63 F-85 swap kit
January 9th, 2012, 01:58 PM
#2
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 48,269
I moved your post to a new thread because it was unrelated to the old thread you had originally posted in.
As to your question, my answer is don't do it. Yes, Olds and Chevy swaps into these cars have been done, but it is a BIG deal. The 61-63 F-85s are unibody cars and are designed for the aluminum 215. There are no mount kits, so any engine swap requires fabrication. The 215 weighs only about 320 lbs vs. 650 lbs for an Olds 350 and all that weight is directly on the front wheels. The suspension is unique to the 61-63 cars and was not designed for the heavier weight. Aftermarket springs are not available. It is not easy to swap in a Mustang II suspension kit (I've looked). Aftermarket brake kits are limited.
The transmission is also unique to these cars and the 215 has a unique bellhousing bolt pattern. The trans tunnel on these cars is tiny so changing to any newer GM trans requires fabricating a new tunnel. Keep in mind that the tunnel is structural since the car is unibody. Also, the car is very low, so the exhaust is designed to fit in the tunnel next to the driveshaft. There is only room for one pipe - I had difficulty fitting a single 2.5" pipe for my 215. The muffler is designed to fit crossways behind the rear axle. Changing to conventional dual exhausts under the floorpans SIGNIFICANTLY reduces ground clearance.
The rear axle is also unique to the 61-63 cars and it uses a 6.5" ring gear. A custom axle would be required to handle the torque of a 350, and once you install a larger 10-bolt or 12-bolt (which would require a custom width and control arm mounts), there's probably no room for the muffler.
Certainly all of this can be done, but it isn't cheap. Sorry for being frank, but projects like this usually result in the car being disassembled then sitting for years when the problems become too difficult or expensive.
I suggest another path (which is the one I'm taking with my 62). The Rover 4.6 liter engine is a descendant of the 215 (GM sold the rights for the motor to Rover in the mid-1960s) and bolts in place of the 215. The 4.6 puts out 220 HP stock and 260-270 HP is relatively easy to achieve. The car only weighs 2600-2700 lbs, so that gives you the same power-to-weight as a W-30! I'm using a T-5 behind my 4.6.
As to your question, my answer is don't do it. Yes, Olds and Chevy swaps into these cars have been done, but it is a BIG deal. The 61-63 F-85s are unibody cars and are designed for the aluminum 215. There are no mount kits, so any engine swap requires fabrication. The 215 weighs only about 320 lbs vs. 650 lbs for an Olds 350 and all that weight is directly on the front wheels. The suspension is unique to the 61-63 cars and was not designed for the heavier weight. Aftermarket springs are not available. It is not easy to swap in a Mustang II suspension kit (I've looked). Aftermarket brake kits are limited.
The transmission is also unique to these cars and the 215 has a unique bellhousing bolt pattern. The trans tunnel on these cars is tiny so changing to any newer GM trans requires fabricating a new tunnel. Keep in mind that the tunnel is structural since the car is unibody. Also, the car is very low, so the exhaust is designed to fit in the tunnel next to the driveshaft. There is only room for one pipe - I had difficulty fitting a single 2.5" pipe for my 215. The muffler is designed to fit crossways behind the rear axle. Changing to conventional dual exhausts under the floorpans SIGNIFICANTLY reduces ground clearance.
The rear axle is also unique to the 61-63 cars and it uses a 6.5" ring gear. A custom axle would be required to handle the torque of a 350, and once you install a larger 10-bolt or 12-bolt (which would require a custom width and control arm mounts), there's probably no room for the muffler.
Certainly all of this can be done, but it isn't cheap. Sorry for being frank, but projects like this usually result in the car being disassembled then sitting for years when the problems become too difficult or expensive.
I suggest another path (which is the one I'm taking with my 62). The Rover 4.6 liter engine is a descendant of the 215 (GM sold the rights for the motor to Rover in the mid-1960s) and bolts in place of the 215. The 4.6 puts out 220 HP stock and 260-270 HP is relatively easy to achieve. The car only weighs 2600-2700 lbs, so that gives you the same power-to-weight as a W-30! I'm using a T-5 behind my 4.6.
January 10th, 2012, 05:19 AM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Paw Paw,IL 61353
Posts: 1,507
Its easier with a buick 350. I did it in a 61 Special. Right before i was about to start making custom frame pads for the engine. I told my buddy to pull the motor mounts off the 215 and see how they line up with the 350 (buick) Turns out it matched and dropped right in. Still had ALL the other problems to deal with as Joe pointed out. As he said, you might wanna reconsider, or go with an alternative.
January 10th, 2012, 05:23 AM
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Paw Paw,IL 61353
Posts: 1,507
Just for fun here is a video clip of it. 
I put a shift kit in the trans and it would chirp 3rd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxY5V...d8AUAAAAMgAEAA
I put a shift kit in the trans and it would chirp 3rd http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxY5V...d8AUAAAAMgAEAA
January 10th, 2012, 06:59 AM
#5
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 48,269
Its easier with a buick 350. I did it in a 61 Special. Right before i was about to start making custom frame pads for the engine. I told my buddy to pull the motor mounts off the 215 and see how they line up with the 350 (buick) Turns out it matched and dropped right in. Still had ALL the other problems to deal with as Joe pointed out. As he said, you might wanna reconsider, or go with an alternative.
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