Got really ambitious this weekend. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BLUE THUNDER · 12-27-2007, 06:31 PM

Well guys I finally had some time off from work to work on the Blazer. I was really pumped for the Holiday weekend to be here. I decided to do the engine swap so I could finally drive my Blazer around the block. I had everything planned out, buy parts that i needed on Saturday morning and pull the motor out Saturday afternoon. My friend from work was supposed to come over with his cherry picker to help out. Well you guessed it, dude never showed up. Ba$tard pulled a no call no show. I was'nt gonna let that slow me down. I went to a tool rental down the street and rented one. While I was there some guy pulls up in an awesome '72 CST. We got to talking and I gave him the web address and told him to check it out. Well that only added fuel to the fire, so I rushed home and got to work. That's when the $h!t hit the fan. I couldn't get the nuts from the exhaust to come off. They were rusted solid. Enter Sawzall. Then while climbing in and out of the engine compartment I suffered my first loss. I managed to break a slat off my nearly perfect grille. Once I got the motor out I started to transfer everything from the 350 to the 305 that was going in. One of the rams horn exhaust manifolds broke while I was freeing it from the head. Last but not least, I found out while I was setting in the the 305 that the torque converter does not fit the flex plate. I think I'm gonna have to take the one off the 350 and put it on the 305 so the converter will fit. I don't want to ramble on , but does anyone have any suggestions. The 305 came out of a 1978 malibu with an automatic tranny (a 200) I believe, and a 2bbl. Will swapping out the flexplates solve my problem? Here are some pics. BTW, thanks Jtrux for comming over and helping out. I really appreciate it.

68K20 x Drill · 12-27-2007, 07:40 PM

You should be fine to use the plate and converter that came with your truck.
Don't try to install the tranny with the converter bolted to the motor, or more stuff will likely break.

And congratulations on gettin' a lot more done this weekend than I did.

72armyswbtruck · 12-27-2007, 10:18 PM

Sorry to hear about the Now call no show and the broken fins on the grill, god luck on the swap,

AJs72K5 · 12-28-2007, 05:57 AM

You hit a few hurdles, but still got a lot done. Congrats on getting started. I'm still waiting for parts...

FRENCHBLUE72 · 12-28-2007, 07:04 AM

Congrats keeep on pluggin away you will get her done.

Big Block · 12-28-2007, 07:09 AM

Sorry about your grill. Yes just use the flex plate and converter from your blazer. I have installed engines by myself a couple of times. But have gotten the lovely wife to help in pinch. Go luck.

Big J · 12-28-2007, 10:49 AM

Don't let the silly stuff get ya down. If it wasn't for chit hittin' the fan it'd be too easy....... Not to long ago I had to use a cutting torch to cut out an easy out that I broke off in the broken bolt that I was trying remove from a head. There was some cussing involved but I made it through it,lol.... Keep at it and it'll all work out. Any clues as to whats wrong with the purdy motor you pulled out?

BLUE THUNDER · 12-28-2007, 03:08 PM

Well you said it right, it did look good. Really was just the top end, intake,carb, valve covers, and air cleaner that made it look good. Fact of the matter was that it sat in a barn for eight years without a carb or plugs. I was really hoping luck would be on my side if I replaced the car and put new plugs in it. I even changed the distributer to an HEI, but could never get it to start. The motor had no compression in #1 cylinder and had a lot of crud[I] under the valve covers. I bought the 305 for $150.00 and it runs. I just want to be able to drive the Blazer around while I build the 350 the way I want it. Will I run into any balancing problems when I change out the flexplates? I presume that the harmonic balancer will take care of any vibrations. Please let me know. Thanks. Mario.

1966gmc · 12-28-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUE THUNDER

Will I run into any balancing problems when I change out the flexplates? I presume that the harmonic balancer will take care of any vibrations. Please let me know. Thanks. Mario.

As long as both engines are internally balanced you will be fine.86 and later SBC engines are externally balanced while pre 86 are internally,with the exception of the 400 which is externally balanced as well.

BLUE THUNDER · 12-28-2007, 04:51 PM

Awesome, that's just the info I needed to continue. I'll probably need to wait until Sunday to continue. I'ts been getting dark pretty early here, so working on it during the week is out of the question. Thanks alot. Mario

12-27-2007, 07:40 PM	#2
68K20 x Drill Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Freedom CA Posts: 488	Re: Got really ambitious this weekend. You should be fine to use the plate and converter that came with your truck. Don't try to install the tranny with the converter bolted to the motor, or more stuff will likely break. And congratulations on gettin' a lot more done this weekend than I did. __________________ 68 Chevrolet k20 Longbed 350 SM465/205, Dana 44, 14bolt, Power steering, Power Disk Brakes, 35" BFGs. 84 Chevrolet Suburban K20 6.2 Banks turbo TH400/NP208 Now with G80 68 GMC C20 Parts? Truck And a few cars Last edited by 68K20 x Drill; 12-27-2007 at 07:41 PM.

