Realistically, how hard would it be to drop the crossfire 3.2 and replace it with a smallblock say like a 327 or 350ci. Where can I find someone who could do the conversion. I know it would become tricky when it comes to the ecu. Any ideas?

 

Well, I would think that there would be two schools of thought here:

1) Really hard / Impossible:
Check out all the problems others have had swapping motors in these cars. See HDDP's SRT-6 conversion woes. Then there was someone putting in a V-8, I can't remember who. Anyway, the short answer is that you'll need lots of time and LOTS of money, and even given that, it is fraught with problems.

2) Not too bad if you're willing to give up a lot:
If you're willing to junk the drivetrain from the differential forward, and junk the ECU and anything attached to it, pretty much junk the electrical system (especially the ignition system), and junk the exhaust system, then it probably wouldn't be too bad - assuming that there is space in there for a small block Chevy motor. Of course, you'd have to buy custom everything, and even fab up engine mounts. But if you're into that, go for it. But it sounds like you want to pay someone to do it. Good luck with that. I hope you have deep pockets.

 

Anything is possible.

1970 Triumph GT6 (way smaller than the XF)
GT6ENG.jpg

 

What is involved in creating a wiring system and new computer? Are there people who can do that? I mean basically, its all in the matter of finding someone with the knowledge of what really needs to happen to make it work.. So where do you find that person?

 

first you need deep pockets when you have around $6000-$8000 we can find the people, a turn key solution is around $20,000 search startech crossfire v8

enjoy,

 

I've seen the startech deal. But I would rather do a custom build around a SB350. I believe that engine would fit in the bay with plenty of room. Plus the power gain would be substantial. You can only make so much power with the stock engine block on both the SRT-6 and the Base model. The only real option is to replace it with something with more power potential. You can easily get 550hp from a 350. That would be plenty of hp for the crossfire. Plus, who doesn't love the sound of a .600 lift cam singing through the exhaust.

 

I like the way you think!
I have already thought that if I end up blowing my motor some how that I would like to stick a SBC in it. I have a 355 with a blower that has been sitting on an engine stand for the last four plus years just waiting for a new home. How bad as$ would our cars sound with a SBC in it!
My thought is that the current ECU would have to go. That means that the trans has to go also. So get the SB and a Chevy trans and get wrenchin'!

Wiring would depend on what generation of SB you want to go with. A carbureted system would be the simplest. Painless Wiring has generic wiring harnesses that one could possibly adapt to this application.
Lots of time and quite a few bucks to do it but it could be done. Woody???

Oh wait, he's a mopar man!

 

To give you an another example of an 'extreme' build. This is a 1959 Morris Minor (British car) and we have moved the original firewall BACK about 4 to 6 inches. We have room for a V8 small block, but have a Chevrolet 3.8 L V6 in it now along with a 5 speed. The rear has been tubbed, but that was more for look than real function. 3x5 tube frame, you get the picture.

 

It also depends on what you want from the car when you're finished. I have a friend in Florida that got sick of rebuilding his RX-7's engine. So he yanked almost the whole drive train and threw it away. He dropped in a crated LS1 motor, mated it up with the transmission from one of the Corvettes that had the LS1 (I can't remember which) and used the wiring harness from a Cadillac that had the LS1. He used a pre-built racing ECU that was made for the LS1 and dropped in a custom built drive shaft (surprisingly they aren't that expensive ~$1200) and fabbed up his own custom exhaust headers (no cats, no muffler). The car is a hard charging screamer now. But he worked really hard on it, and spent a good deal of money doing it, and he did almost all of the work himself.

 

I know there would be a great deal involved but, the results, given that everything worked correctly, would be amazing. I dont think there would be any cutting of the firewall for a 350sb. There is plenty of room in our engine bay for just about any motor. This is all still a thought process as of now, but over the next year I would like to take the time to speak with the right people to make something like this a possibility. Maybe start the project around the begining of 2010.

 

Well since I'm running stacked pulleys maybe I'll be the first to have the opprotunity to give the SB a try!
Not hoping, just sayin'.

 

What about the emissions ?

 

No emission checks here!

 

The thing is I think with your question your talking about something that yes could be done but since you would be ditching everything that you had when you bought the car fuel system engine electronics which would probably make you need a new brake system. You would be basiclly making your car into a kit car where you would need everything for, electronics, fuel, system-pump, your brakes would be custom um..to much to list. Another thought would be to have a company custom fab a Intercooled Turbo set up the hardest part there would be the custom fab of that set up and a proper tune I think you'd get roughly 400 horsepower figures a streetable high 11 second quarter mile car still retain some gas mileage and be able to run with the big boys, assuming you don't don't break axles or your tranny. In which case a six speed conversion would be really nice....if you have deep pockets either way you would be spending alot.

 

Or how about buying a wrecked late model Hemi and swapping EVERYTHING over to the Crossfire body?