Has any tried or even know somebody that knows somebody else that has tried to do a
2001 4.6 L Northstar engine swap into a 2001 Cav?

i think someone researched into it and it wouldn't fit.



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- Sold my beloved J in April 2010 -

Engine will fit, tranny will not.


<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/americanred/deplysig.gif">

i was thinking that this might work for u http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33615&item=7960180732&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW


rwd sunfire

Yeah I did the research on the northstar and the issue was with getting the tranny to fit but with moneya hd reworking the body and structure of the car its possible but not worth it in my eyes.



Disclaimer: Dey see me Trollin' Dey hatin' for trollin dey trying to catch me ridin dirty.

If they can shove one into a VW Golf then I know it can be done to a J-body .


<a href="http://users.adelphia.net/~rdbryant1/index.html.html"><img src="http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/mrgoodwrench/personal_pic.jpg" border=4></a>

Nothing but respect for the guys who do the large engine swaps in the 3rd gens, such as the 3400, 3800, and 3800 S/C, but as far as I'm concerned, I couldn't imagine dropping that kinda cash, and that kinda time into an engine that only nets like an 80 or 90 hp gain over stock. Not only that, but you can take a stock 2.4L or Eco and drop 10-12 PSI for half the cost and be running more hp than those previously mentioned engines.

Again, not doggin on those who do the swap, just impractical to me.





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I would bet that it can be done and I even know a shop that could probably do it As far as it being a waste, if your only looking for 240whp then for sure it's a waste. Build up a nice 2.4 or eco for much less and have fun. Now if you want 300+whp with reliability and street-ability then the bigger engines are the way to go for sure. The northstar would actually be a 150hp increase over stock so thats quite a bit and I bet would work pretty damn good in a j-body. With my swap I increased power by 110whp over stock and it was well worth it IMO.



Quoth the Raven 'Nevermore
raven@accesswave.ca
Raven Autosports
55 McQuade Lake Cres,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
(902) 850-3330
10.82@132

^^ and you even had the 2.4, im going to be going from 115hp to 240hp, thats more than twice the power i have now.

Meckster wrote:^^ and you even had the 2.4, im going to be going from 115hp to 240hp, thats more than twice the power i have now.

and have a lot of room to grow performance wise imagine a 350whp cav that is easy to drive. good suspension and you would have a nice sleeper


see ya!

if you droped a big engine like a northstar in a j-body wouldnt the handling be shot ?


<img src="http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/h8hondaz/sig.jpg">

^^Exactly, our cars are already front end heavy, putting a large engine like this makes it worse. Another problem is, it all powering the front wheels 3800 V6 guys van attest and yes traction will be an issue.
The car would be unique, but the car will not be balanced and heavier.

Like one mentioned, it makes more sense to just boost the 4cyl. But props for the 3800 V6 J guys for something crazy.




>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----

what is the weight of a northstar engine anyway?and i wounder if a Oldsmobile Aurora engine would be another good engine swap seeing that the olds is just a smaller cube northstar anyway as far as weight goes i think that the after market has that covered,as far as hoods and fenders go.


see ya!

^^^ agreed



OEM CAMBER/CASTER KIT 10 People for $210 <P>

GOT ECOTEC?

Weight hasen't been a problem with mine at all. The front end came down about .1 - .2 of an inch compared to the old 2.4 The car still handles great, still 100% better than stock. The only thing I sometimes notice now is a very small increase in understeer (which is expected) but it's easy to control with the throtle thanks to the light flywheel. Now if you were to auto-x or race the car on a track then yeah you would probably notice a small difference but with some suspension work you should be able to setup the car and improve the balance. I plan to race mine on a track this year so I'll let you know how it goes.

Traction is always going to be an issue when you put lots of power to the front wheels. If anything the larger engine should help a bit with traction by having more weight over the front wheels. Ever drive a civic with a nice turbo setup? Traction is worse and their making less torque. Some track bars and bushings should imporve traction a bit.



Quoth the Raven 'Nevermore
raven@accesswave.ca
Raven Autosports
55 McQuade Lake Cres,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
(902) 850-3330
10.82@132

Cam wanted to do the Northstar into a J originally, but no one would step up to the plate to pay the 5g cdn to do it. It will fit with modification to the strut towers.......then all of the other modifications would follow. The J is a tad narrower then the golf in the engine bay department.

As for handling, the Coupe de Golf handles incredibly well....if u do the proper suspension mods/adjustments, it will handle better then stock.

