350 swap

[mehoff400]

i've decided to enjoy my truck more the engine needs a rebuild and needs a clutch/fly wheel. well i've decided just swap my straight six for a 350. currently has 3 on the tree but thinking either a automatic or 5 speed swap. from the little research i have done it seems a pretty straight forward swap. any good write ups or advise?

i hope to find a running 350 or possible parts truck

[OldChevy61]

What year?

[TJ's Chevy]

350's aren't all that Fun. A 383 or something like a 427 is Fun. A 350....that's just common. But that's my biased opinion. lol

[62 Barnfind]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

350's aren't all that Fun. A 383 or something like a 427 is Fun. A 350....that's just common.

I agree! Thats why i'm trying to fix my broken 235 before I do a V8 swap. If it can't be fixed then I'll be looking to put something else in. But I get so many comments on the 235 and 3 speed at cruise ins and shows. mehoff400 just rebuild it and do something cool with it like this.

[Budget63]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

350's aren't all that Fun. A 383 or something like a 427 is Fun. A 350....that's just common.

You might want to adopt the "to each their own" philosophy. It seems like whenever I browse these forums I am seeing you wine about people putting 350's in their trucks (emphasis on "their"). Get over it man. There isn't anything wrong with them. I'm sure to a lot of people, they are the most viable solution when it comes to money and power output. Not everyone wants or has a straight six to rebuild, or has the know how to build a stroker motor, do an LS Swap, or can afford to buy a new crate engine.

[65chevysub]

I'm with budget63. If I could I'd get rid of my 283 and put my 292 back in, mainly for originality. But there is nothing wrong with a 350. If anything is "common" nowadays, it's LS swaps. Just my 2cents worth(todaysvalue:1cent)

[Vincenthdfan]

I saw more 350's in Fords at the car show last weekend than I did in the Chevy's!!

That tells you there's a good reason people use 'em...they're inexpensive, fit well, and put out good, dependable power over the long run.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by Budget63

You might want to adopt the "to each their own" philosophy. It seems like whenever I browse these forums I am seeing you wine about people putting 350's in their trucks (emphasis on "their"). Get over it man. There isn't anything wrong with them. I'm sure to a lot of people, they are the most viable solution when it comes to money and power output. Not everyone wants or has a straight six to rebuild, or has the know how to build a stroker motor, do an LS Swap, or can afford to buy a new crate engine.

Hmm...what happened to the "Right to have opinions"?

[Budget63]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Hmm...what happened to the "Right to have opinions"?

Nothing happened to your right to express your opinion, but continuously berating people for making an engine choice that you don't deem desirable, that just comes off as douchey. There isn't anything helpful in this post: 350's aren't all that Fun. A 383 or something like a 427 is Fun. A 350....that's just common.
I get that your a teenager, but grow up man.

[markeb01]

It really does matter which year chassis you are working with. I have a thread for the 60-62, but it won't help much if yours is newer.

[mehoff400]

sorry its a 65' . I dont have the know how to rebuilt the current 230. i am okay with common i am not building a show stopper just something i can hop in a drive without any question. i just want to enjoy the truck and be reliable. i am not saying a 230 isnt reliable

[Monte's62]

Yeah I may be boring with my 350, but it's dependable and works. I'll take a 350 over a 6 cylinder any day, and they are good motors. I have one in my 64, but it will eventually be replaced. It seems TJ always has to make negative comments about 350's, I don't know why. Budget you are correct, for most it's pure economics. It's cheaper to build a 350 than an I6 and parts are much easier to find. I don't know if it's easier to build, I've never built an I6, but a lot of guys have rebuilt 350's. For me personally it's about power and Sound of a V8, and what's the easiest and cheapest V8 to build - a 350

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by Monte's62

Yeah I may be boring with my 350, but it's dependable and works. I'll take a 350 over a 6 cylinder any day, and they are good motors. I have one in my 64, but it will eventually be replaced. It seems TJ always has to make negative comments about 350's, I don't know why. Budget you are correct, for most it's pure economics. It's cheaper to build a 350 than an I6 and parts are much easier to find. I don't know if it's easier to build, I've never built an I6, but a lot of guys have rebuilt 350's. For me personally it's about power and Sound of a V8, and what's the easiest and cheapest V8 to build - a 350

What's the point of doing a project if it has to be Cheap and Easy?

[Budget63]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

What's the point of doing a project if it has to be Cheap and Easy?

Again. Arrogance. Cheap is a relative term. Not everyone has the same goals for their respective projects. Maybe you should take some time off from the forum, leave it to the adults. Come back when you can offer useful suggestions to other members, and not belittle their ideas/decisions.

[Monte's62]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

What's the point of doing a project if it has to be Cheap and Easy?

I don't want to hijack this thread, I hope Mehoff gets his answer, but TJ I don't think anyone spends extra money they don't have too. I always build an engine as cheap as I can, I have built 350's and 327's for less than $1000, and I have built others for $4500.
As far as easy, well I'm 50, and when you get my age, you will look for the easiest way to make coffee in the morning,

[Monte's62]

Mehoff, I have a 327 backed by a 350 in my 62 and it was not a problem to change. I switched to a floor shifter. As markeb01 mentioned it may be a little different in a 65

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by mehoff400

i've decided to enjoy my truck more the engine needs a rebuild and needs a clutch/fly wheel. well i've decided just swap my straight six for a 350. currently has 3 on the tree but thinking either a automatic or 5 speed swap. from the little research i have done it seems a pretty straight forward swap. any good write ups or advise?

i hope to find a running 350 or possible parts truck

I'd find a parts truck with a good running engine and more than likely it will have an auto in it. If you do a 5 speed I'd recommend a tremec. Beefy and very reliable. But spendy. A tko500 runs around $2150 range. A 70's chevy with a 350 and TH350/400 would be a fairly easy swap from what I have seen. The 70's 350 is the better engine as you will have more power than the smog 350. New crate engines are going pretty affordable as well. There's a good amount of threads on these swaps. If you look in the Projects and Builds area you'll find one I'm sure. But that's about as much as I can do on the subject. Good luck to your build.

[blown240]

Mehoff400 - if I was in your situation, I would look for a donor truck. That's going to be the easiest and most cost effective way to do it. I found an 81 1 ton when I needed a motor. Once I got out all the parts I wanted, I got rid of the rest as scrap. In the end I was only $200 out of pocket and I had a nice running 350.

[Palf70Step]