Kinda scared asking this, non Fcar powerplant swapped into a Fcar?

Lots of 212's and 250's got Chevy V8's put in them in the old days. A number of 400's got Chevy motors too.

 

And those were the old days, so let's keep them in the past.

 

What car? Is this hypothetical or do you have a carcass? I have no issues with it but if I'm going to put in my .02 cents I want to know what we're working with. I think it would be an amazing irony to see a 308 or TR with a Fiero engine in it, although I believe there are better options.

 

I don't know about that. In a 400 I think its a real improvement.

 

My opinion is that it shouldn't be done, particularly with Chevy engines. Drop a Fiero engine in a 308 or TR and everyone will think you just have a kit car.

I did meet a 308 owner who said he's not worried about timing belts; he could simply drop a Northstar engine in it if he trashed the 308 engine. . . I think he was kidding.

 

The engines are usually the stronger part of the drive train. It's all the other "cheap" bits that you have to worry about. You then worry about weight of the substitute motor and location, which could really upset the balance of the overall car. You're better off just spending the money on a good one.

Besides, one of the best track cars out there is a 308 GT4. Relatively simple to maintain and still affordable.

 

I think you need to drive a Ferrari first. The engine is kind of the whole point of it. They really are different.

 

Chevy small blocks have been placed in Mondials and 308/328s, in both transverse and longitudinal mode. A 308 running around somewhere actually does have a Fiero subframe and powerplant. There are multiple 308s running 355 drivetrains, and there's a 348 running a turbo 4 of some type. Northstar V8s are relatively popular too.

If it can be conceived, someone has probably tried it.

 

This can work for custom hot rods or lowriders.

The upside of swapping in an American V8 is reliability and ease of repair and cheapness to run. You'd never be wanting or waiting for parts. You could go to Autozone or NAPA for your engine parts. This would make sense even more if your Ferrari body and chassis were coming from a car that was a salvage title, or a sad case of rust that you repaired and turned into a hot rod.

Having a mint/stock looking Ferrari with an American V8... I'd stay away from that. It has to be a hot rod or drag car to get away with it.

 

A Porsche 924 is a good well balanced track car without the expense of buying a Ferrari carcass. I also like X1/9s as fun get arounds if you want Italian.

 

I don't see the benefit of doing this. Original is better.

 

And you can find the pinnacle of this sentiment right here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170171

EDIT: Well, that's pretty damn good, but THIS might be the actual pinnacle: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156988

 

Not quite the same, but I remember someone in the mid 80's trying to fit a V12 from a wrecked 365 into a 308 GTS like the post above, but not as detailed IIRC. I always wondered how that turned out. Back on track: even though its heresy to think about, the idea of a modern powerplant from a ZR1 fitted to a restored Maserati Indy or a 365-400i is compelling. It would be faster, cleaner, get better gas mileage, start on the first turn of the key, be less tempremental and cheaper to fix. However, it just wouldn't sound the same....

 

I actually like the reverse, putting a Ferrari engine in something else, specifically this application.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195246

 

This is the best cross pollenization I've seen of a Ferrari engine into another car... amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elAK6yJtpyk

 

i blew one of the heads on my ferrari within week of getting it and considered engine swap vs repair but only briefly. cost/effort would be same in end and never sound as good. enzo himself felt the motor was the most important part of his cars.

those vettes do sound good but lack the high pitch scream of ferrari at redline. no one else has it and is THE key to the experience for me

 

I know a guy a few towns over who has a 250GTE with a crate motor in it. He bought it that way along with the OEM drivetrain. Still looking for the motor. The car is SPECTACULAR! Just has an American motor in it. Someday he'll get it back to original.

JIM

 

Have at it...

http://bringatrailer.com/2009/12/28/purge-the-yellow-1964-ferrari-330gt-22-project/

 

OUCH that hurts!