inline 6 to 307 with m465 4spd swap

[scottblue66]

Hi! I am new to the forum. My son and I are trying to swap his 66's inline 6 w/3spd for a 307 and 4spd m465 tranny out of a 71 c20. A few questions I hope someone can help me with. 1. the engine mounts. can the originals be used and do they get moved to the front holes as the engine sits back too far using the rear holes. 2. the rear engine mounts on the bell-housing. can the original cross-member be moved forward or is there another solution? We attempted to install the engine with the front and rear mount positions unchanged....the engine was right up against the firewall and wouldn't line up with the mounts. Thanks, Kevin

[jdl71]

1) Depends on which 6 cyl you are replacing. 230/250 and 292 mounts are different.

2) The rear mounts and bellhousing should not need to change. When you dropped it in and it was against the firewall did the rear mounts line up? Which bellhousing were you using. I believe you should be able to use the same bellhousing that was on the 6cyl and bolt the 465 to it.

[Captainfab]

If the original I6 in the '66 was a 230 or 250, the 307, bellhousing and SM465 should drop right in onto the original engine mount brackets and bellhousing crossmember. The 307 is a small block just like a 283,327, 350, etc. The 283's and 327's originally installed in the '63-'66 trucks were all installed in the rear location as were the 230/250 I6's. I don't know why the engine would be right up against the firewall and not line up with any of the mounts. Maybe post a pic or two of what you have and we can help you figure it out.

[Atbyrne]

Just got done doing something very similar, but changed last moment. I installed a 327 and was going with a munch 4 speed, but father had knee surgery so we ended up with a th400 transmission in it. I am using the original motor mounts in the original location (back holes) and did have the original bell housing off of the 250 on the 327, and it did mount up to the stock cross member. The thing that looked off to me was the ball on the engine for the clutch z-bar.

Hope this helped.

[scottblue66]

AFTER removing the egg from my face AND moving the lifting chain attachment points to the TOP of the engine, we WERE successful in getting the engine into place using the original mounting points...i DID have to modify (bump in) the firewall to accommodate the hei distributor. Also had to notch in about a 1/3 inch on the trailing edge of the rear transmission support beam to allow the sm465 to mate up to the bell housing. Thanks so much for the answers and support. It looks VERY natural in its new home!

[jdl71]

HEI will fit without bumping the firewall but it's very close and you can't stab it in there with the cap on. Glad you got everything figured out.