12-27-2007, 10:18 PM	#3
72armyswbtruck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,034	Re: Got really ambitious this weekend. Sorry to hear about the Now call no show and the broken fins on the grill, god luck on the swap, __________________ "Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!"

12-28-2007, 05:57 AM	#4
AJs72K5 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Tx Posts: 1,083	Re: Got really ambitious this weekend. You hit a few hurdles, but still got a lot done. Congrats on getting started. I'm still waiting for parts... __________________ - AJ Gray Matter Build - 1972 K5 with some stuff

12-28-2007, 07:04 AM	#5
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,608	Re: Got really ambitious this weekend. Congrats keeep on pluggin away you will get her done. __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..

12-28-2007, 07:09 AM	#6
Big Block Big Block Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, N.C. Posts: 1,649	Re: Got really ambitious this weekend. Sorry about your grill. Yes just use the flex plate and converter from your blazer. I have installed engines by myself a couple of times. But have gotten the lovely wife to help in pinch. Go luck.

12-27-2007, 06:31 PM	#1
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Got really ambitious this weekend. Well guys I finally had some time off from work to work on the Blazer. I was really pumped for the Holiday weekend to be here. I decided to do the engine swap so I could finally drive my Blazer around the block. I had everything planned out, buy parts that i needed on Saturday morning and pull the motor out Saturday afternoon. My friend from work was supposed to come over with his cherry picker to help out. Well you guessed it, dude never showed up. Ba$tard pulled a no call no show. I was'nt gonna let that slow me down. I went to a tool rental down the street and rented one. While I was there some guy pulls up in an awesome '72 CST. We got to talking and I gave him the web address and told him to check it out. Well that only added fuel to the fire, so I rushed home and got to work. That's when the $h!t hit the fan. I couldn't get the nuts from the exhaust to come off. They were rusted solid. Enter Sawzall. Then while climbing in and out of the engine compartment I suffered my first loss. I managed to break a slat off my nearly perfect grille. Once I got the motor out I started to transfer everything from the 350 to the 305 that was going in. One of the rams horn exhaust manifolds broke while I was freeing it from the head. Last but not least, I found out while I was setting in the the 305 that the torque converter does not fit the flex plate. I think I'm gonna have to take the one off the 350 and put it on the 305 so the converter will fit. I don't want to ramble on , but does anyone have any suggestions. The 305 came out of a 1978 malibu with an automatic tranny (a 200) I believe, and a 2bbl. Will swapping out the flexplates solve my problem? Here are some pics. BTW, thanks Jtrux for comming over and helping out. I really appreciate it. Attached Images

12-28-2007, 10:49 AM	#7
Big J Its lookin' like a Blazer! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Gods Country, KY Posts: 1,773	Re: Got really ambitious this weekend. Don't let the silly stuff get ya down. If it wasn't for chit hittin' the fan it'd be too easy....... Not to long ago I had to use a cutting torch to cut out an easy out that I broke off in the broken bolt that I was trying remove from a head. There was some cussing involved but I made it through it,lol.... Keep at it and it'll all work out. Any clues as to whats wrong with the purdy motor you pulled out? __________________ BAZINGA! My Build

12-28-2007, 03:08 PM	#8
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Re: Got really ambitious this weekend. Well you said it right, it did look good. Really was just the top end, intake,carb, valve covers, and air cleaner that made it look good. Fact of the matter was that it sat in a barn for eight years without a carb or plugs. I was really hoping luck would be on my side if I replaced the car and put new plugs in it. I even changed the distributer to an HEI, but could never get it to start. The motor had no compression in #1 cylinder and had a lot of crud[I] under the valve covers. I bought the 305 for $150.00 and it runs. I just want to be able to drive the Blazer around while I build the 350 the way I want it. Will I run into any balancing problems when I change out the flexplates? I presume that the harmonic balancer will take care of any vibrations. Please let me know. Thanks. Mario.

12-28-2007, 04:51 PM	#10
BLUE THUNDER Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 993	Re: Got really ambitious this weekend. Awesome, that's just the info I needed to continue. I'll probably need to wait until Sunday to continue. I'ts been getting dark pretty early here, so working on it during the week is out of the question. Thanks alot. Mario



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