4th Gen ('81-'88): V6 beef-up before engine swap
#1
02-10-2017, 01:44 PM
V6 beef-up before engine swap
Hello All, I am a new member to the site. I recently purchased a 1985 Monte Carlo for my son as a first car. He wanted to go a little "old school" and have something more classic for when he starts to drive.
It currently has a 4.3 v6 with fuel injection, which I am fine with as he learns how to drive. I don't need him to have a monster just yet. In the meantime, are there any modifications that you can think of that we can do to make it more sexy / cool for a 17 year old. I was thinking of putting on a cherry bomb or flowmaster muffler for some beefy sound, maybe some chrome engine parts. What are your suggestions that would be worth while?
Lastly, I have a great junk yard not too far from me. Down the line, I am thinking of swapping out the engine all together for a V8. Are there any engines that would work better than others? I have heard people using 5.7 liter chevy truck engines and trans to swap. Does that work?
Thanks for any tips or advise.
It currently has a 4.3 v6 with fuel injection, which I am fine with as he learns how to drive. I don't need him to have a monster just yet. In the meantime, are there any modifications that you can think of that we can do to make it more sexy / cool for a 17 year old. I was thinking of putting on a cherry bomb or flowmaster muffler for some beefy sound, maybe some chrome engine parts. What are your suggestions that would be worth while?
Lastly, I have a great junk yard not too far from me. Down the line, I am thinking of swapping out the engine all together for a V8. Are there any engines that would work better than others? I have heard people using 5.7 liter chevy truck engines and trans to swap. Does that work?
Thanks for any tips or advise.
#2
02-10-2017, 06:36 PM
welcome to the site! Being a 4th gen lover myself I would just do some basics under hood for now. As for mufflers personally I don't like the sound a v6 has with flowmasters or cherry bombs. Yes a 5.7 liter will work. I started out with v6 and swapped out with a 350sb and went all in with the goodies and haven't stopped lol. you have few options with trans 350th etc.
#3
02-10-2017, 09:27 PM
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Papillion, NE
Posts: 322
Hi tcline, me again. 
I realize you didn't ask about this, but if I know teenagers, they tend to prioritize a car's appearance and sound system over engine stuff, and that made me think of this 1985 SS in an issue of Car Craft magazine:
There's upgrade ideas like a custom hood, power antenna, and 16-inch wheel-and-tire package that would be cool for an '85 CL too.
A street-legal window tint isn't a bad idea either.
Going back under the hood, you could probably use an 8mm spark plug performance wire set for a 305, and fit a set of new spark plugs while you're at it (especially if the current plugs it has aren't so good).
I realize you didn't ask about this, but if I know teenagers, they tend to prioritize a car's appearance and sound system over engine stuff, and that made me think of this 1985 SS in an issue of Car Craft magazine:
There's upgrade ideas like a custom hood, power antenna, and 16-inch wheel-and-tire package that would be cool for an '85 CL too.
A street-legal window tint isn't a bad idea either.
Going back under the hood, you could probably use an 8mm spark plug performance wire set for a 305, and fit a set of new spark plugs while you're at it (especially if the current plugs it has aren't so good).