straight 6 to 305 conversion

[Srubydo1986]

(ok im doing a straight 6 to a v8 conversion (what all do i need) truck is an 81 2wd 1 ton with a granny transmission. Can some one please give me a list (i already know the flywheel and all wont work on this conversion.

Will i need a wiring harness for this conversion (thinking the rewiring might suck )

Once again let me know ill make this a build thread maybe if any one wants so see this done

[old Rusty C10]

you shouldnt need a wiring harness ive done this once years ago only the truck was automatic and everything was a direct swap .. i even remember not having to change the motor mounts.. although im not sure if i had to adjust where they sat.. your truck has no emmissions stuff like a computer or EFI so there shouldnt be any problems

[8T3GMC]

Are you going 305 or 350. I would tell you to go 350 create. You can go to a Chevy or GMC dealership and buy one for 1600 or 1800 bucks. That is what I did, but not from a straight 6 to 350. Mine was 305.

Here is a pic of my moter.

[old Chevy guy]

IM not to savy on 73-87 pickups but Ive done a few moter swaps and you shouldnt have to much problems with that one. Im preety sure you can probly use your flywheel and clutch setup too. your wireing should stay the same but you may have to make some longer to reach where they need to go.I did some 6 to 8 swaps on chevy vans my 69 camaro my 61 apachie a 66 c60 and some 67 to 72 pickups. you will need diffrent exaust of course but your bell housing will work too, the mounts should work, you may need to get a bracket for the pivit ball for the bell crank,Im not sure how it hooks up on those trucks. The accelerater cable will probly work out too. Thats why I love my Chevys ,so much stuff will interchange,try that with a f**d f150. Any way good luck and Ill try to watch your progress.

[tyjoja]

8t3gmc your engine looks great, nice job

[Mr79C10]

Good question about this swap. I too have a ST8 6 and may want to swap to a 350. What trans you might go with? And what would be need to be added?

[Srubydo1986]

(well i already have an engine (its i believe a 305 (i need to do some number looking up on it to be shure what its all from (i was once told froma 66 chevelle but who knows). as for the trnsmission its the old 4 speed granny trans. i believe its numbers ar sm4?? (i cant fully remeber.

AS for the clutch and fly wheel they wonr bolt up they ar just to different. had 305 4 speed once and they are definatly different.

(as for wiring id like to not cut and splice to many chances of something going bad down the road. but if it gets tight i might have to (still looking for one)

(and as i promised above ill get pics and keep every one informed of what will all be needed and so on to do this kind of conversion

[8T3GMC]

If it is out of a chevelle I don't think it will be a 305, I don't think they even made 305s for those. I think 350 or even if your real lucky maybe a 396. But I dought that.

[spudz]

1966 chevelles could have came with a 194 six, 230 six, 283, 327, or a 396.

[gchemist]

Good I-6 to V-8 conversion info:
http://www.persh.org/Pickup/perches.htm

[manimal]

Shouldnt need a wire harness. When I did the conversion on my '74 Nova, I even used the flywheel,clutch,starter,etc.. The 305-350 are internally balanced,so is the 6cyl. For the year you have the trans is probably an SM465.
Good luck with it!
-Lance

BTW, what 6cyl do you have? Is it a 292? I would be interested in some pics of the engine compartment as it sits now(w/6cyl).

[Srubydo1986]

(ill look again at the clutch stuff but from what i did on surching with autozone the part numbers are different)

as to manimal your a bit late on that request (the motor is a 292 ) but its already been removed from the engine compartment. But i did on the other hand removed the front clip and then the engine so every thing is still on the engine even the wiring harness.

(i move fast i already had the engine removed when i started the thread actually)

But if u want picks of the engine i can do that (its just sitting on the engine hoist anyway getting ready to be added to the scrap metal pile i have)

[manimal]

YES please, I need pics. Do you have the power steering brackets?

[Srubydo1986]

(hmm thats a funny story his truck had some kinda emissions but he mad it to is didnt. so he kinda made his own. (but if ur looking for a non emissions straight 6 power streering bracket ill take a look at the local bone yard hes got plenty of theses trucks

[HanSoloWS6]

I swapped a 305 and 700R4 in to my dads truck, and I didn't have to do much but lengthen some wires. I don't even think I had to move the motor mounts. I could be wrong since it was well over 5-6 years ago and I don't remember everything. I don't think I had to move the tranny X-member either. The truck had a 292 and 3 speed on the column, so I did have to add a shifter from a 3rd gen Camaro.

All in all, if I had all of the misc. parts to replace bad or broken stuff, I could have had the swap done in a day.

Oh, I also had to get the driveshaft shortened. The tail on the 700R4 was about 4-6" longer.

[bagged81]

Why are you leaving the I6?

[Srubydo1986]

Reason for leaving the ig is it was just worn out could use a little head work and be fine but he need the power tho