So there ya go...thats from a guy who watched it get crammed into a VW.

sidenote....it went 14 flat at 107 i believe, on street tires, and him as a passenger....with his wife driving it. Only made 1 run. Its HER winter car

A Northstar has been put in an Alero, and the Alero engine bay is almost identical to a 3rd gen J-Body. The only difference is an inch and a half more between the firewall and the upper radiator support. It will definitely fit in a J. Handling is definitely an issue to consider, but with the right tuning, it would probably still be fine. Also, I would definitely do a tubular subframe for that one, and subframe connectors, as the torque will be puting some major stress on that car. As far as the tranny, I'm 99.9% sure the Northstar will go on the same trannies as the 2.2, 3x00, etc, as it has the same bellhousing. I did some research on the possibility of puting one in with the Getrag. I am pretty sure it could be done, but would need a modified flywheel, and the tranny would probably need to be beefed up. Starter location needs to be considered for this as well.

To answer this:

Shifted (KickAzz) wrote:Nothing but respect for the guys who do the large engine swaps in the 3rd gens, such as the 3400, 3800, and 3800 S/C, but as far as I'm concerned, I couldn't imagine dropping that kinda cash, and that kinda time into an engine that only nets like an 80 or 90 hp gain over stock. Not only that, but you can take a stock 2.4L or Eco and drop 10-12 PSI for half the cost and be running more hp than those previously mentioned engines.

Don't forget the major torque difference here. Driveability on a high power motor dramaticly increases when you increase displacement and/or number of cylinders. Build the crap out of a 4 banger, and you have relatively zero low-end. Slightly hop-up an 8, and you still get instant throttle response that will throw you back in your seat. Plus the DOHC gives you a nice top end. Well worth the venture IMHO. However, anyone thinking about attempting this should consider that it would by far be the most expensive swap short of a RWD conversion, and might compete for biggest undertaking.

Also, speaking of cash into engine swaps, I've only got about $800 into my V6 swap, and that's including the 18,000 mile motor. After I do the exhaust (downpipe to cat), I'll probably end up right at the $1000 mark. Not a huge drop of cash for a swap that nets you 75 HP and 100 lbs/ft of torque.

I went to a yard and measured out the engine and the tranny. The engine would fit without question. It's not that much bigger than a 3800 and there are people that have swapped that. The tranny was a diffrent story. The Auto tranny on the northstar has these problems with our cars.

1. The driver side of the tranny wants to go about 2 to 3 inches into the strut tower. Maybe it's just me but the tower is not something I want to be cutting into. Structure issues.

2. The axles are about 2 to 2.5 inches farther back than where ours are. You would have to move the engine and tranny forward about that so that the axles would line up.
Doable, yes. Now where does the radiator go.

3. Mounts, need I say more. Raven can talk about that a little more.

If someone can get around these problems than cool. As for if another tranny woudl fit, I don't know. Havn't looked at the bellhousings.

It would be an awesome swap. V8 Cavy with a 5 speed. Yum.


<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/americanred/deplysig.gif">

the only big problem is the strut tower.....everything else is doable with $, and skill. Rad, axles, mounts, subframe, all that jaz can be made, as can the strut tower, but thats the touchy part.


changing belts would be a bitch

changing belts would be a bitch [/quote wrote:


This would most likely be true.

dude a northstar on a jbody what are you thinking? unless your trying to take the fastest jbody record i would do a 2.2 eco turbo'd intercooled and maybe some nitrous but having to do some serious monster garage fabrication thats not my thing. i dont know how much fabrication goes into a 3.8 but i would imagine that if you want a northstar engine your cheapest route would be to buy a car with one in it already. i wouldnt recommend trying this on a jbody but if your like rich or something i guess it would be cool

fastest jbody [not really a jbody but its the thought that counts] 2003 chevy cavalier from a four cylinder 1250 HP ecotech to a cadillac cts v6 twin GT40 garrett turbos
205Mph


the fastest jbody?

Why do it ? Because anyone can build a 2.2 Eco turboed with an intercooler with maybe some nitrous . Now where would the fun be in being just like eveyone else ?


<a href="http://users.adelphia.net/~rdbryant1/index.html.html"><img src="http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/mrgoodwrench/personal_pic.jpg" border=4></a>

Why do it? Just to say you did.
Do you really need a reason beyond that?

So people would give me crap for having a 32V Northstar Emblem on my trunk.


<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/americanred/deplysig.gif">

i've got the car, someone bring the drive train




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