Caddyshack...has anyone tried to...

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NoJoke

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Dec 2, 2006
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Texas
fit a Northstar 32V into a g-body? The RWD block, of course. Do any of you g-Body experts have any input as to what all this may include (frame, mounts, mods, et cetera...)

thanks in advance!
 

joe_padavano

Royal Smart Person
Sep 13, 2006
1,151
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NoJoke said:
fit a Northstar 32V into a g-body? The RWD block, of course. Do any of you g-Body experts have any input as to what all this may include (frame, mounts, mods, et cetera...)

thanks in advance!

There was an 83 Hurst/Olds with a Northstar featured in Hot Rod at least ten years ago.
 

clean8485

Comic Book Super Hero
Dec 18, 2005
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I think that in that issue of Hot Rod, they used a FWD Northstar for the swap, and they used a 700R4 transmission from an S10 truck with a 60 degree V6 to get a bellhousing that was close to fitting the Northstar engine block. I think there were only minor mods required to get the transmission to fit. With the newer Northstar engine being available as a RWD engine, that may not be an issue anymore.
 

joe_padavano

Royal Smart Person
Sep 13, 2006
1,151
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That's correct, it was a FWD N*, since the RWD version didn't exist then. Cadillac Hot Rod Fabricators ( www.chrfab.com/ ) specialize in parts and converted 700R4 transmissions. It turns out that the bellhousing bolt pattern for the 700R4 used on the V6 S-10 applications is only off by one bolt. They relocate that boss, reconfigure the bellhousing for the top-mounted starter, and can sell you a beefed up trans for your application. They also have bellhousings and flywheels for manual trans conversions. Hot Rod also did an article on CHRFAB here:

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engi ... e_fitment/

By the way, while there are RWD N* engines now being made, good luck finding one at a reasonable price. The FWD versions are still much more readily available and at a reasonable price. The biggest problem is the water pump, which is located right where the master cylinder wants to be on a RWD conversion. Most people use an aftermarket electric water pump.
 

NoJoke

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Dec 2, 2006
7
0
0
Texas
Man, this board is gonna be invaluable!

Thank you Joe and Mr. Clean. My plans are to turn my G into a clean, streetable, hi-perf version of a modern Regal w/o going the GN route. Kind of like the lastest Mustang/Camaro/Challenger ideas. We'll see how far I get into my vision!

Thank you both for the input and references!
 

mybuick

n00b
Apr 28, 2007
4
0
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mount prospect
a person on turbobuick.com just put a deramax deisel in a olds and made it into a gnx... so it should fit
 

megaladon6

Comic Book Super Hero
May 29, 2006
4,006
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Danbury, CT
why a Northstar? they are WAY too much of a pain in the a$$ to work on. just look for the water pump (and the special tool to service it) and the starter. if you want modern, powerful, and easy to work on get a LS1,LS2,LS6 or if you have money and time an LS7.
 

78mali350

Royal Smart Person
May 13, 2007
1,689
5
38
Pratt, KS
northstar something not everyone does looks like a cool idea to me but i like being different so yep
 
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