Anyone have a 366 truck???

[that_red_c10]

I've been thinking of possible engine swaps in the future for my 1968 Chevrolet C-10, however this will not be for awhile, but I had a couple of questions before I make a decision on what I want to swap in, as I want to be different with it and do something not many people have seen before.

1. Can a 366 make at least decent power (i.e. 350+hp and torque)

2. Can a 366 fit in a standard c-10, being that it's a tall-deck engine and all.

3. Is there any way to change is from a tall-deck, and if so, how and is it fairly easy.

4. How common/rare is it to come across a 366?

I know that 366's are not common, being that they were really only put in school buses and larger c/k series trucks. Just wondering if it would even be worth my time to do something like this.

Also, if anyone has one out there... Show us some pics! I'd like to see some 366 swaps if I could, or even original 366 trucks even.

Thank you all!

[B. W.]

The 366 is a small big block. It came in the C40,50,60 class trucks(maybe only 50,60? not sure) it is a commercial/industrial engine. (you probably already knew all of this!) My experience with them is they were really robust & performed well. We used them in ag applications & ran them hard with extended service intervals in poor conditions. With that said, I would put a 350/383 small block in or a 454 before using the 366 due to parts availability, HP to CID to weight, etc.

[ratty69]

Never seen a 366 swapped into a 67-72, but have ridden in a mid 70s c30 with one. Overloaded or empty, it went about the same speed and ran at the same temperature ( hot ). Don't remember the owner EVER having problems with the engine, but he did break a couple of sm465s.

[Steeveedee]

Tons of low end torque, low horse power, to get big ugly vehicles rolling. No real revving capability. Are you planning on pulling stumps with your truck? Look around at what got put in these pickups. They don't have 366s for a reason- it isn't suited for them. Do what you like, but I'll bet money that you'll be pretty disappointed at the expense and lack of drivability.

[that_red_c10]

Okay, thanks all for the advice, etc.! I was thinking of a 366 as an alternative way to make a fun, somewhat powerful car to drive, but it seems like they really aren't the best choice for that. Any recommendations on what I should swap in? I'm not doing anything fuel injected, I'd prefer to stick with engines built around the same time period. Again, I'd like to be unique and very different with this, so is there any engines that aren't commonly seen, but are fairly decent to get parts for, and can make 350hp/torque without blowing up lol.

Now, if I decided to go with an alternative route and use the truck for towing purposes, would that make a 366 a good candidate for that situation, being that is was used in the larger trucks? This is another possible idea, as I might use it to be a truck to haul cars around with, though I'd prefer it just to be my fun sunday driver sort-of truck

[67 chevelle]

I second the 383 suggestion , great all around truck engine

[James the III]

Put a Pontiac 326 v8 in it.. and you can confuse everyone by using the 5.3ltr new truck badges..

heck the gmc's used to come with Pontiac power..

[Alex V.]

The 366, and its bigger counterpart 427 (tall-deck, not the more popular one put in cars) are very durable engines - the reason for the tall deck is because they had taller pistons to accommodate a fourth piston ring. They're tuned about like, or even calmer than, the 396's and 454's that actually came in our trucks, most being 2-barrel. They're cheap and durable, but the tall deck design makes intake fitment, etc. more difficult with fewer aftermarket parts available because the heads are actually farther apart. I've thought it'd be really cool to put a 366 in something, but it's not a swap that can be justified by anything other than uniqueness and a relatively stock engine that's even tougher and more diesel-like (all torque and no revs) than the original offerings. A 383/396/454 is money better spent if you want that horsepower with any durability and torque to back it up, or a Pontiac V8 would be different while maybe not as appropriate for heavy pulling. If you can lower your horsepower expectations a GMC V6 (maybe a bigger one than the 305) would be a more unique option than the 366. If you will be aiming the truck toward pulling/hauling, you want torque, anyway - horsepower is the priority of hot rodders and tire spinners that want to make a lot of noise and RPM's to do what they do.

[67 chevelle]

If you want unique , slap a 348 or 409 in there like hamjet did , they look so good in a truck , and run great

[fecklessgadfly]

Here you go. Nice and unique.

[alsriv2]

Originally Posted by fecklessgadfly

Here you go. Nice and unique.

That is one mod I would love to do...or even an old nailhead....

[demian5]

I had a 366 in a 73 3/4 Suburban. It was great, good on gas and lots of torque. It actually has the forged 427 crank.

[biketopia]

I've got an old running GMC 347 and trans out of a late 50's COE that would be quite unique and different...

[Steeveedee]

Buick power is good, but they cost a lot more even to just rebuild. Been there done that, with an old '68 Skylark GS. Given the ubiquity of Chevy performance products, that is the only way I'd ever go. If I were to change away from the 400 BBC in my truck it would only be for an LS, as they have improvements over the old tech.

[GRX]

Go with the 383 stroker and be happy.

366 BB. As said. Plenty of torque but poor revving capability. Big heavy pistons et all.

Pontiac 326? May as well go with a 400. Easier to find, plus same basic engine & cost to build.

Buick 455? Great choice. Real torque monsters. But the light block really needs a low end girdle once you start upping the horses.

[Boog]

I've seen a couple of trucks over the years with a 455 Olds engine. Drops right in on big block chevy mounts. Loads of torque and decent mileage too. At least one of our members here has one in his truck.

[Alex V.]

The 348/409 is definitely cool - nothing else sounds like one. Just substantially more rare and expensive than the 366.

[1972RedNeck]

I would go 454 over a 383 any day.

Tall decks can be built up hot - it just takes a lot of extra dollars and the only real advantage you will end up with is a better con-rod ratio.

[James the III]

hum.. a 366, with a roots, and gear it so it stays in the idle to 3000 rpm range..

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by GRX

Go with the 383 stroker and be happy.

366 BB. As said. Plenty of torque but poor revving capability. Big heavy pistons et all.

Pontiac 326? May as well go with a 400. Easier to find, plus same basic engine & cost to build.

Buick 455? Great choice. Real torque monsters. But the light block really needs a low end girdle once you start upping the horses.

There you go! If you wanted to get away from Chevy power, that 400 Poncho has some killer potential. I had a 400 RA III in my '66 Le Mans and turned over 140 in the Nevada desert, and was in the low 13s and at about 113 in the quarter (once it got rolling, it was like a locomotive!). Motor mounts might be a problem, but opening the hood and seeing Pontiac blue would get some people doing a double take.

[toolboxchev]

I can remember eating an L-82 Corvette in one of these things, of all things a Buick Electra 225, 455 4-door.

Light to light, dude who witnessed it commented "That was THE ugliest race he had ever seen.

It looked like a war zone with all the smoke off that old posi grocery getter!

Those old 455's were a powerhouse of an engine.

[that_red_c10]

Thanks a lot guys for the advice! A lot of these are such cool ideas! I wish I had enough trucks to do all of them haha! I'm really liking the idea of a nice 348, or a 383 stroker, but I also really like the idea of a poncho swap too.

[biketopia]

I really think you need this 336 poncho/gmc engine I've got haha. Had a few people show interest in it at Carlisle, was definitely an attention grabber.

[GRX]

Originally Posted by biketopia

I really think you need this 336 poncho/gmc engine I've got haha. Had a few people show interest in it at Carlisle, was definitely an attention grabber.

Those red injuns are rare for sure.

[biketopia]

Originally Posted by GRX

Those red injuns are rare for sure.

Mmhmm and an added bonus, this one runs!!