carl mciver wrote:

"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
| Since I want to go around corners weight is a concern, and since I want
| to pay for this in my lifetime an aluminum block is probably not in the
| cards. But I'm putting a 5-speed behind the V-6, which should be
| equivalent to an automatic and at least 25 more horsepower (automatic
| transmissions are for weenies).
|

Sure they are! Buick 215 V8. All aluminum. Go looking for a BOPR
(Buick, Olds, Pontiac, Rover) V8 which can be had from the original 3.5
liter/215 up to 5.2 liter (with money of course!) They're still out there.
Used in the Buick Special from about 59 to about 63 and in the Olds Jetfire
(and even turbocharged from the factory.) They cast the blocks with
sleeves, and that never worked out so well. Rover cast the blocks first and
then pressed in the sleeves, which was a whole lot cheaper and a more
consistent process. There's lots of aficionados, mostly because the whole
motor, soaking wet, only weighs ISTR about 320 pounds and put out about 180
horse originally, give or take, depending on the configuration. This is one
of those underappreciated motors due to the lack of use on this side of the
pond and the reliability issues built into the processes of the time.
The Buick V6 is a cast iron version of this motor with two cylinders
lopped off, so the bolt pattern is the same and most of what's up front is
also interchangeable, even with a lot of the Rover stuff, obviously which
evolved on its own after being freed from GM's ownership in 1974.

I considered that, but I can get the 3.4L from a catalog, and the
Edelbrock intake from a catalog, and headers -- well, I'll have to have
those made.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

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