ive just purchased a 62 skylark and was just wanting to know whats the biggest v8 i can fit into it without doing any major modifications..can anyone help me out?
Big caveat there is no major modifications. Probably the biggest one you could easily fit is some derivative of the 215 Aluminum V8 offered in 62. That motor left GM and went to Rover for a decade or two, and I think late models went up as large as 302 cubic inches, though I can't speak to how the motor mounts might have changed. Now, with more serious modifications, I know you can fit about anything in there. Eric Ruge is here on the board, and he's got a 62 race car with a big block, and there's also that 62 that was in that Grand Tourismo PlayStation game and the real car that was based on had a 455 also. Now, with my 62? I want to drop in a Grand National drivetrain. The 109 blocks that the 86-87 GN's came with is directly descended from the odd-fire V6 that came in the base Specials in 62. Should drop in no problem, and if I move to a serpentine setup when I switch I should have room for a stock location intercooler too. That leaves "How to keep a 45 year old independent diff from grenade-ing" as the big unknown. Hope this helps. - Freed
