427 powered Chevy Chevette,

[John M.]

I've seen Chevettes packing Vortec V6s and the occasional small Chevy small block but never a 427 big block. The car looks factory and is a real sleeper. However, the owner had to really and I mean really had to strengthen the car's unibody so it wouldn't get turned into a pretzel by the engine's torque. 

 

[stitchdup]

the rover v8 fits them great. it was a common swap on this side of the pons and theres a good few done as drag cars

[Shark]

I love it. I had a Chevette one time, probably the most dependable car I owned. Actually be looking at Craigslist and other places for one. I have a Chevy 4.3 V6 engine and think that would make a neat little swap.

[Mark]

A guy around here had one with a Buick Grand National V6 (but the early type, without the intercooler).  Haven't gone to the drag strip more than once or twice a year, but haven't seen it in a long time.

Another local guy built a Ford EXP with a Boss 429 back when those cars were fairly new.  Never saw it on the street (though it was registered), only saw it at a couple of indoor car shows.

[Mark]

Don Hardy (Pro Stock chassis builder) briefly offered a kit to put a small-block in a Chevette.  I believe he stopped selling it thinking the bolt-together swap with the stock unit body and front brakes was unsafe. 

He also constructed the only Pro Stock Chevette I'm aware of, the Kenny Hilger (Brown & Hilger) car from the Southwest (Colorado?).  Chevettes had a 94" wheelbase, same as a Ford Pinto.  The Pro Stocker had a small-block engine.

[1930fordpickup]

That is a good look9ng car. I dought the tires would plant enough to win street races as a sleeper. 

[TECHMAN]

On 8/22/2025 at 4:56 PM, Mark said:

Don Hardy (Pro Stock chassis builder) briefly offered a kit to put a small-block in a Chevette.  I believe he stopped selling it thinking the bolt-together swap with the stock unit body and front brakes was unsafe. 

He also constructed the only Pro Stock Chevette I'm aware of, the Kenny Hilger (Brown & Hilger) car from the Southwest (Colorado?).  Chevettes had a 94" wheelbase, same as a Ford Pinto.  The Pro Stocker had a small-block engine.

Went to a PRO-STOCK meet at Green Valley back in '80 (IRC), and saw that Chevette, was pretty amazing considering some of the cars he was running against.  DON HARDY built a LOT of really top-notch race cars, and marketed some fantastic merchandise for the "do-it-yourself" hotrodders..... 

Unless that is a VERY LOW horsepower big-block, the "bracing" on that unibody better be good.....  but, if all you're running is those small rear tires, you're not gonna put much power to the ground, so you shouldn't break near so much stuff....  Still, small car/big engine is still a cool idea!!!!

DJ

[Daddyfink]

Who remembers this thing....

https://www.hotrod.com/how-to/1980-chevy-chevette-project-car-the-bad-seed

[charger74]

8 hours ago, Daddyfink said:

Who remembers this thing....

https://www.hotrod.com/how-to/1980-chevy-chevette-project-car-the-bad-seed

If i remember correctly, It was in hot rod magazine, with a Cadillac big block from a scrap yard in it 

[milo1303s]