elky74

Has anybody swapped out an Iron Duke for a V-8 yet? Or, will I be the first to attempt this sometime next year?

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I doubt you're the first in 24 years do to so. But, if you find out anything that is contrary to the info here https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=229665 , let me know and I'll update it.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

with the duke being kinda hard to find nowadays, i wouldn't do it, but find a car that already has a v8 in it and fix it up...but that's just me.

is the duke in bad shape? i mean, does it NEED to be swapped?

elky74

I'm sure I'm not the only one to attempt this swap, but the purpose of this thread is to find out if anybody on this board has ever done it and what were their experiences. You know, maybe get some pointers from people who've already been down the 4-cylinder - V8 swap road. I guess I should have made that clear earlier.

Anyway, my Duke runs real rough and always smokes and has pretty high mileage. Plus, I don't like the 4 speed tranny so would like to change that out too. I just can't get over the fact that GM put a 4 banger in an F-body. What were they thinking.

On top of all that, I'm not real crazy about TBI, at least for a 4 cyl. I would like to swap in a carbed 350 with headers and the whole nine. Toss the ECM also.

elky74

My wife says I already have too many cars now, so I can't get another one! I kinda enjoy doing motor swaps anyway, as long as the car I'm fixing ain't needed to get me to work. This is definitely gonna be a challenge, though.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

What was GM thinking? "CAFE" - Corporate Average Fuel Economy. The average EPA rated mileage of all the passenger cars they sold had to be above a certain mark. In the waning days of carbs, smaller engines were the best way to get there (lighter cars cost a lot more to design and produce). As fuel injection became more cost-effective, they could go with larger engines and still maintain the required average.

From everything I've heard, only minor details will be different between a V6 to V8 and Duke to V8 swap. But, I can't send you to someone who specifically has done the swap.

Be sure to keep me posted on any details that may be needed for the sticky.

Crazy Firebird Kid

There is a guy here on the boards that swapped in a BBC to his iron duke car, don't remember his name off the top of my head though But I know I've heard of a few others that have swapped in a SBC as well. I'll do some more research and see if I can find some names.

1320_Guy

iTrader: (3)

Once you get the duke and tranny out it shouldent be any diff from any other swap. you will have to get v8 motor mounts and maby a new crossmember, and of course get all the little things like radiator ect

elky74

Yep, should be fun. Maybe a little expensive too. I'll be sure and either start a thread and document my progress, or keep a sort of diary and create a sticky. I haven't even started yet, but maybe this spring?

Jproz1167

iTrader: (3)

I swapped the duke for a crossfire engine many years ago. hardest thing to do was change the lower motor mounts on the crossmember and the front coil springs, aside from that everything went right in no problems.

BTW I used a 83 crossfire engine and a T-5 and the car was a 84 camaro