The question earlier today regarding an oil pan and mounts made me think about how often the question about these V8 conversion parts is asked. I thought I would share my experience with this as I've done this at least 5 or 6 times over the years. I will have missed some stuff I'm sure so will edit as it's recalled. Please feel free to note things I've missed and I will add them.

Parts needed to do a complete conversion. These are the pieces that are unique to Acadian and Nova 62-67----

-front sump engine oil pan (Note 1)

-engine oil dipstick and tube (Note 2)

-oil pump (Note 3)

-oil pump pickup tube and screen (Note 4)

-oil pump driveshaft (Note 5)

-frame mounts for engine (Note 6)

-exhaust manifolds (Note 7)

-lower alternator bracket (Note 8)

-radiator and spacer that goes between radiator and radiator support (Note 9)

-V8 fuel line from tank to pump (Note 10)

-V8 throttle arm coming off the firewall bracket (Note 11)

-3/8" fuel tank sending unit that was available only on 327 Acadians (Note 12)

-Engine mounts (not for the frame, the ones that bolt to the engine. (Note 13)

-Plug for dipstick tube hole in block if a non-Acadian V8 block is used

-Short style water pump and pulleys if original manifolds and alternator brackets are to be used.

-If converting to manual trans, see the "Acadian manual trans conversion" thread I will try to work on in the near future!

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Note 1- Available new aftermarket. There is also a front sump repro pan available for the 86 and up small blocks with one piece rear crankshaft seal.

Note 2- Stick available new but slightly different in appearance, tube is repro I think

Note 3- Available new aftermarket. Melling # M-73.  This pump will bolt on to a 350 but because of the design, a connecting rod nut (I think it's #8) rubs on the pump so some grinding is required.

Note 4- Available new GM. This is the original one from 283/327 Acadians # 3790870. It requires a small hole to be drilled and tapped in the block for a retaining bolt, or a bracket to be fabricated to attach it to a main cap bolt. The original L79 piece used a bracket to a main cap bolt. Either one will work and of course nobody can see if you used the 283 style or L79 style once the pan is on.

Note 5- Available new GM or aftermarket.  Melling # IS-55D.  Slightly shorter than all other small block shafts.

Note 6- Available repro. Install the longer one on the driver's side, short one on the passenger side.

Note 7-   Both manifolds are "Rams horn" manifolds that angle back. Some people substitute manifolds from 67-72 Chevy pickups which will suffice but the alternator mounting brackets from the pickup must be used also.

Note 8- A tough find.

Note 9- No repro that I'm aware of and maybe a bit tough to find but not impossible

Note 10- Not mandatory but the 6 cylinder line runs very close to the exhaust coming off the engine, heating the fuel before it gets to the pump. The V8 line runs along the outside of the subframe and comes in under the battery tray to the pump. I have sometimes cut off the 6 cyl line approx under the passenger front seat and made a new line that runs along the outer side of the subframe rail.

Note 11- Some year 6 cylinders have an arm that will work with V8's, some have to be changed. Not sure of the years exactly at this point.

Note 12- The 3/8" fuel sending unit is not mandatory but it will help prevent fuel starvation on higher performance applications. It's very easy to change. The tank does not need to be removed to replace it.

Note 13 -  The original mount  is a GM 3990914. If possible, find NOS mounts because the aftermarket mounts for the most part are crap and don't fit. 2267 is the aftermarket mount number. Most of them are made with steel about 1/2 the thickness of the GM pieces plus they are moulded wrong and will not let the engine sit in the correct spot.



Miscellaneous Ramblings....
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If the swap involves using a manual trans, a complication arises. The Acadian V8 block has a unique boss in it that is threaded for the Z bar pivot ball. No other block has provision for this. An aftermarket bracket is available to convert a standard block but it is not the perfect solution.

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If the swap involves changing to a Turbo 350 trans, the front of the trans crossmember needs to have a strip removed the width of the trans pan or it will hit the crossmember. This involves removal of that area and welding in some reinforcements where the crossmember was weakened by this trimming.

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If chassis headers are to be used with a column shift, "extreme" engineering and fabrication skills are required to make the linkage work! Apparently Lokar makes a universal linkage that will work, but I've never seen one in person.

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If removing an automatic trans from a V8 Acadian, remove the distributor cap (to keep it from wedging/breaking against the firewall), drop the rear of the trans down several inches and use about 3'-4' of 3/8" extensions with a flex socket to get the top 2 bolts in the bellhousing. These are very challenging any other way.

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All V8 Acadians came with a factory front sway bar, for good reason! All wagons had a front bar as well. Put one on if you convert to a V8.

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