If this were your truck!

[terbronco7]

Ok got all new chrome, door handles, bumper, grille, peep mirrors (although I cant see crap out of em) did I put them in the right place or what? Wheels and tires (THANKS GLOSS55) New windshield. Interior is pretty much done. also would any of you keep the spare tire mount or go with the standard wheel well? Now I am stuck. If this were your truck where would you go from here? An engine swap is on the list of things to do, thinking 327/350 or 400 turbo, currently a very tired 230 with 4 speed, doesn't smoke but tired just the same. I am looking forward to everyones feedback as there are some really nice builds on here.
Thanks. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1400643121

[63burban]

Drop in a good used small block and drive the wheels off it !!

[Turtleman]

A: I love the truck
B: I like Function over Appearance
C: I never was to much on side mounted spares.. personally, I'd replace the wheel well
D: Drop a 350 with a 350 or 400 behind it.. but thats just me.

Nothing wrong with just rebuilding the 6 but that call has to come from you and what you use your truck for... Do allot of highway driving and want a little extra power? do the 350 with a 400. Do you just run to the local store in it once in awhile? do the 350 behind it.
If you upgrade Power.. be safe and add something to stop with........ (brakes)

Cool truck... theres nothing wrong with it just the way it is

[terbronco7]

Originally Posted by Turtleman

A: I love the truck
B: I like Function over Appearance
C: I never was to much on side mounted spares.. personally, I'd replace the wheel well
D: Drop a 350 with a 350 or 400 behind it.. but thats just me.

Nothing wrong with just rebuilding the 6 but that call has to come from you and what you use your truck for... Do allot of highway driving and want a little extra power? do the 350 with a 400. Do you just run to the local store in it once in awhile? do the 350 behind it.
If you upgrade Power.. be safe and add something to stop with........ (brakes)

Cool truck... theres nothing wrong with it just the way it is

Thanks for your feed back I dont really plan on driving it much, some local cruise ins and car shows and thats about it will not be going on the highway any time soon as its 1. Terrible on gas 2. Anything above 50 and its screaming (gears are not for highway driving for sure). I think they look better with a standard wheel well so will def be changing it.
Thanks again.

[66Submarine]

If it's a "driver" I'd probably just drop a 250/292/283/327/350 in it and go, with the nod probably going to a 250 or 283 for economy. I don't really like automagick transmissions that much for normal stuff, but another option for me would be a saginaw 4 speed or similar if you don't need the SM420's deeper gears for starting off and want a car-type close(er) ratio/tall(er) first gear trans, or maybe some kind of OD trans like a T5.

Put a tach in there and check how fast the engine is really running. Tall tires will help, but @ 50MPH it shouldn't really be what I'd consider "screaming"; I'll run 70MPH in my truck (a one ton) with 4.10's and a 250/SM420 (with 32" rear tires, though). I don't really think the 3,100RPM I'm turning @ 70MPH is that frightening, but someone used to something new with tall gears and OD might think that even 2,500RPM is "screaming".

How bad is the mileage? Going 50MPH I think you should see pretty decent mileage with your setup; even my previously mentioned one ton gets about 13MPG driving with traffic (55-65MPH most of the time) in what I guess would be called "mixed" driving, and it has a lot working against it as far as fuel economy goes!

[sixTsix]

Personally I would take off the spare tire rack, put on a non spare fender. Toss a spare in the bed or get a carrier for underneath.
As far as motor, the choice is up to you as to how far you want to take it ya know. Could drop a nice 350 in it. Or rebuild the 6.
Same with the trans to some extent. If you wanted to keep it manual, you could try to track down a MY6 (np440) trans which the gear ratio is really close to the 700R4 trans. It is a 4 speed over drive manual trans.
If you wanted to go automatic trans, turbo350 or TH400 would be suitable. Although a lot of folks say go 700R4 for the over drive. Will turn better rpm's while highway cruising and better fuel economy.
It is all up to you and how much you want to put into your project to make it yours.
Otherwise I think you have a real nice solid truck!

[Clyde65]

If it were mine, I would jerk the 6, rebuild it and throw a 2004r behind it. It would get great fuel mileage and be a dream to drive anywhere.

just my $.02, any way you choose, I think that's great!