christmas idea, engine swap?

[DarkFox1]

hey yall, I dont usually post on this forum heh, not really my cup of tea, although I do like the 73-87s.. but my dad has an 86 k10 currently with what I THINK is a 700R4 and a 305. The 305 is tired and I was thinking for christmas I could help him out a little since I can't afford to buy him a new truck. So I got this 4 bolt 350 with a high nickle content SBC engine that I pulled running out of my 71 c10 project 3 years ago. It's been sitting on an engine stand since I pulled it just.. looking ugly. Since I'm doing a vortec 5300 swap in my c10 I dont need this motor anymroe and wanted to know if theres any rough waters to put this 350 in my dads 86 in place of his current 305. I dont know what parts I'd need to rob off his 305 to make it work and whatnot? and emissions?

any info yall can give me in advance, including how to sneak an engine block out of the garge lol, would be very helpful.

[MylilBowTie]

Only problem I can think of is the exhaust manifolds probably not fitting the older 350 heads. They will bolt up but I think the exhaust manifolds have 7 bolt mounting points as opposed to the 6. I remember the shop installed some type of flange on the passenger side of the 76 350 that was installed in place of the 84 305.

[DarkFox1]

hrmm, so I should get some sort of aftermarket heads? or perhaps just get some headers? he probablly needs new exhaust.. I dont know if I'm gonna be able to do this, an engine rebuild is a good $1000 and I'd still need fuel pump water pump etc. etc. etc. I got a better job back almost 2 years ago now, so I've been tryin to buy my parents better-than-useless stuff, but I have a huge to do list this year, and not just for my project truck :P

his a/c doesn't work either, its an old r12 original setup. What i'd LIKE to do is get the engine redone, and then get a nice set of headers and the vintage air style "front runner" serpentine setup for his truck. But he'd also need new exhaust and a transmision rebuild if he is to start driving the thing again. I want to give him a gift, but I'm afraid starting this might place a burden on him more than a gift? whattya think

[cliffsta]

On the burden thing, here's just a thought. Maybe do the motor thing, get him started with it all, and maybe tell him its the start of a project that y'all can do over time. Does he drive something else or is it his DD? If it's his DD, then this whole idea is moot

[dons454s]

I would either go with headers or an older set of manifolds then a little exaust work.

[DarkFox1]

well I feel kinda bad about the whole thing really, my mom has a 96 towncar that she drives most of the tinme during the day, I drive an 03 I bought when I got my job, we're currently working on a 67 c10 frame-off together that I'm completley funding. His 86 he never drives cos it doesn't start very easy and when it does it tries to idle out.. it has no power, the gasket on the passenger side manifold is GONE so it clicks loudly, and as he windsup to shift the whoe thing makes a wirring sound followed by a hard and painful lunge of a shift.

I can't afford to get him a new truck, and I know he wouldn't want me to try and buy him a truck that I could afford. cos it'd most likley be junk. but I think a brand new powertrain in this old truck would be wonderful for driveability. it also needs new power window motors and power window/lock switches, but thats all in good time.

but back to what I got side tracked from, yea right now his DD is my uncles 94 C1500 longbed that hes borrowing. He never drives his 86 anymore. it has mold on the hood from sitting up.

[Slonaker]

The '86 engines have a 1 piece rear main, and use a different flexplate than the 73-86 models. Assuming the engine in there is original, you would need a new flexplate. The oil pan is different, if you were planning to use it on the new engine, as well.

Slonaker

[DarkFox1]

ah crap, I remeber that now, the RMS.. I guess I'm gonna hafta scrap the idea thanks for the help anyway tho guys!

[Slonaker]

Originally Posted by DarkFox1

ah crap, I remeber that now, the RMS.. I guess I'm gonna hafta scrap the idea thanks for the help anyway tho guys!

The flexplate is not THAT expensive!

Slonaker

[MylilBowTie]

Why wouldn't the 350 (you thought about installing) flexplate work that is already there? Or if its missing buying a new one to fit the older style 350 (that you thought about installing). That is if you are going to use your 350. It wouldn't really matter if the 86 has a one piece rear main seal would it?

