Has anyone thought of doing this?

"BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires" (biturbo228)
03/15/2016 at 08:27 • Filed to: None

Step 1: take a ‘67 Firebird Sprint (yes the pic’s of a V8, people don’t seem to take nice pics of the I6...)

Step 2: Hop up to 237bhp (net) and 246 lb-ft on triple carbs, or bore/stroke to 302cu with a Chevy 292 crank and make 233bhp (net) and 304lb-ft (taken from actual dyno runs of hopped up OHC 6s). Probably more to be had tbh...

Step 3: Swap in 2nd gen Corvair IRS transaxle with a beefier 4-spider carrier

Step 4: Enjoy your ~235bhp, SOHC, IRS, 4-speed transaxle, ~1500kg, 54% front (as opposed to 57%) nice-handling pony car made entirely from the GM parts-bin available in 1967...

DISCUSSION (26)

pip bip - choose Corrour > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 08:33

that’s crazy talk

;)

JR1 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 08:43

Certainly would be a different way to do the build. And frankly so many 6 cylinders get turned into V8s it would be nice and interesting to see someone keep the legacy of the 6 and hot rod it.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > JR1
03/15/2016 at 08:52

Agreed. It’s got a lot going for it as well. Shared parts with the Poncho V8s (valves I believe) and shared rotating assembly with the Chevy OHV 6 should make for some relatively cheap hop-up parts for such a low volume engine.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 09:18

That is an oddly pretty I-6

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/15/2016 at 09:22

They really put effort into making performance engines look good back then. No hiding behind plastic covers like today's powerplants...

Gone > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 09:30

Here’s your start:

Kinja'd!!!

or:

Kinja'd!!!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Gone
03/15/2016 at 09:31

Nice :) very nice

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Gone
03/15/2016 at 09:32

This need’s a #NSFW tag or something. Serious HNNNG!!!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 09:34

I’ve always thought these were great engines and sad that Poncho didn’t take the concept further.

There is a guy out there somewhere who made aDOHC head for this engine by taking 2 GM Quad4 heads, cutting a cylinder off each one, and welding them together.

crowmolly > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 09:51

You would probably be better off with a 67 vette IRS. Stronger too.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 09:57

I mean, was it really considered the performance engine though? Hahaha

and my 1968 Mercury with a 302 V8 in stock form didn’t look as good as this straight 6 does.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/15/2016 at 10:11

Performance was what sold Pontiacs by then, so even the lesser engines needed to have a sportier air than other pony cars.

Plus, it was nearly as powerful as a K-code Windsor 289 in net horsepower!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > crowmolly
03/15/2016 at 10:13

Stronger, but no transaxle. I've read up about the Corvair transaxle and while it's not the strongest of setups whith a couple of modifications it can be made strong enough for a hot Sprint engine :)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/15/2016 at 10:14

Now that I’d like to see!

It is a real shame they didn't keep making these. Could have opened up a whole market for Pontiac post '73 fuel crisis with the rise of the SOHC compact 240Z....

crowmolly > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 10:14

You would swap it to rear engine? Or front wheel drive?

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > crowmolly
03/15/2016 at 10:17

Front engine RWD with a setup similar to the '63 Tempest (that was a mk1 Corvair transaxle spun round with a torque tube). Best for weight distribution :)

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 10:19

I would have posted this before but couldn’t find it until just now:

http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/…

And I agree, I think the post ‘73 fuel crisis could have been so much more interesting if the domestic manufacturers had kept up with the technology instead of further and further de-rating big ol’ boat anchor V8s.

Sweet Trav > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 10:24

Why not take a 63 Tempest that already has a rear transaxle and IRS and do the same thing?

Kinja'd!!!

DanZman > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 10:30

It also the layout for every modern corvette.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 10:37

I suppose that’s true, it was Pontiacs thing.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Sweet Trav
03/15/2016 at 10:57

Mainly because I just prefer the styling of the Firebird, although with the Firebird there’s a proper propshaft tunnel to run a beefier torque tube and a non-flexible driveshaft down.

I haven’t really looked into the torque capacity or the rope-drive setup though...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/15/2016 at 11:11

Bloody hell :) I wonder how far they got with it...

Actually, reading about the development happening in the 60s in the sports car market makes me wonder whether it might not necessarily have died a death during the 70s.

I can’t tell if demand was dropping off anyway, regardless of development, or due to a stagnation of the main players.

I know, for instance, that Austin-Healey made a few prototype 3000s with 3.9l Rolls Royce all-alloy IOE I6s. Dated valvetrain, but a ton lighter than the boat-anchor C-Series and still making a respectable 175bhp. Rolls were also working on a DOHC variant with 268bhp.

If Triumph/Ricardo had actually done a decent job of the Slant 4 they could have made a Slant 6 using the same tooling as well. MG also missed an opportunity by not sticking the V8 straight into the MGB GT in 1968 and marketing it to people forced out of their muscle cars by rising insurance policies.

I think that little line-up (DOHC all-alloy 3.9l Big Healey, Slant 6 TR6, OHC Pontiac Banshee, still-lithe E-Type, alloy V8 MGB, newly released Datsun 240Z and the rotary RX-3) would have really extended the appeal of the sports car past the advent of the hot hatch.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 12:41

I’ve long maintained that Ford should bring the Mustang back to its roots and stick their Australian Barra I6 in it. Call it the “Mustang Classic” or “Heritage Edition”

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/15/2016 at 12:48

That would definitely be damn cool, even if it’s Ozzy market only to keep a bit of the patriotism that Ford Au has.

An FPV Mustang would be bloody quick :)

RallyWrench > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 12:58

I like this idea. When I had the Fairlane, I was dreaming of doing an aluminum head from Classic Inlines and triple Webers.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/15/2016 at 15:02

I would have to agree with you.