dare to be different engine choices?

[mlevario99]

I did the opposite, I install a chevy engine



into this



now I want to install Chevy Vortec engines on anything

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool!

[narx66gmc]

I like the 4 cyl s10 idea....
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[fryer1979]

I absolutely love odd-ball swaps, nothing more disappointing to me than a killer hot rod Ford build with a SBC in it.....(I understand why, I just don't like it). I was originally going to use an Olds 350 in my truck (and still might at some point), and have also thought about using a Cadillac 500 in the old Chevy (and that could still happen too). I even considered using an old Desoto "firedome" 292 Hemi in my pickup, and would have loved to, but finding parts to make it work and be reliable for daily driver duties just wasn't a reality.

My Camaro is going to be getting a really different big power engine at some point. I have the engine already and have verified that it is what I think it is, and have a few of the parts I will need for the swap. But I am waiting to find out what I am going to do with the body of the car before I do it. The body it has is badly rusted, and also has an aftermarket T-top insert, so a ton of work needs to be done before it will take more power than the mild small block it has. I'm working on getting an early 70's Camaro or Firebird body to put my gear in, that is in much more solid shape, then it's game on!

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by fryer1979

I absolutely love odd-ball swaps, nothing more disappointing to me than a killer hot rod Ford build with a SBC in it.....(I understand why, I just don't like it). I was originally going to use an Olds 350 in my truck (and still might at some point), and have also thought about using a Cadillac 500 in the old Chevy (and that could still happen too). I even considered using an old Desoto "firedome" 292 Hemi in my pickup, and would have loved to, but finding parts to make it work and be reliable for daily driver duties just wasn't a reality.

It's funny you mention that. My 40 ford has a SBC in it and all the ford cry and moan about it. So now, I'm really going to make them hot. I have a 354 Hemi I'm going to put in it.

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

It's funny you mention that. My 40 ford has a SBC in it and all the ford cry and moan about it. So now, I'm really going to make them hot. I have a 354 Hemi I'm going to put in it.

I'm not really a purist by any means, it's just that the small block Chevy is soooooo common in old street rods. My uncle used a 350/700R4 in his 40 Ford 2-door sedan, and after all the money and time he spent on the body, paint, and Mercedes leather interior, it was disappointing to see him take that route for the engine (he says cheap and reliable, but the transmission has been pulled for repair 3 times in the 6 years he's had it done!). I love your 354 Hemi idea though, I would love to see that done!

[Str8axle]

I believe GMC used Pontiac V8's in the 50's before the V6 debuted. I've come across a few of these while parts hunting for the '57 pickup I was building. BTW, in the '57 I installed a 401 Nailhead out of a '64 Wildcat. Unfortunately, I sold it before I got to drive it.
I also have a 364 Nailhead in my '32 Ford pickup. Nothing like a Nail....
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[Rich 5150 69]

Ray never knew you had a 32 ford pu...you`ll have to send me a pic...there`s two nailheads locally here on CL one 364 the other 401....$300 for both....!

[Str8axle]

'32 w/364 Chopped 4", channeled 6"

Sorry not trying to hyjack........

[Rich 5150 69]

Cool Ray.......gotta love it.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool man!

[Str8axle]

Thanks guys. I have sort of a "harem" of vehicles.
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[porter90]

ive come to the conclusion that hemi's go great in just about anything lol there is also a slight chance that the 64 could get a 383 out of my dads coronet..i just have to find a 440 to trade him lol 1979...after all that youre not going to tell us what it is!? im dying to know now, not even a hint!? str8axle that 32 is awesome i want to build something like that some day.. i just found part of a t body in the woods by my camp i think im going to try and haul that out one of these days!

[Str8axle]

I'd like to see pix of it before you haul it outta there. Finding vintage tin in the woods is fun!
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[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by fryer1979

I'm not really a purist by any means, it's just that the small block Chevy is soooooo common in old street rods. My uncle used a 350/700R4 in his 40 Ford 2-door sedan, and after all the money and time he spent on the body, paint, and Mercedes leather interior, it was disappointing to see him take that route for the engine (he says cheap and reliable, but the transmission has been pulled for repair 3 times in the 6 years he's had it done!). I love your 354 Hemi idea though, I would love to see that done!

Well it's going to happen. The 377/TH400 are out and gone. I'm waiting to order my adapter until I find a trans. I don't want to go with a 700R4 but may have to if I can't find a A518. I probably won't make any progress on the car until after the first of the year or so.

[Rich 5150 69]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Well it's going to happen. The 377/TH400 are out and gone. I'm waiting to order my adapter until I find a trans. I don't want to go with a 700R4 but may have to if I can't find a A518. I probably won't make any progress on the car until after the first of the year or so.

A-518 are tough to find....been looking for one for the `68 Dart,,

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Rich 5150 69

A-518 are tough to find....been looking for one for the `68 Dart,,

I hear ya there! I've been looking for 3 months and they just aren't easy to source for sure!

[rustyrodknocker]

I had and probably still have somewhere. a Hot Rod magazine from the sixties that featured a early hemi swap. I dont know if this was a 354 or a 392 or what. But it was far more powerful than what was in a truck at the time. They were pulling a race car trailer with it. It was like this "imagine a pickup with horsepower" trucks were about gear ratio then. Kind of like my 292 with the 4:56's. It will pull anything you can hook on the back of it. At 40 m.p.h.
I would love to see that article again if someone has a collection of Hot Rod.

[Oldgearz]

I did some research and thought running a 302 would be awesome. 327 block w/283 crank. High revver.

[porter90]

my dad talks about the 302 alot, i guess he built one with a friend of his back in the 80s and said it was one hell of an engine! theres a 63 chevy II around my town with the DZ302 out of a z28 that is pretty mean sounding. str8, about that car in the woods all i could get were crappy phone pictures and none of them were at very good angles but ill try and put them up. if i do maybe someone can help me figure out what it actually is, im not 100% sure if its ford or what. still has the original banger in it and transmission but i have no idea how to run the numbers to find anything. frame was chopped off behind the transmission and it looks like the axle was turned into a trailer of some kind...my guess is that the logging company used it till it died there way back in the day

[Rich 5150 69]

Originally Posted by Oldgearz

I did some research and thought running a 302 would be awesome. 327 block w/283 crank. High revver.

Although a good build, truck weight would kill the performance, minimum weight for your truck is 3800 lbs, better off 350/383/400/or larger.

[mikesacs]

I'm going to look at a 4BD2T diesel tomorrow for my 60 Suburban. As long as it runs good I'll get it.

[Str8axle]

Originally Posted by Rich 5150 69

Although a good build, truck weight would kill the performance, minimum weight for your truck is 3800 lbs, better off 350/383/400/or larger.

True, but if you go with 4.56, 4.88, 5.13 gears it'll scream like hell.

[andyspinstriping]

I am running a Cadillac 472 with a turbo on my 61...

[Oldgearz]

Originally Posted by Rich 5150 69

Although a good build, truck weight would kill the performance, minimum weight for your truck is 3800 lbs, better off 350/383/400/or larger.

Another thread on my 62 GMC indicates my curb weight is 3390 lbs, figure in the (probably) 100 lb lighter (302) motor making around 340 hp and about 350 lb/ft torque I think I should be good to go! One other idea is this: I have a 1979 305 engine w/dualjet 210 (worst hp rating ever at 130)...I was thinking of swapping to vortec heads w/fuel injection. What could I get outta that setup if 350 vortec heads work on the 305 bore? I'm thinking at least 250-280 hp w/gobs of torque. Or would a 283 crank work w/the 305 journals? What would it end up in cu in size?