[DarkFox1]

I dunno honestly. I just want things to go as smooth as possible. He's helping me do this gen3 swap in my 67-72 project, so I dont want this other one to wind up being a huge distraction cos the c10 is OUR project.. its just MY truck hehe.

I dont see any reason why the oil pan from the 305 and flex plate wouldn't work, my understanding is with bowtie.. an SBC is an SBC is an SBC... right? I mean externally speaking

[badone07]

If the 71 350 is complete, just swap it in. The only difference like mentioned above is the flywheel, oil pan, location of dipstick if not complete. The exhaust manifolds on the truck are setup for 7 bolt heads unless replaced previously. Other than it's a bolt in. If you are swapping over "tins" then the oil pan and valve covers won't work. Then it's a matter of having the right flywheel. Inventory exactly what you have then decide. If my mother or father was in the same situation, I would do it without hesitation. Years ago I had to do a similar swap for my brother's 69 Camaro, while he was serving in the Marines. Swapped the 250 (original 396 car) for a 383 that was in one of my Vegas. He just paid for any additional goodies he wanted. Good luck.

[DarkFox1]

yea, it was running in the 71.. but it had a bad fuel pump and broken passenger side exhaust manifold. headers will be no problem to get for the truck I imagine, but headers usually require exhaust too so thats an additional $500 on top of the header cost for the exhaust system. dad doesn't know anything about all this, I dont think he'd approve if he did. I haven't had the time to do anything at all as far as talk to anyone locally about it, I've spent the last couple days doing christmas shopping while they're lockin the doors on me as I check out. Apparently.. this is one of our busy seasons at work.

[Liz]

df not to hijack but howdy long time no chat

[Slonaker]

Originally Posted by badone07

If you are swapping over "tins" then the oil pan and valve covers won't work.

The valve covers should work fine. Chevy did not start the centerbolt covers until 1987.

Slonaker

[badone07]

Originally Posted by Slonaker

The valve covers should work fine. Chevy did not start the centerbolt covers until 1987.

Slonaker

Yup, Slonaker is correct. That's what I get for having the kids and wife yapping nonsense in my ear, while posting. Once the motor is in, it might just be the jump start needed to get it road worthy again.

$500 for an exhaust nowadays? I've been fabbing up my own for a while now and didn't realize the prices escalated that much. Think the last dual setup I paid for was for a 400 sb powered Monza Spyder. Was like $200 and a six pack. Maybe you can hook up with someone from an exhaust shop who does work after hours.

[DarkFox1]

hey mhc, ya I haven't seen ya in a while.. the project was in a coma until september when I came across a forum member sellin my current motor. Now its alive and robbing me at gunpoint lol

yea I had a catback system done on my last vehicle.. which I am ashamed to admit bared the emblem of the beast.. the blue oval.. well on the engine anyway (mercury) and they charged me $500 for a flowmaster 50 single muffler dual in 2-1/4" aluminized system. I need a system for my 57 belair right now.. they want $1000 for it and its just 2 standard mufflers and dual 2.5" aluminized pipes. I dont know why its so high.. I shopped arond.. the $1000 was midas.. and that was the CHEAPEST quote I got on my belair.

I think I've showed yall pics of this truck right? the paints faded, the tires are new..the rims are rusted wagon wheels.. used to be chrome, the ONLY reasons he doesn't drive it tho.. is the lack of working a/c, half the instrument cluster bulbs are burned out, the power window motors need replacing, and the 305 is weak and often does not start. He says its not worth dumping money into. He jumps at the opportunity to drive my 03 and it has pretty much replaced his truck as the light duty towing/hauling vehicle.

Maybe I should just give him something else? I mean we're talking to get his truck back the way he wants a DD to be.... probablly $4k or more I'm guessing.. $1000 for the motor rebuild, who knows how much for the tranny, driveshaft probablly needs new Universals, the window motors, the a/c needs to be converted to R134 and re-charged.. that includes a new compressor..

ya know I've known this man all my life.. and its STILL hard for me to guess his reactions/understand him lol

just.. at a guess yall, what would this cost in total? new p/w motors, rebuilt 350 and 700R4, new fuel pump rebuilt quadrajet or whatevers on the 86 heh, and the a/c fixed?

[Slonaker]

I hate to say it, but it sounds like you could buy him another truck for less than fixing that one.

Slonaker