swapping out v6 for v8 what all will i need?

[68jimmy]

Just as the title says i'm going to swap the v6/3spd with a v8/th350 or 400 and i'm needing some help with parts. I know that I will need a xmember for the auto, so I'm looking for one right now. How about motor mounts? Will the mount I have suppoting the V6 work with the V8? If not is there a p/n or model truck that I should look for?

Is there a peference with the transmission between the th350 or 400 with length? Or will I have to modify my current driveshaft with either choice?

If anyone else has tackled this type of project please let me know what other gotchas there are...

Thanks in advance!

[Classic Heartbeat]

You will need the V-8 towers. The V-6 ones will not work. You will also need a auto column, auto frame bracket, and all the auto tranny linkages. You will also need a T-400 kick down switch and probably more stuff that I can't think of off the top of my head. Oh ya, a driveline... WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[Longhorn Man]

I would opt for the TH350, the kick down cable is easier to locate and hook up than the electric kick down.
Plus a Th350 is cheaper to get, and to rebuild.

[gonebad2]

Add a larger radiator to your list as well.

[1972C10]

Turbo 350s are alot better in a half ton IMO 400s are good tranmissions but the 350s seem to work really well and not eat up as much power as 400s plus more common and cheap like longhornman said.

A friend of mine converted a truck from 3 on the colum manual to auto and used same colum I never drove the truck so i cant say how the colum worked.


Might look into a cheap floor shifter if you dont want to change colum and all that out.


Ive got a good set of V8 towers if you need them.

[68jimmy]

Thanks for all the replies. The one reason I indicated a th400 is someone had a rebuilt in the paper for a decent price. I wasn't aware that the th400 took an electric kickdown, I figured that it was a cable setup. Good to know. I currently have a floor shifter for the 3spd and I was figuring on getting one of the b&m truck setups for the auto. As for the radiator it looks pretty beefy. The v6 is a 351 so I figured that the radiator could possibly handle the v8, I would add an aftermarket cooler for the trans and probably an electric fan setup...
I was calling all around the wrecking yards yesterday trying to locate a crossmember with no luck... Any out there for sale? As for the motor mounts email me with a price... I'm sure as I'm getting a list together I'll be asking more questions.

Thanks!

[powder2]

the motor mounts will work for a v-8 have doneit for many of years

[68jimmy]

You're sure that the frame mounts for the V6 will be line up for a sb chevy? If so that will help save a few bucks.

thanks.