Ok I know ive changed my mind a million times on what motor im going to put in my 47, but now I have made a choice and im sticking with it. The 194 I had I dont think I would be happy with it and the 216 I dont know if the freeze plug is out or not becasue I havent pulled it yet but I want a little bit more power anyway. I came upon a deal I couldnt pass up a 91 350 with a 350 trans and even tbi with all the computer stuff. So I am going the 350 route. Can someone make me a list or instructions on what I need to move or make to put it in the stock frame. I would like to get all my parts together so I can get the motor in because we have a annual classic car cruise down town and I have drove the truck in it for the past 3 years and Im not missing this year haha. thanks
Here ya go! First thing you need to do is throw that idea out the window! Okay- I'm kidding! (Or am I?) I've be there- done that- got the ticket stub. As "someone" put it... A 350/9,00012boltladderbartorquethrustertireeater409 is cool. (ZoomZoom) However- look at Gater's truck. Look at that b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l 6. If you want to take it to the strip, go V-8 all the way! If you're drivin' down the road, stick with the mighty six. I rode the devil's highway too. People build 8s all the time. I couldn't get the original idea out of my head- At 16 I drove a '50 Chevy truck with a rebuilt engine and stock EVERYTHING. My friend had a 67 Nova SuperSportII. We were rollin' down C.B. in K.C. HE gave me the "Let's Roll" sign. I was in 3rd already, but pushed in the clutch- stepped on the gas- put the RPMs way up- dumped the clutch and off I went! I had him for at least 40 seconds and all the way up to a pegged speedough. I guess... The fact is, that stock set-up blew the doors off a SS, V8 auto. Yup- he got me in the long run, but I had him. My 6 has loved me for deciding to stay with her. Sure, I'll put in a 5 speed and an updated rearend- beyond that, ZoomZoom!
Ha is it just me or has anyone else noticed while we are sleeping Zig is posting things & updating at like 2:00 am in the morning. Almost like a site stalker or something . Can't the GMC guy's sleep at night ? Or does he only come out at night ? A little scary if you ask me.
Hey Zig, when I get mine done, I'll take you up on that race again and we'll see if six is better than eight. But what do I know, I'll probably throw a rod or something and that old six will just put right on by me . 47 rod, I say if you want an 8 go for it, if you want a 6 go for it, if for whatever reason you want a 4 I'll make fun of you (just kiddin) . I don't know what it takes to put an 8 in a stock frame as far as motor mounts go. I have seen several put in with no firewall mods and you have plenty of room in the back for the dist. If it were me I would do some suspension mods with a sway bar in front and rear, with a disc brake setup at least in the front. But then again I like for my truck to feel really stable and stop on a dime. I'm putting an S-10 frame under mine so my 350 swap should be pretty straight forward. Check with coilover 'cause I know he's done several of these swaps and he's given me some good advice on mine.
Yawn* Hey- did anyone notice that while I was sleeping, Steve was posting? Who gets up at 10:00 on a Sunday? Sheeze- CP makes mounts for engine and trans. It can be done without chopping things up. The big problem is steering. (Ram horn headers) LOTS of posts on this. Shift linkage could be another interesting but solvable problem. Then of course there is the swapping out the back end thing... Whatever- it can work. I know of a guy here in town that has a '54 with auto and updated driveline. Steve- I don't know what it is... I have to walk our dogs @ 10:00. After I get back, I'm wired. What else is there to do then get on my favorite place? K- back to bed! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I think I'll put a sbc V8 in a 47-53 chassis and do a picture documentary if someone could post it to a sight for all to view. I guess sending them a memory card from my camera would give the picture and let them add the text that I'd write out in long hand for each picture. The engine and trans I can mount in in one day but the computer part--not in this lifetime. In liew of that, I'd be glad to answer answer questions including what's needed and how to start. Here are two pics of what Kevin was talking about, the first shows a V8 in a stock frame, it's not a good side view but note how close the a/c compressor (and all the other pulleys) are to the radiator. It all fits but you MUST use the short waterpump setup if you want to keep the firewall and radiator stock. The short pump and brackets bolt right to your newer engine. The second shows what Kevin is doing with the S10 swap and is not a plug for that but it shows the distance from the front of the block to the radiator core support. It's nice but even we couldn't have that done for your annual parade. Some of the guys might know if there is already a step by step site showing this for your 47 frame. Good luck
I knew that you would have some great pics of this kind of swap. You get him through the mounting issues for the engine, and I can help him wire it up. Fuel injection is very elementary when you understand it, and extremely complicated if you don't. Good thing I understand it.
Hey coilover, I see the engine sets pretty far back in the S-10 frame. Will I be okay distributor clearance wise if I resess the fire wall four inches. In this pic it looks kinda cramped in the back with the stock fire wall. Also , I'm sure there is, is there motor mount kits that you use to put the 350 in this frame and where do you get them?
OK so i need to find some ram horn exhaust manifolds or some type of headers that fit very close to the engine.
OK. I hate to post on mechanical issues because I know very little. I do know that CP offers the engine mounts and a trans mount since the 350 doesn't fit on stock tranny...I also had to get block hugger headers so that steering linkage and all that stuff would work..It can be done.. I went the 350/350 route...Best of luck..
The stock firewall in the 54 would have worked, but I wanted a nice clean line..Don't know how much clearance a 47 has. http://clgw.net/~tonyp/Truck images/motor& Firewall.jpg
I'll throw my $.02 in on this one. CPP makes the crossmembers for both the engine and tranny. Bolts up pretty easily. There is NO clearance for exhaust with the stock steering box. You'll most likely end up relocating it, which means cutting the stock column and putting a double-d coupling in it to work. Or convert to an aftermarket column/steering box. You can tell in my photos the steering box is real close. Close enough to touch the spark plug wire. Trans may require just a little cutting to make it fit the floorboard. Mine did, but very minor. Rearend...have to convert to an open driveline. I haven't gotten that far. Lots of info on here with the different rearends. A standard small block may be a little different than mine...mine is a 5.3L and 4L60 transmission. Lets see if I can post a pic...
If you don't want a tire smoker I absolutely guarantee that a 265 left manifold will clear the steering gear box. The big drawback is it's a log type manifold that doesn't flow well and this hurts bigger cube or high winding engines. It was good enough for 165 hp on a 265 with a single exhaust so with duals it would handle a 305 for sure and a easy driven 350. Kevin, I did use an Excel small body electronic distributer to clear the firewall but the engine could easily be mounted further forward since the mount base is just a 1/2" plate with three 3/8 holes drilled and tapped in it. Here's a pic, note the plate is at the very rear of the crossmember (note runningboard). Particularly in pickups I like to crowd the firewall because they are notoriously nose heavy and a couple of inches of engine/trans setback really helps on slick pavement.
Thanks Coilover, you're a wealth of knowledge to me. I like the way that you make your own mount. Is that an S-10 front end in the picture? If not does that same type of mount work in the S-10 as well?
