daveakre
Well-Known Member
Hi guys! I have a '73 Swinger that I picked up for a song. It's a ratty hoopty for sure, but it was something I could afford. It was originally a slant six car, yanked that and sold it the same day.
Swapped in a $100 junky SBE 318/904 and a 3.23 8 3/4 and ran it N/A for a year, which was great fun.
Slammed a cage and homemade subframe connectors in it.
Built a homemade turbo kit from trash and slammed a cheap turbo and air to water intercooler on it. Even more fun. Ran it on 10ish psi and it would burn the 295 street tires down from like 30 mph.
But something happened, had some detonation. It kicked the head gasket, melted a piston a little and rattled the bearings out of it. I may have botched the tuneup, or the MSD may have not pulled the timing it was supposed to, don't really know.
Either way, I was at a crossroads. Rebuild my junk or upgrade to new junk? Well stupid question, upgrade of course! So I snagged this 130k mile aluminum headed small block with good native fuel injection and a great flowing intake for $550.
And a really strong overdrive automatic with lockup for $150.
Initial test fit.
Made some mounts from gas pipe and steel plate.
Snagged a billet 78/75 and a big honkin' air to air intercooler on the cheap.
So now I'm just waiting for some up and forward turbo headers to arrive so I can start hotside fabrication. My goal is to go low 10's, maybe high 9's and still cruise to work and drive it on the highway. Feel free to follow along and let the butthurt flow as I go fast on the cheap in a car that will start easily, get decent mileage, and cruise at 85 without screaming at 3800rpm!
Swapped in a $100 junky SBE 318/904 and a 3.23 8 3/4 and ran it N/A for a year, which was great fun.
Slammed a cage and homemade subframe connectors in it.
Built a homemade turbo kit from trash and slammed a cheap turbo and air to water intercooler on it. Even more fun. Ran it on 10ish psi and it would burn the 295 street tires down from like 30 mph.
But something happened, had some detonation. It kicked the head gasket, melted a piston a little and rattled the bearings out of it. I may have botched the tuneup, or the MSD may have not pulled the timing it was supposed to, don't really know.
Either way, I was at a crossroads. Rebuild my junk or upgrade to new junk? Well stupid question, upgrade of course! So I snagged this 130k mile aluminum headed small block with good native fuel injection and a great flowing intake for $550.
And a really strong overdrive automatic with lockup for $150.
Initial test fit.
Made some mounts from gas pipe and steel plate.
Snagged a billet 78/75 and a big honkin' air to air intercooler on the cheap.
So now I'm just waiting for some up and forward turbo headers to arrive so I can start hotside fabrication. My goal is to go low 10's, maybe high 9's and still cruise to work and drive it on the highway. Feel free to follow along and let the butthurt flow as I go fast on the cheap in a car that will start easily, get decent mileage, and cruise at 85 without screaming at 3800rpm!
