I just aquired an 67 chevelle 2 door hardtop. It has a 283 with a powerglide. I hate automatics. This girl just has to have a 4 speed. I have acess to an saginaw 4 speed. (Free) I know I have to put a clutch of some kind in it. Does anyone know what It will all entail? I'm willing to do the work. I just need some good advice. My husband builds Z cars and I want to beat his 72 240 hybrid. He's running a 302 in it. I heard Chevy made a 302. Can I build my 283 into a 302? I also have a 12 bolt for it, if that helps. Thanks all.

You'll need a clutch pedal kit, either OEM or aftermarket. OEM is supposedly better (I have not done the swap, just researching like you), but I think I'm going to go aftermarket.

http://www.oldcarnetwork.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SP061

This kit doesn't have everything you'll need, but it's got a lot of the stuff you'd have a hard time finding. You'd still need to get the clutch itself. Then you're looking at whether you want a console or not, etc. There's a quick and dirty way, and there's a clean and expensive way, and any number of variations.
The best thing to do for starters is go to the transmission forum on this site and do a search on manual conversion. You will probably find all the info you need.

You can get a 350 block (4 inch bore), get some spacer bearings and throw your 283 crank in it. This gives you a 4 inch bore, and with your 3 inch stroke, you'll have a 302 (The Ford 302 has the same bore and stroke). You can't bore the 283 block out enough to do it. I believe you'll also need specific pistons for a 302. You could also find a 327 block (also 4-inch bore)and eliminate the spacer bearings (327 and 283 are both small-journal engines), but the 327 block is harder to come by than a 350.

Good luck!

First of all, WELCOME to the BEST site on the net. There are TC members around the country, if you need some help, maybe someone in your area could help.
Just my opinion, but I think you would be better served with a Muncie 4 speed.

Originally posted by Lil'Darlin:
I just aquired an 67 chevelle 2 door hardtop. It has a 283 with a powerglide. I hate automatics. This girl just has to have a 4 speed. I have acess to an saginaw 4 speed. (Free) I know I have to put a clutch of some kind in it. Does anyone know what It will all entail? I'm willing to do the work. I just need some good advice. My husband builds Z cars and I want to beat his 72 240 hybrid. He's running a 302 in it. I heard Chevy made a 302. Can I build my 283 into a 302? I also have a 12 bolt for it, if that helps. Thanks all. The 4 speed conversion will not be difficult and it sounds as if your husband and you have the skills to handle the job if you built your Z. But, I've built Zs with V8s in them. Don't count on hanging with one of those with a chevelle. You give up to much in weight and suspension. Speeds of 150 plus are not unheard of for one of those cars and they handle like they're on rails.

BTW, welcome to site.

What Rick said LilDarlin.

The power to weight ratio between the H-Z and your Chevelle would have to be over come. Throwing a 4 speed and a 302 at the Chevelle probably isn't going to be enough to catch the Z. However much power the 302 in the Z is making, you are going to need to make considerably more in the Chevelle.

Although there are a lot of factors, think about it this way: if the H-Z weighs - oh, 2700 pounds and makes 300 horse power. That's 9 pounds for each horse power to move. Now assume the Chevelle weighs 3400 pounds with the same 300 HP. That's 11.3 pounds per HP. The engine in your Chevelle would need to make about 375 HP just to equalize the HP/Weight ratio between the two cars. You could build a 302 to make that kind of power but it's going to be pretty high strung.

If you want to take his H-Z with your Chevelle it would be prudent to consider using a larger displacement engine in front of a 4-speed.

As far as which 4-speed, the Sag transmission that you have access to simply will not survive for long behind a V8 stout enough to run with the H-Z. Consider a Muncie.

Dan

Things like this have a lot to do with what you can or are willing to spend.

But for what you pay to get a rebuilt Muncie, I'd rather try the Tremec 5 speed swap.

Still hope to someday myself.

And concidering the weight disadvantage, the Chevelle has compared to the Z car, I'd build the biggest engine I could.

A 302 will weigh as much as a 400 small block, so why give up the torque and horse power that comes with the bigger engine ?

If you've got a 350, I'd build that or better yet, a 383 with the 400 crank.

An overdrive transmission swap would also allow you to run lower (numericaly higher) gears, to help you get off the line quicker. Or do like a member here and run a 5 speed with a real deep first, and more conservative rear gears.

Anyway Good Luck, and Welcome.
(Wish my wife was more into cars)

Hey look! Another Oregonian on TC. Welcome!

That '67 have any rust in it? LOL ;)

Hey Clark,

I can't imagine what you mean... An Oregon car with rust?!?!? LOL All 4 of mine had or have it. Argh.

Welcome to the forum Lil'Darlin. Check out Oregon Chevelle and El Camino Club (http://www.chevelles.net/oregon)
Can wait to hear how the '67 comes along.

Thanks guys for all the info. I know this is going to be an expensive uphill battle for me. It may take me awhile to get it done. The only rust I can find on the car is surface rust on the roof when someone took the vynil top off. I hate those. My husband has a friend that is going to give him a mildly built 350. I'll try and talk him out of that. 5 speed huh? Hmmm. My 86 300zx coupe has a 5 speed and I can take my hubbys 81 ZX turbo up until around 40, then he is gone. The car is going to be purple with crager SS's on it. I havn't made up my mind on the interior yet. Either white and purple, or pink. I know I will put pink pin stripping on it. That I can do. I will definatly keep you all posted. Thank you.

Hi Jon, I checked out your club web site, and all I can say is WOW! I can only dream of getting mine to look like one of those in the club. I would come to one of your meetings, but it's quite a ride from Grant's Pass. I'll keep checking out your event calender, who knows? one day you just might see the Purple Passion cruze in!

You've probably already found this out, but the consoles for '67 are getting hard to find and are quite expensive when you do find them.

Years and years ago I had a 1972 240Z. Cool car. My favorite thing was exit ramps. Man, did that thing stick to the road!

Good luck with your car, share a picture or two when you can.

Hi Lil' Darling, I am in Grants Pass as well! I think I know the car you are talking about. I was going to get it myself but I am not too bright on all this car stuff so I got a 66 Chevelle that was a little more finished. I thought the car seemed in pretty good shape!! I used my fridge flexible magnet on it and there is not that much bondo either as I recall. At least alot less than I thought I would find and way less then is on my 66! My 66 is the Red one you may see it around town sometimes. Not out right now with the weather but next spring again. I look forward to seeing your project. If we can help each-other out in anyways lets do it.

Lil' Darling,

If you get ahold of me off list, I'll get you in contact with our GP area director. He's a great guy. We're also looking to start a chapter of the folks further south. Medford, GP, Roseburg, Eugene. We have our meetings down this way and do more of the events down south.