fbekholden.com

hello im sure this topic has been covered a million times before, but the search tool doesnt really help all that much. anyways i was wondering what is needed to swap in a red motor? or, for that matter, are there any other holden/chev motors that fit an ek/fb with minimal work? what do i need for a red motor swap? i know for EFI cars you need a front cut, but with a carb motor with no ecu i cant see what would be needed apart from the actual motor? cheers guys

i forgot to mention if there are any v8's that will fit and are dirt cheap, i want to know everything about them

Any 6/ V6 or V8 can be made to fit, depends on your pockets. Under a certain capacity 6 you dont need any engineer certs but for a V6/V8 you will need baljoint/disc front end with boosted brakes, chassis strengthening of some kind and most likely a rack & pinion steering conversion with a collapsable column. Chev/ Holden V8's are the norm but a ****ta/ ***san V8 may fit if elctronics are your thing. There is no cheap option here if you want power.

Have a look through the members rides to get an idea of what can be done. Realistically the only things stopping you are rego authorities and their requirements.

yeah the brakes would be the first thing i would upgrade anyways... drums all round would not go well in an emergency. if a toyota 2JZ-GTE is $3500 for a front cut, i wouldn't want to be spending more than that on a holden motor. i was shocked to see red motors at only $500 online? is that about right? or did the seller forget to put an extra '0' at the end? i want to spend like $6-$7k on the car itself, then around $4k on wheels/tyres/brakes and power upgrades (whether that will entail a new motor or not, im still unsure.)

Hey Nick,
Come have a look at my Van for some ideas on what ya can get.
It could be on the market too!
Anywho Try to catch up with some of the Sunny's and they'll set ya in the right direction.
Cheers Theo Z............................

If you're paying $500 just for a red motor your paying too much , I picked up a 186 and trimatic for free!! Was going to the tip. The trimatics in my car and has served 2 and a half years so far and the 186 is awaitng a pull down and freshen before it goes it but was a runner!!

Should add the 161 in it came with a manual box, radiator and tailshaft for $300.

So basically work out what you want to run, talk to an engineer and see what they want you to do and your away. Basically any 6, v6 or v8 will fit it just depends on wether or not you can engineer it legally in your state.

My 149 red cost me $50 and it goes great .

not sure about VIC and QLD but NSW YOU DO NOT NEED A CHASSIS KIT FROM MOST ENGINEERS WITH A 6 OR V8 CONVERSION

oh and DR unfortunately free and or cheap red 6's are starting to get few and far between take a look at some of the prices on ebay

ratbox wrote:oh and DR unfortunately free and or cheap red 6's are starting to get few and far between take a look at some of the prices on ebay

I don't bother looking on eBay anymore for car stuff, its all overpriced and lacking in quality....

is a 308 a popular/common swap? it appeals to me

nick_sixx wrote:is a 308 a popular/common swap? it appeals to me

I would say a SBC is more popular than a 308 as if you are going to all that work may as well put a decent donk in it, i have 2x buick V6's but i'm tossing up if i should just put a SBC in since i already have a chassis kit/ R&P conversion/ VN diff & front disc's - may as well make it go

nick_sixx wrote:is a 308 a popular/common swap? it appeals to me

Not common but easy enough to do. If I remembeer rightly Ratbox did it in about a week...

Correct me if i'm wrong, but both are relatively straight forward, but i thought the Chev gave better steering and exhaust clearance as its a thinner 'V' shape towards to bottom of the block?

Cheers
NoMAD