My 1966 stepside build..............slowly coming together.

[blackdawg]

Here is pictures of the truck when i bought it in the tacoma washington in the summer.Bella was bought with out a heart aka known as engine and transmission.looks like some hot rodding was done to the truck at one time.I live in british columbia and when i went to pick up the truck it was like going back in time 30 years ago.nice old america made cars and lots of the around in different stages.wish i had a bucket full of money.and 10 acres of land with a big shop of course.but the wife would kick my ass for bringing too much junk home.

[blackdawg]

Here is some pictures of the 350 4 bolt main engine i bought for 250.00 okay i got a turbo 400 as while. buddy told me it was rebuilt a while back before it was pulled.thought i would would get away with some new gaskets and seals add some accesseries and away i go.
not !!

[blackdawg]

[blackdawg]

this 350 is looking a little rough.time to disassemble see what we are working with.crap just what i thought water.

[SulphuriousSam]

Looks like it'll be a sweet ride. Don't let the setbacks get ya down!
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[blackdawg]

A few things have gone on in the last six months.i have been collecting my parts from northern auto parts and
performance parts was great on the chrome items and quick shipping.I have also sent some items to the machine shop.

[blackdawg]

the new and im

proved 350..........

[blackdawg]

I was going to install the motor and transmission in the truck this week.put my back out gotta take it easy.there is still lots of prep that can be done.spray the engine bay make prety for the transplant.also clean up the headers and there is the transmission motor mount to move i think.the truck had a 350 turbo in it before.i"m adding a turbo 400 also will have to change the the front spline on the driveshaft.I hope the length will be the same.i will measure it when i get the engine and trans in.

[blackdawg]

there is still alot a work ahead of me its the small nuts and bolts that add up.i got alot of extra parts with the truck including the radiator,good hoses,extra grill.it just takes time to go through everything to see what needs to be rebuilt or changed.working on a shoestring budget but doing it right.

[blackdawg]

the engine is looking just so good can"t wait to get her bolted in and hear it running.

[CVA59]

Looking good!

[blackdawg]

Finally got through my move at the end of june.The new house has a double garage and is getting all set up.My wife thinks she should be able to park her car in the other side
in the winter.So that is the ongoing debate.I need the room for the rest of my shop.Anyways this weekend i was able to get the engine and transmission bolted together and installed.

[blackdawg]

There was a couple of problems i have run into.First being the cherry picker i bought a year ago.That thing was a pain in the ass.When the old ram was replaced last person that owned it adapted a bottle jack to the picker.did a fine job with welding a secure plate to hold the jack.UP top there was a small tube welded to the screw on part of the jack.So the big bolt when through very secure well thought out.only pain is it ran out of lift.I have a slight incline to my driveway and we had to swing the engine and tranny from the side of were the radiator would go.That was just to get it in.And be able to move the truck back and forth.So with the help of my buddy and a couple of little pushes from my wife and her friend
we had success and the engine is sitting nicely on it perches.But i will be putting the cherry picker on ebay today i no longer need it.oh and there was the little mishap......................

[blackdawg]

IF you look in photo 4 there is a small crack in the bell housing.I lined up the tranny on the pins.inserted the bolts
slowley tighting trying to close the small gap and crack.
How does this affect the tranny after i finished torqueing
everything down it seems fine.But i'm a little worried
this is a th400 that i just had rebuilt and had a shift kit put in.

[blackdawg]

I"M going to do some work today,i have the whole week off.Wife is at work just have a few chores to do first.Will post somemore pics
on the progress.

[b2948kevin]

Wow! Awesome work... Can't believe that your engine came out looking so great.

Did you have to do anything with the motor mounts to get the 350 to fit?

[blackdawg]

i had the perches that came with the truck.then i ordered old stock
motor mounts 19.95 from lms .after 1973 the motor mounts sit way to low.that was the first try.

[blackdawg]

here is a few pics of the progress.starting to look like
a hotrod.

[blackdawg]

All bolted in and it sure made a differance going back to the original perches and mounts.I think after 1973 the motor mounts changed ,although my 1968 beaumont i had 30 years ago had different motor mounts.with the perches the engine sits at the right height with lots of clearance
at the pan.still have to line up torque convertor with the flywheel.I will have to wait for my buddy better to have two hands.

[blackdawg]

IN the meantime i will start installing the headers,alternator,rad,etc.not going to hook up the exhaust till the bolts to the torque convertor are in.still plenty of stuff to install in the meantime.

[66farmer]

Engine is looking great . Are you going to keep the side pipes.
Love those step sides.

[blackdawg]

yes definatley keeping the sides pipes they give the truck a unique look.plus there in very good shape.

[b2948kevin]

Hey Blackdawg, looks great! How did you get the engine looking so nice? Did you have to blast it?

Also, to confirm, Chevy 350 motor mounts prior to 73 will work for this application? Mind linking to these? I couldn't find them on their online website.

Also, what radiator are you using for this?

[blackdawg]

I don"t have the link ,Engine has been completly disassembled and bore 30 over and hot tanked .new pistons,bearing ,cam and timing chain etc.Added a edelbrock intake and carb.I think it will make a differance with the headers to the side pipes there about 3 inches.Ihad the perches with the truck.I originally bought upper and lower motor mounts.the kind that came with engine its about a mid eighties 350.The engine sat way to low and
would cause clearance issues.The perches bring it high enough and www.classicparts.com had the mounts that match up to the perches.They were only 20 bucks and worked well.

[blackdawg]

I had run into the a problem last week.when i turned the torque convertor it was pressed up against the flex plate.That is solved now,the convertor was installed properly but the transmission was a bit of a angle off a little bit.My buddy noticed the problem, and we unbolted the tranny straightened it out.bolted the tranny and the torque convertor to flex plate everything is good now.I was worried i damaged them pump on the tranny.everything checks out.whew !!!!!!