My 63 Champ has the stock 170 6 backed by a 3 speed.
I was driving it daily but the valve noise was getting to be an issue as was low power, so checked the compression(low in 5) adjusted the valves and it ran a bit better. Still the clatter persisted, so I yanked the head which turned out to be too cracked(especially in 5) to repair by the best local head/block repair folks. Seems like 170 6 heads are hard to come by and I believe they're unique.
From a cost and availability standpoint it seems I have two options: Find a suitable replacement 6 for it (one locally may or may not fit) or find a complete "good" V8 attached to an overdrive trans. The latter option would be preferable and I've found one that's not close, but it's in-state. The V8/OD price seems to be not much more than the head repair with valve job was going to cost, so the value's there from my perspective to get the V8 and the 0D driveability.
Some Qs - If my Champ had a stock 6/3sp combo, will the 8/OD combo from early 60's be a bolt in swap? If there are there other areas of concern other than cooling (already upgraded the radiator significantly) with this swap what are they?
Has anyone out there done the same swap?
How do I best identify the year and model of V8 / OD?
Thanks in advance for any help!
hdh
I was driving it daily but the valve noise was getting to be an issue as was low power, so checked the compression(low in 5) adjusted the valves and it ran a bit better. Still the clatter persisted, so I yanked the head which turned out to be too cracked(especially in 5) to repair by the best local head/block repair folks. Seems like 170 6 heads are hard to come by and I believe they're unique.
From a cost and availability standpoint it seems I have two options: Find a suitable replacement 6 for it (one locally may or may not fit) or find a complete "good" V8 attached to an overdrive trans. The latter option would be preferable and I've found one that's not close, but it's in-state. The V8/OD price seems to be not much more than the head repair with valve job was going to cost, so the value's there from my perspective to get the V8 and the 0D driveability.
Some Qs - If my Champ had a stock 6/3sp combo, will the 8/OD combo from early 60's be a bolt in swap? If there are there other areas of concern other than cooling (already upgraded the radiator significantly) with this swap what are they?
Has anyone out there done the same swap?
How do I best identify the year and model of V8 / OD?
Thanks in advance for any help!
hdh
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