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My Turbo 302 SBF Project

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nelson8708

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am getting ready to swap in a 302 SBF into my S13. I haven't picked up a engine yet but, i have a few lined up i'm going to look at. I picked the 302 SBF because they are cheap and fairly easy to make fit in the engine bay compared to other v8 swaps. Once its in i plan on putting a HX50 or equal size turbo on there to help get some power out of her. My first question is:

How do you covert the cable clutch to a hydro? Bell housing swap off another ford?


I plan on having the engine and tranny by the end of october so i can start mocking stuff up. For now i'm going to stitch weld the bay and clean stuff up a bit.


Thanks,
-Nelson
 
#2 ·
nelson8708 said:
I am getting ready to swap in a 302 SBF into my S13. I haven't picked up a engine yet but, i have a few lined up i'm going to look at. I picked the 302 SBF because they are cheap and fairly easy to make fit in the engine bay compared to other v8 swaps. Once its in i plan on putting a HX50 or equal size turbo on there to help get some power out of her. My first question is:

How do you covert the cable clutch to a hydro? Bell housing swap off another ford?


I plan on having the engine and tranny by the end of october so i can start mocking stuff up. For now i'm going to stitch weld the bay and clean stuff up a bit.


Thanks,
-Nelson
Click to expand...
FreshAlloy.com Forums - View Single Post - how about this for a project!!!

5.4L SBF on the left
5L SBC on the right


And after making the mounts and everything for LSx. It fits so easy.
 
#4 ·
I can't answer your questions. But I'm pumped to see this build man. Keep us updated and get some pics ASAP haha. :thumbsup for this build mang!
 
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#8 ·
The great thing about the SBF is that it has a front-mount distributor, so there's no issue with the firewall clearance on the 240's tricky engine bay. The only Chevy swap that it is "better" than is the older SBC. Any LSx will be better than a SBF or SBC hands-down. Plus, the great thing about the LSx is that it has coilpacks. :)

Honestly, I've looked deeply into every swap that you can put into the 240. If you want a v8 and want good power, I'd get a 4.8l or 5.3l truck motor out of a 99+ Chevrolet pickup truck. LS1 heads and cam and intake manifold on that (LS1 guys upgrade, and you can find their parts for pretty cheap usually), and full exhaust, and you're making 300whp with at least that in tq. Now, granted, that's an iron block, but they're only about 65 lbs heavier than an LS1. And the price is more than worth it. For a trans, you can run pretty much any automatic, or an older 5 speed out of, say, a 3rd gen camaro. I would do either of those and save up for a T56 in the mean-time. Nasty car on a budget. You just either need some fab skills, or know someone who does. Otherwise, the engine crossmember mods and headers and such will add up. You'll have to either fab those or get them from HSC or something like that.

Now, since I'm sure you're more than dead-set on the 302, what headers are you planning on running? Most people just run the stock passenger side manifold, but the driver's side becomes an issue with the steering rack. It's possible to flip the manifold so that the collector points forward and up and run a U-bend, but that's pretty ghetto. haha.

Also, and forgive me if you already mentioned this, but are you planning on running EFI or a carb?
 
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#9 · (Edited)
xXxSilveradoxXx said:
You mean a LR4, LM7 or a LQ4. The LS1s are aluminum blocks. Hell, any Gen III or Gen IV would be good!
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm well aware of that. General public doesn't know. So it's easier to get the point across by just saying "iron block LS1".

I have an LR4 which is getting bored and stroked to 6L.

mondojackal said:
The great thing about the SBF is that it has a front-mount distributor, so there's no issue with the firewall clearance on the 240's tricky engine bay. The only Chevy swap that it is "better" than is the older SBC. Any LSx will be better than a SBF or SBC hands-down. Plus, the great thing about the LSx is that it has coilpacks. :)

Honestly, I've looked deeply into every swap that you can put into the 240. If you want a v8 and want good power, I'd get a 4.8l or 5.3l truck motor out of a 99+ Chevrolet pickup truck. LS1 heads and cam and intake manifold on that (LS1 guys upgrade, and you can find their parts for pretty cheap usually), and full exhaust, and you're making 300whp with at least that in tq. Now, granted, that's an iron block, but they're only about 65 lbs heavier than an LS1. And the price is more than worth it. For a trans, you can run pretty much any automatic, or an older 5 speed out of, say, a 3rd gen camaro. I would do either of those and save up for a T56 in the mean-time. Nasty car on a budget. You just either need some fab skills, or know someone who does. Otherwise, the engine crossmember mods and headers and such will add up. You'll have to either fab those or get them from HSC or something like that.
Now, since I'm sure you're more than dead-set on the 302, what headers are you planning on running? Most people just run the stock passenger side manifold, but the driver's side becomes an issue with the steering rack. It's possible to flip the manifold so that the collector points forward and up and run a U-bend, but that's pretty ghetto. haha.

