I wrote this a while ago, probably more than you need, but someone wanted to know about converting from I6 manual 3sp to V8 automatic.....
I recently put a 350 crate enigine with a 700R4 in my 67 pick-up that had a 250 six banger and 3 spd manual. The straight six motor mounts are taller than the stock 350 mounts, I think you can use the I6 mounts, but chevy must have used lower ones for the V-8s for a reason. But they DO need to be slid forward to the next set of holes in the frame, or your distributor will be hittin the firewall. Mine are slid forward and it's tight now! There is also another hole in the crossmember so no drilling is necessary. DO NOT reuse rubber motor mounts. I did and the passenger side broke after 2 miles. I think they are only 8 dollars each at a local autozone. The original manual crossmember is rivveted in and needs to be torched out. I cut out the mount itself and then it was easier to torch the bolts to get the rest out. I scoured local junk yards and pirated the 350 motor mounts and an automatic crossmember from a 72 Cheyenne. The automatic mounts were bolted in, not rivveted. The easiest thing to do is get the motor and tranny in the truck and then slide in the tranny crossmember and bolt it to the tranny. I did this on my truck because only 2 stock holes lined up, I had to drill the others, but I did use a 700R4. All chevy manuals were "short" so you will need to take your driveshaft to a machine shop to be shortened, but I have heard if you use a TH350 you don't need to do this, but don't forget to take out some length for suspension travel, you don't want the shaft slammin into the tranny when you hit a bump. You will also need to install a tranny cooler in front of the radiator, you don't have to, but you run the risk of burning up the tranny. For shifting it is easiest to buy a shifter, I put a LOKAR in my truck, VERY EXPENSIVE! You might get lucky and find an original column shift in a junkyard....but GOOD LUCK. I went to 9 yards and didn't find one at all. Also, I suggest a new radiator and electric fan. For the motor you will need a new accelerator rod to connect to the carb. I couln't find one so I made one using 1/4" rod. I also ordered a 2 1/4" dual exhaust kit from LMC truck and it installed fairly easy. I think that's all the "conversion" stuff, but it is A LOT of work, it IS NOT easy to do. I have been working on vehicles since I was a kid, I'm 23 now, and the swap took me 3 weeks working after work and on weekends. I don't mean to scare ya, but it IS VERY WORTH IT. If you want mileage my last suggestion is to trash the 350 tranny and pick up a 700R4. You will need to get a stock TV cable mount that goes on the intake manifold near the carb and a lock-up kit for the converter. My truck gets 15.5 mpg highway, 13 avg and it has a 3.73 rear...which is next to go to get some better mpgs......
|