Conquering Challenges: MotorTrend's Epic Engine Swap and Shootout Showdown

In this episode of MotorTrend Channel, the guys are tackling a quintessential American car, known for its ill handling, lack of stopping power, and sheer overpowered nature. And they're not here to prove anyone wrong, because they admit that it does drive great, but handles terribly and barely stops. But that's the whole point, isn't it? With a whopping 600 to 650 horsepower, this beast is set to smoke some serious rubber.

Now, they've set up shop at West Tech performance, their go-to place for engine Dyno testing. But due to the lack of space indoors, they find themselves in the parking lot, battling the elements. Rain be damned, they're determined to make this happen. And it's not their first rodeo, after all. With a small block Chevy, they expect the swap to be relatively easy, but as always, they anticipate some hiccups along the way.

As they dive into the engine swap, things start to get interesting. They encounter a power steering fluid leak, thanks to some ripped hoses. But that doesn't deter them. They soldier on, undeterred by a little fluid on the ground. And then comes the moment of truth - they open a box that contains a big block Chevy engine that has been sitting untouched since 2014-13. It's like opening the ark of the covenant, a moment of reverence mixed with anticipation. The engine is heavy, but they're not ones to shy away from a challenge.

With the clock ticking, they need to make progress quickly. They decide to convert the car to manual steering to avoid the hassle of mounting a power steering pump to the big block. It's all about keeping things cheap and simple. And speaking of cheap, they're using some old parts to save money, including a turbo 400 transmission and a torque converter that might not be the best fit for the job. But they're confident they can make it work.

Of course, no project is complete without a few setbacks. The steering box clashes with the header tube, but they're not ones to back down. They unleash their inner destructiveness, recalling their previous episode where they destroyed a set of headers on the dyno. And guess what? It didn't make a difference to the horsepower.

But as they move forward, they hit a roadblock. The lack of parts becomes a challenge, and they realize they'll have to build new brackets for the transmission cross member. It's time to get creative. They push the car to the driveway, roll out the welder, and get to work. The FedEx guy might just be their savior, delivering the missing parts they need.

With the big block engine in place, the car is starting to take shape. It may not be the prettiest sight, but it's a work in progress. And they have a deadline to meet - a shootout in San Diego against Marty and Moog. The other guys have no idea what they're up against. The torque converter might be a challenge, and the lack of an exhaust system might make things interesting. But the team at MotorTrend Channel is confident that they can overcome these obstacles and come out on top.

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Viewer Reactions for Engine Swapping Big Block Chevy in 1969 Chevy Impala for Mighty Car Mods! | Roadkill

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• Mauro Augusto: Beautiful boat, needs suspension, brakes, and new seats.
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• Adam Givan: The Impala brings joy.
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