Also, and forgive me if you already mentioned this, but are you planning on running EFI or a carb?
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I did.
I bought a 4.8 out of a 2002 Silverado. 110,000km on it. Full motor minus a/c and tranny. fully running. $100. Put on a bunch of LS2 and Z06 parts I got for free.
Now it's just getting a 6L treatment.
 
#10 ·
Just making sure! Be careful with which LS2 parts you choose to use, some LS6 parts are better. $100 for that engine is a hell of a deal! I assume you are in Canada since you're using metric mileage. In the US a truck engine can't be legally swapped into a car.
 
#13 ·
xXxSilveradoxXx said:
Just making sure! Be careful with which LS2 parts you choose to use, some LS6 parts are better. $100 for that engine is a hell of a deal! I assume you are in Canada since you're using metric mileage. In the US a truck engine can't be legally swapped into a car.
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm in Canada.

I have:

LS2
cam
pushrods
intake
brand new ECM

Z06
yellow springs & retainers
fuel rail
fuel pump
injectors
clutch and flywheel

All parts have LESS than 10,000km on them. Except the ECM, it's brand new.
ALL FOR FREE!!!
I helped my boss swap in his built LS2 into his JDM FD.
 
#14 ·
Sweet! That's what I'm talkin about. I have a high-mile 2003 4.8 lying around (I figured I'd build it, but just keep the 4.8's shorter stroke and just go with bigger pistons and clearance the block if necessary. I was thinking 6.0l pistons, but their short skirt has we worried. They develop those knocking/pinging problems, and I don't want any part of that. Still though, I think a 6.0l size bore with the 4.8's stroke would be a nasty motor, and it would rev really freely, too. My kinda motor. :)), and I've tossed around the idea of throwing it into my car, but I don't have access to a good TIG machine, and I don't wanna do headers and stuff on the MIG. Also, I LOATHE automatic transmissions, and T56's aren't cheap. The older 5 speed is a good idea, but then I think about the GTO oil pan and back to the headers, and I just discourage myself out of it. I'm entirely too on the fence about motor stuff. That works both ways, though, cause I know quite a bit about all the swaps people do into 240's.

atutt, do you have any videos of your car?
 
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#15 ·
atutt said:
All parts have LESS than 10,000km on them. Except the ECM, it's brand new.
ALL FOR FREE!!!
I helped my boss swap in his built LS2 into his JDM FD.
Click to expand...
God damn, free is the right price! Sounds like you are gonna have a nice setup! :thumbsup

mondojackal said:
Sweet! That's what I'm talkin about. I have a high-mile 2003 4.8 lying around (I figured I'd build it, but just keep the 4.8's shorter stroke and just go with bigger pistons and clearance the block if necessary. I was thinking 6.0l pistons, but their short skirt has we worried. They develop those knocking/pinging problems, and I don't want any part of that. Still though, I think a 6.0l size bore with the 4.8's stroke would be a nasty motor, and it would rev really freely, too. My kinda motor. :)), and I've tossed around the idea of throwing it into my car, but I don't have access to a good TIG machine, and I don't wanna do headers and stuff on the MIG. Also, I LOATHE automatic transmissions, and T56's aren't cheap. The older 5 speed is a good idea, but then I think about the GTO oil pan and back to the headers, and I just discourage myself out of it. I'm entirely too on the fence about motor stuff. That works both ways, though, cause I know quite a bit about all the swaps people do into 240's.

atutt, do you have any videos of your car?
Click to expand...
I've always thought that a LR4 with LQ4/LQ9 pistons would be a hell of a setup! I've just never got around to building one. I've always thought that that setup with a 4L60-E and a Corvette differential would be a nice setup for a custom Ariel Atom type car. One of these days I'm gonna build that....
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Well, this is what she looked like about a 1.5 weeks ago
Image

and this is how she looks now
Image

So far i have stitch or tack welded the bay and i am repairing a few rust spots on the frame.
Image

I just went around the frame with my welding hammer hitting it looking for the week spots. There were no holes in it what so ever when i started but, i found two areas that are going to need repair on the frame and the rest is just sheet metal repair. I plan on making everything my self from the turbo header to the engine/tranny mount. The drive shaft is the only thing that i am going to have made.
Image

I'm going to cut out some plate to weld over it tomorrow hopefully.

