Need Engine/Trans 86 c-10

[Jackie Mac]

I am in the planning stages for putting a Rebuilt engine/trans in my 1986 Chevy Custom Dexuxe 10 Truck. It has a 305-v8 and a 3 SPEED auto trans. I am thinking a 350-v8 with a Good heavy duty Trans. This will be a work truck. I am new to this so any advice on a reputable place to purchace both would be greatly apprec. I live Close to Nashville Tn. Thanks Much and I am very Happy this forum exists !

[tucsonjwt]

Can you define "work truck" in more detail? If you mean heavy hauling/towing work truck then a 454/400 is the ticket. If you mean daily driver with light to no towing or heavy hauling, then V6 with manual trans or 700R4 is the way to go. Rear axle can go as low as 2.73 for fuel economy to 4.56 for heavy towing.

[old Rusty C10]

I would check into a remnufactured GM Crate motor... as for the trans i have a local rebuilder who i use but there are several good trans places online like TCI

[Jackie Mac]

Thanks tucsonjwt and Old Rusty C10 for Reply. I will be using this truck for pulling a mowing trailer, a potential heavy load. I am thinking 454. I have never rebuilt an engine, but I want to do this myself. Would the Old 3 speed trans. hold up with the torque of a 454. What would be a good, preforably, auto. trans to put in the truck. Would truck need any frame/cutting mods to accept the 454 or just maybe an adapter kit? The simpler the betterfor me. Would anyof the parts offmy 305 adapt to the 454? (altenator, AC compressor ect.) Thank you guys so much for any info!

[PRattenbury]

Have you ever built an engine before? If you haven't, you may want to save yourself some headache and just buy a GM Performance Parts crate engine. I mean, if you don't mind ruining some stuff and redoing some work, it would certainly be a good learning experience. But there's ways to do things, and special tools required even beyond the stuff a local machine shop would do for you, like torque wrenches, ring compressor, to name a couple. I don't mean to insult you or anyone. I have certainly ruined a lot of engine parts and redone a lot of my own work. I learned, of course. But it cost me. It's up to you. But if you want the simple, easy, most cost-effective way to do things... crate motor FTW.

[Jackie Mac]

Good advice, I am going to speak to grooms engines in Nashville tn. They have short and long blocks as well as turn key packages with a great warranty. Thanks much!

[Matt Man]

a 454/400 with 3:73's would be a good combo.

[PRattenbury]

^^^^ That would be a bullet proof combo. ^^^^^^

[Jackie Mac]

Oh yeah, What is the most durable/heavy duty trans for a 350 engine? Thanks

[gchemist]

Get a 350 from a 96 and later truck. Slap on a carb and go. For power, you can swap out the cam. Easy swap. The cost of a transmission is high. A NV3500 can get you around. A NV4500 will pull just about anything have 5th gear for highway use.
In towing order of heavy use 400TH, 350TH and 700R4 (in 3rd only). The best combo is a 350TH/350 SB with 3.42/3.73 gears.

[Jackie Mac]

Thanks Gchemist, Great info.

[sierra4x4]

A 454 will simply bolt right on to your existing mounts. There is no cutting/banging required. You will need to get all of the accessory brackets for a 454 but your starter, alternator, distributor and carb will all bolt right on. An awsome all around combo is a 454/th400 with a 3.21 rear axle ratio. The 454 makes a ton of torque so you can get away with a taller axle ratio.

[misternash2]

call me crazy, but i'm gonna have to suggest 5.3/4l60e. it'll be a little extra work (not too much) and they have plenty of torque for pulling trailers. just throwing that out there. i bought engine, trans, computer, harness, first foot of pipe (for the flanges), stock airbox, etc. for $1500. put in new fuel tank, in tank pump, fuel lines, fittings, fuel pressure regulator/filter, radiator, flowtech knockoffs, etc for another $1800. sold the wore out engine and trans for $400. leaving me with right around $3000 in the swap, with fluids and filters. runs great, starts with ease, pulls a trailer with a car on it no problem. i love it in every way. i'm not getting the mileage i think i should be, but i'm pretty sure that a better tune would fix that. i'm getting 16mpg avg. still better than *most* carb'd 350s...