6 to V8 one more time

[Tony]

It's probably been discussed many times but I'm bad at searching...

I've been offered a 68 K10 4 speed in decent shape other than no engine...It was a 250 6....The bellhousing is still bolted in
I have a nice running 327 sitting in my shop...If I remember correctly, the SBC fits right in but is further back than the factory V8 and a small cap distributor just clears the firewall?
And what about motor mounts? The mounts as removed from the 6 cylinder are still in place. Will the SBC block mounts bolt up to the 6 cylinder frame mounts?
Thanks...

[57larry]

V8 & 6 cyl motor mounts look the same but are different. some people use the 6 cyl mounts on a V8 but the engine will sit closer to the firewall that way

[michael bustamante]

you would be better off buying some v8 towers from a member here on the board

[Tony]

Originally Posted by 57larry

V8 & 6 cyl motor mounts look the same but are different. some people use the 6 cyl mounts on a V8 but the engine will sit closer to the firewall that way

The engine location fore and aft is set by the bellhousing not the mounts, yes? Am I correct in thinking the V8 bellhousing.trans,transfer case was located more forward than the 6 cylinder ?
But if the SBC with correct mounts will drop in and the dist clears, that good for me.

[michael bustamante]

no there are 2 mounting locations on the frame for the towers. i believe for the v8 manual trans set up you would put the towers in the same location as the inline 6 towers. it makes for a tight fit with the distributer though if youre running an HEI

[MARKDTN]

If I read right, he has a K10 (4wd). Is that why you want to leave the bellhousing in place?

[hamjet]

If you "don't" want to change from the bellhousing back, ( x-member, drive shaft ) then you can bolt the V 8 right on the 6 cyl. perches. it will be further back and you can even use GM HEI, it will fit. mine did. As far as the Z bar, that should work also. I had to bend the linkage arm with a torch so it wouldn't rub the header. or you can get the correct z-bar and clutch pedal rod to make it correct. One more thing I just thought of, you'll have to get a V8 4x4 radiater shroud also. they reach further back toward the engine. you know, come to think of it, I think the v8 4x4 engines were mounted in the back more...

[Tony]

By header you mean cast iron or tube headers? The engine has straight down outlet Rams Horn exhaust manifolds that look like they will clear the cross member.

[hamjet]

Tube headers on mine. and yes, your cast manifolds are different for 4x4s than 2 WD. they do dump straight down..

[michael bustamante]

sorry bud, i didnt see the 4x4 part there

[summitflier]

Mine isn't a K 4x4. But it originally had a 6 in it.
Whoever put the first v8 in it used the 6 motor mounts.
Later on I got the stock v8 motor mounts and used them. A couple of problems.
Because the engine moved forward, I had to go to a short water pump.
Because the engine moved forward, I had to move the trans cross member.
Because the engine moved forward, I had to get a longer drive shaft, etc...
I now have a different setup. (different engine, different trans, different motor mounts, etc..)
But I have decided that whenever possible, I will try to keep it in the stock
location in the future.

I suppose on a 4x4, worrying about the distance to the front differential makes it twice as much fun.