Coupe 4 cyl to V8 conversion... Worth it?

[94GT40]

Driving by this used car lot I've seen this nice little 4 cyl coupe. Looks to be about a '93 model. I haven't looked at it close, but I thought I could use it for a beater car until I finish the '94 GT coupe I'm working on. They are asking $1200 and it obviously runs and it looks good. I thought that after the '94 was done, I could pull this one in the garage and do a complete conversion on it. '94 rearend and the whole 5 lug conversion and all.

Is it worth it to do the whole conversion to a 4 cyl coupe? What would be the low end bargain basement price to perform such an operation? I assume the best plan would be to find a complete [wrecked] '94-'95 donor car?

 

[bmorrisj]

its a coupe, a nice looking one for $1200???

a 5.0 coupe is never not badass....

 

[DarkMesa8]

An extra 200 ft/lbs of torque for a few miles per gallon, a couple hundred dollars for a beautiful 5.0L.

What's the hesitation!!!???

 

[mike7581]

DO IT!!!! I just finished my 4-8 swap and the car is awesome. the sweetest thing about buying a 4 banger is that it was never driven hard since it only had a 4 banger in it. you can't go wrong especially with a coupe!

 

[94GT40]

DO IT!!!! I just finished my 4-8 swap and the car is awesome. the sweetest thing about buying a 4 banger is that it was never driven hard since it only had a 4 banger in it. you can't go wrong especially with a coupe!

About what would the conversion cost?

I assume other than the motor, tranny, and computer, etc...

I would also need to install 8.8 rearend with disk and all

Also at least front spindles and springs.

 

[mikeflys1]

I started to do this to a 92 lx and from experiance.....save yourself the trouble and definately find a donor car. There's always some stupid bolt or some piece thats just impossible to find by itself. And hopefully your coupe is a 5spd to begin with cause swapping the pedals is a real pain in the ass.

 

[mike7581]

it really will depend on how far you want to go with the car. the smartest thing to do would be to just find a donor car and swap everything. i myself didn't do that and i built a pretty mean machine so i am pretty well into it but if you read my sig you will see why. i have done everything from suspension to carpet to motor and not having a donor car i paid pretty good money for everything. the only thing really left is a panhard bar and brake upgrade. i have a pic of the car in my garage.

 

[jackchan]

is it worth it? thats a good question. I did it to a my 1979 coupe, made it a 1993 coupe. Was is worth it? I say yes! I used donor car for these items:
1) fuel lines, (diff from 4 cyl to V-8) fuel filter brackets etc
2) exhaust brackets, H-pipe, mufflers,headers
3) engine mounts, computer, wiring harness from bumper to bumper....not easy but has been done!
4) front spindles, rotors, calipers, (I kept the 4 banger springs in front)
5) I used power windows, mirrors, locks from my donor car since the 79 didnt have em.........but the 93 you speak of prolly already has all power.
6) inst cluster will have to be changed as well......
7) trans cross member should work from 93 4 banger to V-8 conversion with no problems
8)radiator, fan/fan shroud, engine mounts, throttle cable, possibly master cylinder........
your fuel pump, fuel tank, fuel pump relay, shifter, transmission, can all be used but the transmission will require the use of the special bearing in my sig.....and wont take massive abuse, but will hold up as I've been running mine on street tires for nearly 5 months now....
good luck and if I think of anythng else I will add it later...........wiring behind the dash is the hardest thing, and the spindle swap!
good luck
Jack