66ninetyeightls

The 1963 cars were full subframe correct? If I remember correctly they are also very hard to find parts for.

Is this thing even worth looking at? I am looking for something smaller that the 98 but want to stick with 60's olds.

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ245240789

f-85

I dont think it has a motor. He said in the add "ready for drive train"


Yes subframe car. Go with a 64 and up. The A bodys are full frame

But i do like the 63s i might get one someday. its a 1 year only body style. Just wish that they would have put them on a full frame.

Jaybird

Hey Craig: And I think parts are hard to find for my car... I bet finding parts for this one would be a big headache!
Hmmm? I wonder if my spare 425 and TH 400 would fit?

Jaybird

f-85

Go for it!!!!!


I put a buick 350 and th350 in a 61 Special (same setup) The motor bolted in with the 215 mounts. But i had to cut and fab up a new trans hump.

Jaybird

f-85: I think I'd rather have Craig go for it.... still wanna make my '67 Delta Custom run great.

66ninetyeightls

i like the look of the car but the last thing i need is another car that is hard to get parts for.

joe_padavano

Not really. They are full unibody, if that's what you mean. There is no subframe in the Camaro sense. There is a simple front suspension crossmember that unbolts from the unibody at three points.

The 61-63 cars are unique and only share parts with the 61-63 Skylark. The 1963 model year is even worse, as there are many one-year-only parts like the steering linkage and body panels. As you correctly point out, parts are virtually nonexistant from the repro houses. About the only thing you CAN get is weatherstripping from Steele. The good news is that these cars only weigh about 2600 lbs with the stock aluminum 215. A larger Rover V8 (derived from the 215) bolts right in. The stock automatic trans (Rotohydramatic 5) is not GM's best automatic, but it is very compact. Later model automatics can be adapted with an adapter plate (see D&D Fabrications) but the trans tunnel requires surgery. The stock gokart-sized brakes are hard to find parts for (unless you pay big dollars from Kanter). The rear axle is unique to those cars and parts are harder to find than for a Type O. They are cool and unique cars, but be aware of the parts availability issues before you buy.

67442nut

455's are pretty easy to find.

66ninetyeightls

LOL that would be interesting in a light little car like that.

Its the trim parts that would be the real PITA.

joe_padavano

Unfortunately, even I would shy away from that swap. As I said, with the aluminum V8 the car weighs 2600 lbs. The BBO and trans and associated upgrades (bigger brakes, rear end, etc) will add 750-1000 lbs. My plan is to build a Rover/Olds aluminum hybrid and shoot for 260-280 HP (the Rover makes 220 stock with all the emissions gear and the low-RPM "truck" cam profile). That's better than W-30 power-to-weight.

66ninetyeightls

Joe did you get your engine yet? If so how hard was it to find?

joe_padavano

Yes. I found mine in the classifieds on www.britishv8.org. There are a number of 4.6 motors out there but I wanted an inexpensive core shortblock since I plan to mount the Olds heads and intake so it looks stock. The 4.0 motors are much more common, and it turns out that the block is the same as on the 4.6. In retrospect, I probably should have gotten the 4.0 and used a Buick 300 crank to get 4.9 liters.