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My father and I recently bought a 1976 Vette with a non-stock 350 in it, and we also purchased a 396CI engine and a 400 Turbo Transmission at the same time, I was wondering if anyone had done anything similar and what all is needed to make the swap.
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Re: 1976 Vette 396 Engine Swap
motor and tranny will bolt right in. you'll need the bb vette exh manifolds and header pipes and you probably ought to go with a heavier duty radiator. low profile intake will allow hood to close. it'll perform better with the 396 than its original small block smog setup. mike -
Re: 1976 Vette 396 Engine Swap
Adam----
If emissions legality is a concern, then the swap is not going to be possible. If emissions leaglity is not a concern, then, functionally, the swap is "do-able". The engine will easily replace the small block and "fit" perfectly. The Turbo 400 will bolt right up and mount just like it would have for the small block application.
The stock radiator will be adequate for cooling, but you'll need to fabricate some sort of shroud as the stock shroud will be too long. You may be able to shorten it. 2" shorter is what you need. Radiator hoses from a 1974 Corvette big block application should fit.
You will also need to use the pulley system from a 1974 big block application.
Keep in mind, though, that a swap like this will make the car unsaleable in an "emissions control environment". That means that even if emissions control is not an issue for you, if it's an issue for any potential purchaser in the future, then that person will become a "non-buyer". Also, regardless of what your emissions control regulations are where you live, a swap like this is emissions illegal under federal law for a street-driven vehicle. The chances of getting caught are slim, but the penalties are high. These apply whether or not there are any state emissions control regulations where you live.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 1976 Vette 396 Engine Swap
If they are not doing a visual inspection of the engine, then you can still pass, and you should. The illegal part is more the removing and altering pollution control devices to not function than changing the engine. There were provisions to certify anything that would pass, however, most of us do not have the finances to do a 50,000 certification test.
Still, you can install dual exhaust with dual high performance catalytic converters. This should bring you into compliance with the tailpipe sniffer. If not, you may have to install an air injector reactor pump and plumbing to the exhaust manifolds. You can pay the big bucks for the '68-74 Corvette items or adapt the similar parts off of any big block Chevy.
But it would be wise to check on your emissions inspection before beginning. If it a visible check, and they see dual instead of single exhaust, a big block instead of small block, they will give you a hassle.
Go to the EPA website and download PDFs on emission requirements. It will help save you, at least in appeal. I had those hassles once in Illinois with an '85 Suburban 3/4 ton which had heavy duty emission controls (8600 GVWR) because Illinois issued a passenger plate for it beign it is a passenger vehicle, and so the test station assumed it had to pass passenger car emission levels. I didn't and by law didn't have to, since it was Federally-certified as a Heavy Duty Emissions vehicle.
Like in all things with cars, do your homework first before turning a single wrench.Comment
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Re: 1976 Vette 396 Engine Swap
Mike,
I had similar issues with my Suburban. When it was repainted they covered the certification label. I had to pick off the paint to expose the sticker so that The Clean Air Team could see that it was above 8000 GVWRTerryComment
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Re: 1976 Vette 396 Engine Swap
The team at the inspection station at Wauconda, I think it was, really didn't care when I showed them the 8600 GVWR label. Instead, they handed me a rejection slip and an appeal form.
I then printed the page from the web site on 1985 requirements for vehicles over 8000 lbs, a copy of the VIN, a breakdown on the VIN indicating 8600 lbs, something I found on Chevrolet Suburbans listed with Heavy Duty Emissions, and sent in the form.
I don't remember if I had to go back or not. I think I did, and they were not too happy to see me. I figured I needed to find another test station after that.Comment
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Re: 1976 Vette 396 Engine Swap
I was at the station in McCook. It was more than a few years ago, but they just rejected me, and told me to uncover the label, and come back. I'm not sure what would have happened if I was unsuccessful in doing that, but thankfully I didn't have to find out. There is an emissions label on the air cleaner of the truck which gives the emissions category, and the vehicle build date. Not at all like the labels on C3 Corvettes. I might have been able to point that out to them, but I really didn’t want them under the hood.
To give you some idea of their confusion: the truck is a 1976, C10, 454, with no cats. It could use regular leaded, if it was available.
Every two years it was a hassle with them. Each time I went it was more and more difficult to convince the attendant that the truck was properly configured. A couple of years ago I solved the entire issue with antique plates. Now I don’t even have to go visit them, at least with that vehicle. I just got my first OBDII vehicle, however, and I already know I’m going to have fun with it and them.TerryComment
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Re: 1976 Vette 396 Engine Swap
all you guys that have to deal with beauracratic bull****-induced emission crap need to move to western md where the air is clean and NO yearly or twice yearly smog testing to put up with. buy a used car, have it inspected(no smog tests) when ya buy it and that's it. and if the old girl you just bought is > 25 yrs old, absolutly to testing at purchase time or any other time thereafter. only testing we do here in the mountains is to be certain the octane rating of the beast is up to snuff. mikie ps-tonite's octane rating is about 4 % v/v.Comment
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