235 to 283 V8

[superbirdkiwi]

Hi

I have the oppertunity to purchase a 1957 283 V8 engine out of a truck.
I am wondering what is involved swapping this with my 235.
My 1957 truck is a 3 speed column.
I guess the main question is, are the bellhousings the same?

Gary

[OrrieG]

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/en...lhousings.html

[Wrenchbender Ret]

I recently did one on my 56 & have done some others previously. You need a 55-66 v-8 bell houseing. Or a 6 cyl 63-66. Get a throttle link kit & front engine mount kit from one of the specialty suppliers. You need a manual trans flywheel. If it uses a different size clutch you will need one or if its the same size as yours you can use it. You will need a shroud or electric fan. Its a fun swap & the results are rewarding. It even drives better with the weight in back of the axle.

[1project2many]

When I was a kid, and I was trying out different parts in my first truck, I swapped out the '58 V8 truck heavy duty three speed for a light duty version from a '55 six to see how the different gear ratios felt. Everything dropped in with no problems. You can imagine my surprise when I went out for a drive only to find that 2nd and 3rd gear positions were swapped on the shifter. Turns out the six cylinder truck had a bellcrank in the shift linkage. I tried to install the bellcrank on the bell housing but there was no place to attach it. And as I remember it there were differences in the shifter as well which prevented the shift arm from being attached. So for a few months I drove around with a fouled up shift pattern before I finally swapped to a car 4 speed. But my advice is to be sure you collect parts that are compatible with your trans.

standard 3 speed trans linkage:
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...55ctsm0704.htm

[mr48chev]

This used to be a swap that guys pretty well did in one day back in the 60's and 70's.

Get every thing you can with the V8 including clutch and bellhousing. I'd unbolt the trans and remove it and then remove the six and bellhousing then you can install the V8 and V8 bellhousing with the clutch set up ready to go back in and bolt it down and reinstall the trans.

You are going to want new front motor mount biscuits and maybe new rear mounts to go between the bellhousing and crossmember depending on what shape the old ones are in.

Probably the two big head scratchers are going to be the throttle linkage and positioning the radiator or getting a shroud that will direct the air to the fan.