Here are are the conversion pictures from a VW to a Cheverolet 383 small block

Its not the first v-8 but its the biggest so far. Ray in Cananda has a aluminum block buick motor in his.

 

Just a picture of the short block as I got started on the project.

Note the plugs are all brass it was always intended to be a marine engine. I orginally built this motor for my 37ft boat. I used the Specs from Summit Racing to create at the time what I think was called the Jeff Gordan stroker ace motor. Its a stock over bored 1993 chevy corvette block with a scat stroker crank and 10 to 1 Keith Black pistons. The rods are stock chevy as this is the real way to stroke a motor not using 400 ci chevy crank and parts.

The parts lined up on the floor some stainless some aluminum and all the steel galvanized

This is the front motor mount installed. Along with the custom water pump nipples. This motor runs a custom water pump driven from the oether side of the engine. its further down in the pictures.

A closer photo of the one before. Note thier are no pulleys or belts on the front of this engine. the alternator is driven from the left lift fan shaft.

One of the galvanized vortec valve covers.

After final motor assembly I recoated with 3 coats of cold galvainze spray. This was done ove the actaul hot dipped galvanized parts as well. all external bolts are stainless steel or galvanized as well and painted.

Then I repainted with 3 coats of rustoleum metallic paint. It looks sharp and is the standard color i used on franks and arlins hovercraft motors. So to recap the parts are galvanized hot dip and then cold galvanized sprayed then painted. This will only slow the ocean from getting its grip on my parts but i should be able to stay mostly ahead of it with regular touch ups etc.

 

Instaling the custom built  air boat headrers. there stainless steel and made for using stainless flex pipe and clamps if choose. i have not decided yet what to go with. I also used racing copper gaskets for the header gaskets as i would not expect the headers to stay sealed up with stock gaskets and they would be steel and rust on my motor leaving nasty streaks.

 

Nice crooked picture, just the motro hangning in the air off the hoist the night before installation.

 

The motor on its way to being installed and set on the back of the craft.

 

Fits in the same place the vw engine did and takes up less room as well. the rest of the drive is still the same and the mount the engine bolts to. it was very easy to make this motro fit with some trial and error building and mock up.

 

Thats a very expensive aluminum flywheel, and to its right is the subaru water pump adapted to cool this motor.

 

This is the top looking down behind the water pump note i welded in a nipple on the back side of the pumps mounting plate for the lower cooling hose to connect to. it uses a leverage arm with a jackscrew to adjust tension. the thermo stat is left out in the soob pump and left in the intake of the chevy where it is suppose to be. this si all galvanized as well.

 

 

This photo is with the pump not installed yet. there is much more i'll get more pictires up when i take them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff  Harts

World  Famous  SEVTEC  Explorer Blog

 

 

Watch this page for my newest hovercraft modifications. I've been keeping a low profile while I work lately but I do have some cool stuff to share and lots of picts as well as some video .

Just not sure how i'm going to lay it out here as i get started with this new page.