999 c1500 4.8. The L98 has the torque a truck needs where it needs it (read: everywhere) and the 5.3 will rev like a sports car engine should. I've always thought hte L98 belonged in motorhomes and 1-Ton trucks.
Turbo Dodge Aries Convertible and Fiero 2.8. The Dodge gets a torquey, smoother engine that won't rattle the flexy flier chassis too much and the Fiero gets an engine that's actually fun. 1990 Camaro and Lexus LS400, for basically the same reasons. Third Gen Toyota MR2 Spyder with Corolla XRS. The MR2 gets high rev power befitting a sports car and the Rolla gets user friendliness befitting its frump.
DaewooOfDeath wrote: Turbo Dodge Aries Convertible and Fiero 2.8. The Dodge gets a torquey, smoother engine that won't rattle the flexy flier chassis too much and the Fiero gets an engine that's actually fun. 1990 Camaro and Lexus LS400, for basically the same reasons. Third Gen Toyota MR2 Spyder with Corolla XRS. The MR2 gets high rev power befitting a sports car and the Rolla gets user friendliness befitting its frump.
No. Just no.
The 2.8 is a POS engine that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy and stuffing it in a K-car would be supreme sacrilege considering how much better the 89+ 2.5's were and the Mitsu 3.0L V6 was a much better engine than the 2.8 ever wishes it could be.
That said, swapping a decent 4-cylinder into a Fiero is something I support whole heartily and unless you're talking about putting a supercharged Chebby V6 into the K, I think that is a losing proposition. There are decent 4's from the Chebby parts bin now that would be a better solution for the Fiero (easier swap, more powerful engine with better parts availability).
Same with the K-car, mix and match Mitsu V6 parts and with enough cutting you could stuff a twin turbo, dual cam V6 in one and maybe even give it a bump in displacement while you're at it. Or just swap the 2.4L dual cam turbo in it, turn up the boost and have stupid amounts of fun.
In reply to Bobzilla:
I approve of this.
Add turbos to the 4.8 and enjoy revs and torques.
Corolla XRS and MR Spyder
The Corolla would become a Corolla once again and the MR would get a nice power bump.
gamby wrote: Corolla XRS and MR Spyder The Corolla would become a Corolla once again and the MR would get a nice power bump.
Exactly. 
Does it count if one of the swaps is merely better because it makes one of the vehicles weigh more, so it is worth more in scrap? Because I am thinking something like 2.3 Duratec from a Ranger into a '79 Mustang, and the POS V6 from the Mustang in the bed of the Ranger before the flatbed takes it away.
Knurled wrote: Does it count if one of the swaps is merely better because it makes one of the vehicles weigh more, so it is worth more in scrap? Because I am thinking something like 2.3 Duratec from a Ranger into a '79 Mustang, and the POS V6 from the Mustang in the bed of the Ranger before the flatbed takes it away.
I support this policy.
What about a 3800 Camaro and a 4.3L 2wd S10? Seems like you could do an economy tune on the 3800 and the S10 would get as good or better mpg over the 4-cylinder without giving up much of the stock v6 power or torque. The Camaro gets half a liter of displacement and more torque, which should work to it's advantage somehow.
Along similar lines, what about swapping the slant 6 from an early A-body Mopar with the 4-cylinder in a Dakota? A slant six Dakota would be awesome, though I doubt it would fit, and the 4-cylinder in the A-body would rock with a little boost.
I had been thinking that the 3.0 from a 3rd generation Eclipse might be good to swap into a late '90s Chrysler LeBaron for going for the F/Production record at Bonneville. Or a less built motor would make the LeBaron a more civilized turnpike cruiser. Meanwhile, putting the LeBaron's 2.2 Turbo into the Eclipse could give it back some of the boost grenade mayhem its previous generations were known for.
In reply to MadScientistMatt:
Based off of the same block I believe, so it should work just fine.
Personally I think a better swap would be the Eclipse 3.0 MIVEC with an SRT-4 or a PT Cruiser Turbo (if it would fit in that damned tiny engine bay, heh.)
Any big block pony car with any small block intermediate/fullsize.
In reply to DaewooOfDeath:
Your gearhead license has hereby been revoked, as there is nothing better than a big block pony car!!!
In reply to turboswede:
I've always thought adapting the PR cruiser to RWD would be a fun one, and solve the tiny engine bay issue, wouldn't be nearly the hateful POS it was if it were built that way.
In reply to Kenny_McCormic:
Other than the needed floorpan changes to fit the transmission and rear axle, it is entirely possible to do since the Jeep Liberty came with a non-turbo version of the 2.4L and a 6-speed manual.
Having ridden in one, I have to say it wasn't a bad rig for what it was. I don't understand the hate for them, but I guess it is very much a love/hate car.
bravenrace wrote: In reply to DaewooOfDeath: Your gearhead license has hereby been revoked, as there is nothing better than a big block pony car!!!
Mumbles something about trying to drive the Saturn 5 rocket around town....
How about adding an old flat head to anthing small. Just something different.
In reply to turboswede:
The PT or the Jeep? The PT is a POS between the whole cramming a FWD drivetrain between such narrow fenders(timing belt is an all day job) and that changing the control arm bushing involves cutting holes in the floor to get at the POS cage nuts. Instead of fixing the problem, they actually put dimples in the floor stamping to show where to cut...
There was a RWD jeep powered by a 2.4 with a 6-speed, that's all I know and that's all I care about since it's something to keep an eye out for in the salvage yards.
After looking at the Bugeye Sprite with the 478ci Hemi and custom chassis under it, I'm of the mind that anything is possible.
turboswede wrote: There was a RWD jeep powered by a 2.4 with a 6-speed, that's all I know and that's all I care about since it's something to keep an eye out for in the salvage yards.
I did a head on one after it burned an exhaust valve. 2.4/6sp and I could have sworn that it was 4wd, but not sure on that anymore (memory is a funny thing sometimes)
Then I replaced the crank seal a couple years later. Which turned into an engine R&R/rebuild after it was determined that the seal was pushing out because the crank had a quater inch of endplay. It's a common enough failure that Chrysler has a repair parts kit available. (Crank/bearings/misc.)
The RWD version of the 2.4 is not much easier to work on than the PT Cruiser. It still has the giant metal plate that goes across the front of the engine that the accessories bolt to.
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