Hey everyone, what complications would there be chucking a very large chev engine into a VL? Im talking like a 454. I know it would weigh alot, and I know youd need brakes, gearbox, suspension etc. But apart from that would it drop in?

yeah it would be possible but there would be major mods to be done. you would need to buy a new one of this...and a custom one of that..., it would be quite costly. there is a thread on a LS1 conversion into a vl. have a read of that to get an idea.

i would say reinforced chassis probably? all new stronger/reinforced engine mounts to line up with original ones...

Oh yeah, and engine mounts like you guys said. I guess chassis reinforcment would depend on how much it weighed. What would a big chev weigh? Be nice to do something different for a change.

Mate if your going for that much effort, Not that I think it's worthwhile to do get a older car, Put a Chrysler 440 in Mopars are a heaps better motor than a stinky old chev. It's Mopar or No car. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Bah, Mopar in a Holden? Just cant see that one going down to well at the pub! A holden or a Chev would be better, those 2 kind of tie in together really anyway. Just sometihng with lots of cubes, anyone got any ideas? I am not plannin to do this immediately, just wondrin what else is round and how hard it is to do.

i proberly wouldnt use a big block unless your going for the biggest thing u can find, put a small block in it i was going to but it costs about $1600 from memery for the conversion u need mounts, sump n pickup, pipes and starter adapter

**** putting a big block in a POS commodore Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

yeah id put a small block in, or even a 400... big block would be a big struggle to fit it in the bay and it would be terrible to try and work on

You could always be different and Put the QOHC boss 290 in it LMAO.

400ci Chev? How much power can they make comfortably/reliably? How much would one cost to buy a prebuilt, machined, warmly worked one?

they're the biggest small blocks afaik, whatever a 350 can make they will make a lot more, as they can be stroked to something like 420cui or something. They're old tho, afaik the blocks ended in the early 80s or so... but u can buy the blocks even with standard bores from some wreckers pretty cheap then just buy parts easy, lots of aftermarket parts for them as with ANY chev.

Might be a problem then, I believe the laws say you are not allowed to transplant an engine into a car that is older than the car, ie, must be a newer engine. I dont mind old engines, old engines are basic and usually take more punishment EFI or Carb doesnt matter, but something around 400cubes sounds very very appertising. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

u can get new chev engines...

why chev a commodore? buy a car that will take a chev already? be different people. and you dont have to worry about power from a 350 or a 400, my mate with the torana (350/383) pushes out 368rwkw and he could probably push that motor a little further..

Epitaph - Thats why I want to do this, to be different. Everyone else buys a VLTurbos, and the VL 8 boys usually all go 355 strokers. How many VLC do you see with big Chevs in them? Anyone know a site I should look at to get rough prices?

two of my mates put 350 and 400ci chevs in their landcruisers. lined up on the beach (not the same as the road, but...) and went for it. the 400 absolutely munched the 350. both are fairly standard as far as i know. spend a few g's and a 350 will stay with a 400... spend a few more g's on a turbo 6 and it will stay with both... not much beats the sound of a healthy 400 though...

try castlemain rod shop they do the conversion kits this is for small block dont know if they make em for big block http://www.rodshop.com.au/

im telling you right now, the big block conversion for a commodore is more hassle than it is worth. good luck working on the car, i hope your bay isnt too tidy..

Ok well we've established that and we're now looking at large small block chevs Some original photos have not been recovered yet.