I should be getting my ES master bushing kit in by thursday and will be installing that next weekend. I hop to finish enough of the engine bay to spray it flat black. Still hunting for a engine.....there are plenty of 5.0's but, i need a HO 5.0 since they have forged stock pistons over the sand cast pistons that are in the plain jane 5.0's. Defintally going with EFI.....as for headers i'm going to flip both of them backwards and place the turbo behind the drivers side headlight or in that general area. I need to find out how to convert the cable clutch to hydro before i go and get parts this way i can swap housings in the junk yard instead of having to go back and pay for a second bellhousing.
 
#18 ·
mondojackal said:
Sweet! That's what I'm talkin about. I have a high-mile 2003 4.8 lying around (I figured I'd build it, but just keep the 4.8's shorter stroke and just go with bigger pistons and clearance the block if necessary. I was thinking 6.0l pistons, but their short skirt has we worried. They develop those knocking/pinging problems, and I don't want any part of that. Still though, I think a 6.0l size bore with the 4.8's stroke would be a nasty motor, and it would rev really freely, too. My kinda motor. :)), and I've tossed around the idea of throwing it into my car, but I don't have access to a good TIG machine, and I don't wanna do headers and stuff on the MIG. Also, I LOATHE automatic transmissions, and T56's aren't cheap. The older 5 speed is a good idea, but then I think about the GTO oil pan and back to the headers, and I just discourage myself out of it. I'm entirely too on the fence about motor stuff. That works both ways, though, cause I know quite a bit about all the swaps people do into 240's.

atutt, do you have any videos of your car?
Click to expand...
Go with a .060 over piston. It'll make it a 5L. And it'll rev fucking sky high! I've seen this done with solid lifters and such, reach over 7500RPM!!!!!
They are also press fit to stock rods.
You can also C5R pistons which are press fit to stock rods. Or get C5R rods as well. but this would obviously make it a 5.7L
The biggest these iron blocks can go is a bore of 3.9'' and a 4'' crank. You can fit SLIGHTLY larger OEM pistons in there. But aftermarkets can only be up to 3.905''.

NEVER USE THE 5 SPEEDS!!!
It takes to much work and it's not worth it. the 5 speeds are shit trannies. I know t-56s are expensive but they are worth it. Save up for one.

No, I don't have any vidoes of my car and you'll see why in a second.

Now, as for the part of you not having a TIG...
When I'm 110% satisfied with my mounts. I will probably sell a few sets. maybe even have a few aluminum sets machined.
But that would mean you'd need my headers as well, lol.
Which I have not designed yet. Which is one reason why my is not running. I haven't made my headers.. Or should I say. turbo manifolds, lol. But they wno't be cheap AT ALL. All my stuff is back purgedand done properly. (Since I'm a cert TIG welder, and used to do pipe fitting)
I also need a GTO oil pan and pick up. And I need better heads.

Also, My engine isn't exactly in MY car. I picked up a spare S14 chassis to do my swap in. So I could have EVERYTHING worked out, and have it up and running. And, so I keep my DD up and running and have no downtime.
Honestly, this is the best way to do this kind of swap. Buy a spare chassis and do everything in that. It's much more stress free!

On boost, I've seen the stock 4.8L handle 700whp.

xXxSilveradoxXx said:
God damn, free is the right price! Sounds like you are gonna have a nice setup! :thumbsup

I've always thought that a LR4 with LQ4/LQ9 pistons would be a hell of a setup! I've just never got around to building one. I've always thought that that setup with a 4L60-E and a Corvette differential would be a nice setup for a custom Ariel Atom type car. One of these days I'm gonna build that....
Click to expand...
yeah... you can't beat free...
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
I'm just throwing this out there since i haven't found a motor set....what is a good small (actual size) fuel injected v8 that you could find in a junk yard?

-Nelson
 
#20 ·
The 4.8L chevy, still a pushrod engine, so no gigantic cylinder heads to mess with. Or a nice fairly potent swap, non V8 is the S/C 3800. Camaro 3.8 with a regal GS supercharger.

Hey mondo, do you know if a 700R4, TH400, or TH350 would bolt to the 4.8L?
 
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nelson8708
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