Question on my 66

[stepside66]

hey guys I have a 62 SB fleet side that originally had a straight 6 in it and I took my 283/400 combo out of my 66. Since I am going to put it in there the question is what do I need to do to bolt it up to the frame I have the motor mounts from my 66 and the front clip is going on this truck also and It looks like I will need to do something with the radiator up front I have that from the 66 as well. here is a pic of what I have

[bpmcgee]

Step,

There's 3 holes in a line in the center of your front crossmember. That's where the original 283 would have fastened -- held in place by a U shaped bracket that mounts there, and to the face of the engine. If your engine isn't drilled for this, I understand there's also a way of making normal side-mount motor mounts work as well.

The radiator is a long way from the front of the short 283, so these trucks use a fan shroud about 6 inches deep to fill the gap. Of course, if you're not concerned about stock, ditch the mechanical fan and you have a TON of room for a couple of electric fans.

Brian

[stepside66]

OK but I was planning on using the stock mounts on the sides like that are in the frame in the pic and using the mounts to bolt into the side of the block. I need to figure out how to mount the tranny on my crossmember the other truck was torched out and had a piece welded in there I dont want to do that is there somethig I can bolt into the cross member and then adapt on to the 400? and I think I will have to make a front crossmember to bolt the radiator in because my 66 had a place to sit the radiator in like two grooves

[bpmcgee]

I think V8 motor mounts from a later (64-66) truck would work on that crossmember.

Brian

[stepside66]

thats kinda what I figured but my main concern is the tranny mount.

[60-66 Nut]

You can drill the holes and bolt the 66 frame brackets where you need them easy enough, but I don't think you will find any easy way to mount the 400 trans to the old bell housing crossmember. That crossmember may even be in the way and have to be trimmed or even cut out like your 66, depending on where you position the engine and transmission. If you can move the engine far enough forward, exaust manifolds and oil pan allowing, you might be able to make a bracket to bolt or weld to the torsion bar crossmember to mount the trans to. Hard to say for sure without seeing it all up close, but the 400 is a big trans and it takes up quite a bit of room.

60-66 Nut

[JRB]

Aren't the frame rails wider on the 62? If they are can you adapt the front clip from the 66 to the 62? I had a 60 parts truck and found that to be the case but Im not sure about the 62. As far as the tranny goes I would cut out the old cross member and buy an aftermarket replacement.
Good Luck,
JRB

[60-66 Nut]

The 60-62 frame rails are wider at the rear, but they are the same width where the engine mounts go. I think maybe the crossmember that the torsion bars attach to might be in the way of an aftermarket crossmember, but I'm not sure.

60-66 Nut

[stepside66]

I sold my 66 without the motor and tranny for more than I paid for my 62 my 66 was on a 62 frame I found out. I wish I could get a 63 - 66 frame and yeah the torsion bars do mount into the tranny crossmember. Im not worried about the bellhousing mount just the one behind that where the bars mount to it.

[stepside66]

Does anyone have anymore info on this swap that I could use

[chevytrucknut]

I put my '65 on a '62 frame. I had to make a crossmember for the radiator out of simple 2x3 steel tubing and the stock lower brackets. The 63-66 side mounts worked great just bolted them onto the engine then set it all in the frame.I also used a after market tranny crossmember. I set the engine forward 2 inches to allow more room for the HEI.

[stepside66]

ah so you removed the torsion bar setup ??

[62ChevyStep]

Originally Posted by stepside66

ah so you removed the torsion bar setup ??

I like many others here have done this swap. I used an 86' C10 front crossmember, A arms, spindles etc. took it to 5 lug, but much easier to find the suspension parts I need when upgrading/rebuilding. just my .02 worth

[stepside66]

thats what I plan on doing buddy of mine has a plasma so it will take just a fe min to get them loose and a buddy had a front crossmember he is giving to me so I will be pretty far ahead of where Im at right now

[Chevyboy1962]

I did this swap on my '62 (V8 & auto trans) with the torsion bar setup.

I'm running a set of side mounts from a '69 C10 V8 mounts. If you're going with (side mount) engine mounts, I highly recommend(sp) using newer '73-'83 C10 engine mounts. These will have the "pin" setup, and makes it alot easier to change out engine mounts when they go. The pin goes in longways, and alot less cussing, and swearing. Ask me how I know.

I did have to cut out the bellhousing crossmember to allow the auto trans to go in. I did bolt up the engine mounts loosely to the engine, and lowered it into place. I marked the holes, pulled engine & trans back out, drilled holes, and reinstalled them. As for the trans crossmember, if keeping the torsion bar setup, you will have to fabricate a trans crossmember from scratch.

If you decided that you want to run disc brakes, and power steering, I highly recommend swapping out the front suspension FIRST before trying to install the engine. This way you can use a '63+ C10 automatic trans crossmember without it interfering with the torsion bars.

On the radiator setup, please use a 4 core radiator setup from the '63-'66 GM trucks. If you use the stock '60-'62 radiator, it will get the engine hot quick. I know mine did, and I swapped it out shortly after the engine was broke in.
If you don't have the radiator crossmember, you will have to fabricate one.
I'm using a '63 GMC 4 core radiator out of a '63 suburban that was recored, works great!!

I to fabricate one from scratch, I purchased a set of those "C" looking braces from one of the truck suppliers here on the board. I then welded the set onto a piece of 1 1/14' square tubing, with a flat piece of steel on each end that bolted to the frame rails. I then had the base of the radiator supported, then I just had to find a stock upper radiator support bracket off of a '63-'66 V8 truck.

I'm also running a set of hugger headers, these work great with torsion bars, but if the front is eqipt with a newer IFS, you will have a bigger selection of headers to choose from.
David

[stepside66]

yeah I was at the local swap meet today and a guy has a complete rolling 63 chassis that he said he will sale me for 200 so thats what I will do and I am getting that front crossmember for free so I will change my tranny x member for a 700r4 mounted one from CPP and be done with that and I still have the radiator from my 66 I just have to fabricate the mounts