1970 C-10 motor and tranny swap

[AirborneC10]

I've got a 1970 C-10 with a crate 350 and a 3 speed on the tree.

The truck needs heads (removed) and a carb. Figure I'd be in about $500 to get it running.

This just came up for sale

Runs Good!

Estimated "350" Horsepower!

350 Chevy 4 Bolt Mains, .010/.010 Cast-iron Crankshaft, 9/1 Flat Top Pistons, Cylinders honed with toque plates, all Rods resized, 350hp 327 CI OEM Duplicate Camshaft, Open chamber Cylinder Heads, 1.94/1.5 Polished Valves, Pinned Rocker Arm Studs, Full street Port & Polish, Triple angle valve grind, Weiand 8004 Aluminum Intake, 600 CFM Endelbrock Carb, 74 Chevy pickup Black Jack Headers, 350 Turbo Transmission

This engine has about 30k street miles on it and was never strip ran or dragged. It is in a 74 chev pickup (the truck body is really ragged beyond repair) so I parked it with hopes of putting the engine in something else).

""You have to take the whole truck.""

$800.00 Cash

My question is this: Wht should I do? Replace the heads and carb and run with it? (I have an unidentified oil leak that could be an oil pan or the rear main seal) and I do have throwout bearing noise. Both those would need to be addressed in the future.

Or

Do the entire engine/transmission swap after buying the other truck for $800?

I do not know if the donor truck is a longbed or shortbed (I have a longbed). I figure I would have to have a driveshaft manufactured or purchase one that fits if the donor is a shortbed.

How difficult is this swap to do in a yard (no garage)? Can I use the crossmember from the donor truck in my truck? I assume it just bolts into a different spot or does it need fabrication?

What other things would need to be done? Remember I have the 74 donor truck to pull from if necessary.

And one last one: Is it possible to throw the new engine with the tranny mated up into the hole? I've swapped a motor before but never a combo.

Edit: Donor truck is a longbed.


need to make a decision today. Thanks!

[AirborneC10]

Nothing? Sorry to be impatient but ....

[71tahoe]

If your new 350 is a short tailshaft then you will be able to use the same driveshaft from the 70 and allow the engine mounts to stay where they are.

I think you can use the transmission rear crossmember. You will have to remove the bellhousing crossmember.

Auto column or floor shifter too.

You can install as a unit but I would recommend removing the hood.

Also, you can upgrade to disc brakes from the 74 if both are 2wd.

I don't think the 74 radiator will fit and you will need one with a trans cooler.

I know there are a lot of other little things but none come to mind just now.

[rwolf9653]

Personally, I would just re-build the existing motor.

If you want to swap you will have to consider some of these things:
your column will need to be changed, or you have to put in a floor shifter
your radiator will need to be changed for one with the tranny cooler
you will need to run the trans lines from the rad to the trans
you will have to change or modify your crossmember and trans mount
depending on how long the "new" motor has been sitting, it might need new gaskets anyway
the driveshaft length will most likely have to be changed

Also the add never says if it is 4wd or 2wd? This is all on the assumption that it is 2wd. I am sure that there is more but this is off of the top of my head.

[AirborneC10]

Thanks for the replies.

Seems the engine/tranny swap may be too much to get into at this point in time, but if I could pick up that donor for $650 I could just swap motors. I wouldn't have to deal with rebuilding my heads and buying a carb or dealing with the oil leak, and I could then sell my 350 shortblock for a couple hundred as it is - plus I'd come out ahead with a set of headers and exhaust as well as the TH350 transmission to sell.

In other words for just a bit more work than rebuilding and replacing the heads and removing the 3speed to check the rear main seal, I could likely -make- a bit of money...

or am I being idealistic?

[71tahoe]

Originally Posted by AirborneC10

Thanks for the replies.

Seems the engine/tranny swap may be too much to get into at this point in time, but if I could pick up that donor for $650 I could just swap motors. I wouldn't have to deal with rebuilding my heads and buying a carb or dealing with the oil leak, and I could then sell my 350 shortblock for a couple hundred as it is - plus I'd come out ahead with a set of headers and exhaust as well as the TH350 transmission to sell.

In other words for just a bit more work than rebuilding and replacing the heads and removing the 3speed to check the rear main seal, I could likely -make- a bit of money...

or am I being idealistic?

Depends on how long you can stand to keep your yard ornament.

[AirborneC10]

Originally Posted by 71tahoe

Depends on how long you can stand to keep your yard ornament.

Plan would be to strip everything useable off the 74 in a weekend and have the body hauled to the dump. The rest of the junk I have a spot for.