Thread: putting a different engine in a Rivierra

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Swapping in another engine will prove to be MUCH more difficult than the small difficulties of making that nailhead (401) work. First off there is NO motor, GM or otherwise that will interchange with that one. The tranny is totally different, it is a TH400 but a short tail shaft, and the bell housing bolt pattern is not the same. The motor mounts are about 6 inches forward of ANY GM motor. These are just the first two issues.

That motor is TOTALLY unique motor from other GM engines. If you think this is a problem in working with it, just try replacing it! It is MUCH easier to find someone who knows these motors (there are more today than twenty years ago) than to fabricate everything you would need to in a swap.

This is one rare time, one very rare time where your cars value will be in the crapper if you swap out that motor. Even the ever popular small block Chevy would cost you a number of dollars at resale. Have you checked the value of that Riv. They bring some big bucks, more than a 65 Gran Sport Skylark, they ARE a true classic.

Did you know it was designed by Bill Michell the same guy who designed the 63 Vette Split window? The 63 Riv (same basic body) was the first GM car to have true hardtop windows with no metal frames around them. The First GM car to have urethaned in windows, it is a classic and should be left alone.

Brian