BCW Rebuild Suggestions

[Vicenç Feliú]

Hi all,

I have a Chevy Chevette BCW with the original engine, transmission and running gear.  I would like to upgrade it to make it a more enjoyable driver.  I know Bill stuffed a V8 into his Ford based TD and Ed put a Subaru engine in his VW BCW.  If any of you have any ideas about what I can do to upgrade my Chevy, I would love to hear them.  Thanks so much in advance!

Vicenç - (bee sense)
Pembroke Pines, FL
1986 Aston - BCW Model 52 - "Montse II"

(1983 FiberFab MiGi II - "Montse")

[Lyle]

Stuck a Toyota 20R in mine but struggling a bit with heat.

[billnparts]

Have you ever considered a Miata transplant? I don’t believe you were at Carlisle the year “Bob” from Nova

Scotia showed up with a TF replica based on the Miata platform. Powerful enough with plenty of upgrades available.

Good luck on your endeavor.

Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"

[edward ericson]

Vicenc,! Great to hear from you again.

And what a great problem to have.

Obvs none of us on here have done a BCW front engine swap yet but it’s entertaining to think about what we could or would do if your car was ours.

My first stop on the innerweb is a search of what engine swaps work in a Chevette. Turns out the 60-degree chevy V6 (the ones for longitudinal duty in trucks and F-Bodies) allegedly go in without a hitch.

Chevette guys are all over this particular swap. Imho it makes a lot more sense than trying to shoehorn a V8 in there.

A Miata swap would also be awesome, imho. I’d try to get the whole drivetrain to work. It would have to fit, though I’d imagine you’d have to make the frame mounts for the engine.

Hell, I’d bet just about any this-century dohc four cylinder car engine could be made to fit, and wired to run, in a BCW TD body.

Maybe a 2.5 Ecotec?

[edward ericson]

Or–OH!

S2000 engine and trans for $4,000.

[Vicenç Feliú]

Thanks for the tips, guys!  I will start looking into the Miata situation first and see where that leads.  Will keep you in the loop.

Vicenç - (bee sense)
Pembroke Pines, FL
1986 Aston - BCW Model 52 - "Montse II"

(1983 FiberFab MiGi II - "Montse")

[billnparts]

Oh, if it wasn’t for the price tag. Can’t imagine a TD with the S2000 engine. High horsepower and the ability to sing to 9,000 rpm.

Excellent suggestion, Ed.

Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"

[edward ericson]

S2000s weigh ~2800 pounds. So…

[edward ericson]

Inspiration:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1980-mg-mgb-roadster-56/?utm_source=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-02-05

[billnparts]

Wow

Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"

[edward ericson]

Wish I’d seen it earlier. I might’ve had to bid.

[Author]

Posts