Motor swap '82 310

[Waipio Rim]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Care to share details of your LED installation?



Brad

Yes, please, what bulbs did you buy and where did you get them? Night driving is always sort of a roll of the dice for me.

[chiefair]

I expected questions on the headlights! Mine were horrible, the right low beam barely lit-a sickly yellow glow. I installed a Daniel Stern relay upgrade and the LED lights came from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The light on low beam is probably comparable to what my sealed beams should have been. The high beams are like daylight! They were expensive, but I could not drive with the old setup.
I was surprised after I installed them that on low beam, only the top 1/3 of the lights are on. If you look at them you can see the LEDs are in three rows. They look odd during the day but at night the light fills all of the reflectors and looks normal from the front when you get back about 30 feet. Up close you can see that just the top strip is on. When driving the light is good on low beam, nice white light, not bright enough to be offensive to others.
The high beams are remarkably bright, lighting well of the shoulders of the road. I am very happy with them.

[chiefair]

Any idea what cam you're getting with the 502?

I ordered the motor referenced by Hans 34.5 in post #12. The cam specs can be seen in the link.

[chiefair]

I agonized over the choice between the HT and HO. GM lists the torque stats at different RPMs making it hard to compare the two. I finally plotted the GM data on one graph. The HO has more low RPM torque, then the HT is slightly higher from about 2500 - 3200 RPM, then the HO is dramatically better after that. Both should be considerably better than my 80s 454.


1982 310 motorhome 454
Henniker New Hampshire

[chiefair]

With the small differences in the torque curves and the HO at 450 hp vs 377 hp for the HT, I thought the HO was a better value. The HT does not come with an intake manifold or water pump. By the time I added those items in the HT was more money.

[dannydimitt]

A dropped valve sure does create havoc ,

[Hans 34.5]

I think the Quadrajet is not going to give you the fuel needed as it is.
Your going from what was it 280 hp to 450. You may know all this.
Keep a eye on the plug color. It's going to be a fun MO to drive.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by Hans 34.5

I think the Quadrajet is not going to give you the fuel needed as it is.
Your going from what was it 280 hp to 450. You may know all this.
Keep a eye on the plug color. It's going to be a fun MO to drive.

Airstream list the 454 at 230 hp stock. Given the age of the motor I'd be surprised if it was making 175hp just before she gave up the ghost.

That dropped valve must have made quite a racket for a couple of seconds.

Looking forward to seeing pics of the new 502 go in. Wow 450hp, I wonder what a 310 looks like with wheelie bars.

Cheers
Tony

[chiefair]

Progress has been slow this week. Stripped parts from the 454 and got most of them on the 502. Quadrajet does not fit. Waiting for parts to finish swapping over. I'm hoping everything comes soon so I can get the motor in this weekend.


1982 310 motorhome 454
Henniker New Hampshire

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by chiefair

Progress has been slow this week. Stripped parts from the 454 and got most of them on the 502. Quadrajet does not fit. Waiting for parts to finish swapping over. I'm hoping everything comes soon so I can get the motor in this weekend. Attachment 246984


1982 310 motorhome 454
Henniker New Hampshire

That's interesting about the quadrajet. What is the fitment issue? You might look into using an Edelbrock carburetor. I plan on running an Edelbrock 1406 600 SCFM caruburetor. With a 502 you'd likely need a slightly larger one!

Brad

[chiefair]

Originally Posted by bkahler

That's interesting about the quadrajet. What is the fitment issue? You might look into using an Edelbrock carburetor. I plan on running an Edelbrock 1406 600 SCFM caruburetor. With a 502 you'd likely need a slightly larger one!

Brad

The Quadrajet bolt pattern is too narrow for the GM supplied intake. GM recommends a Holley 850 for this motor, so that's what I got. Should be painful at the pumps! (not that it wasn't before). I would love to have gone with fuel injection but this project has run up against financial reality.

Keith

[PeterH-350LE]

Despite all the hassle and financial set backs you went through, I share your excitement about having a new Motor. It will be well worth it !!

[Kota]

Originally Posted by chiefair

The Quadrajet bolt pattern is too narrow for the GM supplied intake. GM recommends a Holley 850 for this motor, so that's what I got. Should be painful at the pumps! (not that it wasn't before). I would love to have gone with fuel injection but this project has run up against financial reality.



Keith

A properly tuned carb will be pretty close an EFI system. Especially some of the aftermarket stuff. Maybe even better.

[Hans 34.5]

I think that new engine could be better on fuel you won't have to smash the right foot to the floor to get the MO moving. And going down the road it should sound Bad Azz.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by Hans 34.5

I think that new engine could be better on fuel you won't have to smash the right foot to the floor to get the MO moving. And going down the road it should sound Bad Azz.

There is some truth to your reasoning, as I remember in the early 90's my girlfriends parents at the time were looking to buy her a car, a Ford Taurus with 4 cylinder. Just out of curiosity I remember asking the salesman what the difference was in MPG between the 2.3L four and the 3.8 six was. The four got 1mpg better in the city but the six got 3 better mpg on the highway.

However apples to oranges, an 850 double pumper on a 502 punching a 8.5' x 10.6' 15,000 lb hole in the atmosphere is going to cost you a lot more than the 650 double pumper 340 in my 69 Dart GTS convertible that I use to own. Yes it sounded Bad Azz too.

Cheers
Tony

[chiefair]

Preparing to install the 502.


Tight fit!







1982 310 motorhome 454
Henniker New Hampshire

[martin300662]

Can't wait to hear how it runs; maybe born of out necessity but that is a serious performance improvement.

[nrgtrakr]

Really dumb question ...
why not a diesel?
7.3/7.4 or 8.2?

[Hans 34.5]

I think it would be a lot more work. And you need to change the rear end gear ratio and the list goes on. You would need to keep it a long time for the diesel swap to pay off. I can see doing it but would I do it I hope not.

[mayco]

Beautiful!!! Is that the first 502 anybody has heard of being installed in a classic? Wish you the best of luck through the rest of the install!!

Mike