Transverse V8 setup for FWD dodges????

[cook]

I just had a sick perverted thought regarding the usage of a Cadillac Northstar V8 Fwd setup or possibly a Fiero with its getrag 5spd and v8 swap setup for a FWD dodge. Sorry guys I know its GM but it would be pretty funny!!

[RGHoskins]

the torque steer would make it undrivable.....not to mention a 3 liter V6 Daytona already has 63 percent front weight bias. Though cool, what you're proposing would handle like a drunk pig, and be nearly impossible to drive.

[tryingbe]

Why not just go LS1?

[cook]

It would truely mess people up!!! Think about it an ugly ass caravan maintaing its FWD status with a v8 up front????? roasting a high $$ asshole in a BMW!!! I just cant find/source a good 2.5L turbo up here in Edmonton that has'nt been mudilated and good luck trying to get a guy to rebuild it without being bent over a barrel!!!

[EvilcowRoland]

LS1 powered Omni. That's a frightening thought. But then you'd have to do a full RWD conversion. And I think if I was doing a full RWD conversion, I'd at least keep it in the family. Maybe a built 400 or 440.

Is the Northstar the only transverse V8 readily available? It'd get a lot of points on the rare/coolness scale, but it would be a bear to drive. And the re-engineering would suck too.

[cook]

No there also was the later Taurus SHO's with a Yamaha v8 not the V6. They apparently had issues with the cams. I'm interested in using the Fiero Getrag 5spd with the chevy 350 v8 adapter plate or make one using a 318/360 mopar v8. "F" the drivability its all about havin fun RIGHT!!!! HAHA!!!

[RGHoskins]

there's the transverse 5.3 in the new Impalas, but it's still justa bad idea......

[median]

use a 360...and rwd the son of a gun....

[speedyshelby16]

omni heavier than my arrow that got a 360 mopar with a carb turbo setup in the works.

[shlbyZ]

a guy in town here swapped a v8 northstar into a vw golf.

it is such a sick ride, and handles pretty well too.

[RoadWarrior222]

Just a thought, if we use most of the bits that come with, transaxle driveshafts etc, and try and keep the driveshaft angle the same as it is on a caddy, then how do we figure it's gonna torque steer a whole lot worse than the car it came from. I presume Cadillac didn't intend for it's customers to sideswipe semis as they tried to blast past them.

[jim34]

torque steer should not be a problem but handling would be a bitch with the extra 300-400 pounds up front

[capev86]

find a car that is built for such swaps and keep the chrysler power in your chrysler. i'd love to go with a northstar swap in my 89 lesabre some day. most of the older large gm front wheel drives would be an easy swap for this setup...165hp to 275hp without losing much mpg, gaining weight (aluminum block) and keeping it 87 octane friendly. a reatta, lesabre t type or riviera with the center console would be an awesome for a 5spd swap from the pontiac G6!

i love dodges and hope to get my k wagon back on the road soon, but i'm also enjoying my lesabre and doing research on how to improve it. so far i've added lesabre t type sway bars, 89 riviera 15 inch rims w/ s10 trim ring, class 3 hitch. i swapped out the magnavox ignition module for an ac delco unit (93-95 uses the same bolt pattern!). future mods call for 92+ lesabre bigger front brakes with ceramic pads and hopefully rear disc....i need more stopping power for towing! fun fun fun.....

[JeremyL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shlbyZ a guy in town here swapped a v8 northstar into a vw golf. it is such a sick ride, and handles pretty well too.

I saw a new Northstar swapped into one of the smaller late 80s - early 90s Cadillacs a couple years ago. The thing was pretty sweet & had an awesome sounding exhaust that was put together from borla bits & pieces & had the factory style camaro/firebird elongated tips on it. Had a hacked ECM with a laptop in the passenger seat for tuning it.

It's not something I'd do, if I was gonna go through much trouble I'd just do a RWD conversion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by capev86 but i'm also enjoying my lesabre and doing research on how to improve it. so far i've added lesabre t type sway bars, 89 riviera 15 inch rims w/ s10 trim ring, class 3 hitch. i swapped out the magnavox ignition module for an ac delco unit (93-95 uses the same bolt pattern!). future mods call for 92+ lesabre bigger front brakes with ceramic pads and hopefully rear disc....i need more stopping power for towing! fun fun fun.....

One of my best friends has a 92 LeSabre & now drives a 95 Park Ave. Both have the touring package with the factory aluminum wheels & all. I drove the 95 from Texas to Birmingham, Alabama & it moved on down the highway. Supercharged 3.8 with few tweaks done, and it really goes when you mash the loud pedal.

I seem to recall a guy on one of the email groups I'm subscribed to having a reatta or riviera with a bunch of work done to it.. It was neat but I can't remember the details.

[cook]

Dont you think doing a RWD setup will be a lot of work from the fire wall back?? But with the Northstar v8 FWD setup it should slip in the front of a caravan. You'd surely impress and depress a bunch of people. Was'nt there a carburated FWD cadillac FWD setup at one time in the 80's??? Also the thought of a mid engined v8 caravan using the olds toronado TH-425 trans axle has been entering my mind a few times daily!!!