Small block chevy swap? .....Anyone do it?
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
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Small block chevy swap? .....Anyone do it?
True blue ford guys, dont hate me. Ive got a pile of ford motors that I could rebuild BUT.......
I have an industrial 350 chevy from a generator that ran on propane that only has 1250 hours on it. ALL the good stuff: 4 bolt mains, steel crank, heavy duty internals, etc. It is SPOTLESS inside, and ran smooth as glass when I pulled it. It is essentially a brand new, heavy duty engine with a standard bell housing flange on the back of the block.
I have a boatload of small block chevy parts to build for EXACTLY what I want to achieve: POWER, RELIABILTY, and reasonable MPG.......best part? I can pull the whole build and install off for far under 1000 dollars.
The way I see it, Im an intake manifold and a camshaft away from beginning an SBC install. I have both already.
Has anyone else swapped over to an SBC? What problems did you run into, (other than the distributor being on the wrong side of the engine bay, lol)
Thanks
I have an industrial 350 chevy from a generator that ran on propane that only has 1250 hours on it. ALL the good stuff: 4 bolt mains, steel crank, heavy duty internals, etc. It is SPOTLESS inside, and ran smooth as glass when I pulled it. It is essentially a brand new, heavy duty engine with a standard bell housing flange on the back of the block.
I have a boatload of small block chevy parts to build for EXACTLY what I want to achieve: POWER, RELIABILTY, and reasonable MPG.......best part? I can pull the whole build and install off for far under 1000 dollars.
The way I see it, Im an intake manifold and a camshaft away from beginning an SBC install. I have both already.
Has anyone else swapped over to an SBC? What problems did you run into, (other than the distributor being on the wrong side of the engine bay, lol)
Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 542
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From: Dixon, IL
tomorrow in the day light I can measure on my chevy frame how far apart the "towers" are. But yes, if you have a good running motor, find a 700r4 (early 90s transfer case if you are 4x4, and you have the makings of a reliable, 300 hp motor that gets good mileage.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 32
From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
True blue ford guys, dont hate me. Ive got a pile of ford motors that I could rebuild BUT.......
I have an industrial 350 chevy from a generator that ran on propane that only has 1250 hours on it. ALL the good stuff: 4 bolt mains, steel crank, heavy duty internals, etc. It is SPOTLESS inside, and ran smooth as glass when I pulled it. It is essentially a brand new, heavy duty engine with a standard bell housing flange on the back of the block.
I have an industrial 350 chevy from a generator that ran on propane that only has 1250 hours on it. ALL the good stuff: 4 bolt mains, steel crank, heavy duty internals, etc. It is SPOTLESS inside, and ran smooth as glass when I pulled it. It is essentially a brand new, heavy duty engine with a standard bell housing flange on the back of the block.
For example... I bought an industrial 460 that was mounted on a flatbed truck and used as an irrigation puller. It had 2K hours on it, and ran like a champ. I was going to put it in my 79. Here were some of the issues I ran into
-Timing cover was different
-Water pump was different
-Larger snout on the crank meant I couldn't swap on a regular cover/pump assembly
-Cam setup different, making distro non interchangeable
-No pilot bearing hole in back of crank for torque converter
-Different bolt pattern on exhaust manifolds (intake was the same though..)
Now I recall that a friend of mine who knows almost all there is to know about cars/engines and is reputable, mentioned that the SBC and BBC industrial engines came in tall and short deck version. Hard to tell apart visually, until you tried to swap something on like a timing cover, and find out that one is tall and the other is short deck.
Just a couple things to keep in mind
Jameson
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Senior User
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Vic v8, yes, Im the guy in Afghan that bought the 78 supercab.......
Jameson, thanks for the good info. I ran into similar problems with a 455 oldsmobile industrial engine years ago for my fake 442 clone. No pilot hole in the crank, really good heads but no accessory holes.....etc etc. So I'm going to REALLY look this SBC over before I do anything rash. The numbers on the block indicate it is a flint michigan motor built in 1984 destined for a full size truck. Otgher than that, I dont know. I opened it up, it looked great. Time to get the micrometer out.
vic, yes, Id really REALLY appreciate that. Im no stranger to fabrication, so if If got to chop, bend, re-weld.....im fine with tyhat.
Thanks for the replies.
Jameson, thanks for the good info. I ran into similar problems with a 455 oldsmobile industrial engine years ago for my fake 442 clone. No pilot hole in the crank, really good heads but no accessory holes.....etc etc. So I'm going to REALLY look this SBC over before I do anything rash. The numbers on the block indicate it is a flint michigan motor built in 1984 destined for a full size truck. Otgher than that, I dont know. I opened it up, it looked great. Time to get the micrometer out.
vic, yes, Id really REALLY appreciate that. Im no stranger to fabrication, so if If got to chop, bend, re-weld.....im fine with tyhat.
Thanks for the replies.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
From: Dixon, IL
as long as the crank is right, and it has normal mounting holes for the motor mounts. I'd do it no matter what, heads can be bought cheap all day long. SBC never came in tall deck that I am aware off, although I think some aftermarket companies make them for race applications.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Livermore, CA
Outlaw,
Make sure you post your engine/transmission swap thread. I always enjoy reading about any kind of build or modification project someone is doing. Good luck!
Make sure you post your engine/transmission swap thread. I always enjoy reading about any kind of build or modification project someone is doing. Good luck!
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,668
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From: Saskatchewan
The industrial vortec's we work on are pretty much the same as truck engines. About the only difference is there are no baffles in the oil pans and the intakes are set up for square bore carburetor's.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2011
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I'm surprised you haven't gotten a whole heap of hate piled on by now. I for one am a supporter! I've started tearing mine down for a crown vic swap and a gm ls engine swap. I haven't gotten the engine yet, but that's going to be the easy part. Do it. It's your truck!
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
I have no problem with it after all most of the old ford street rods have chevy engines. This coming from somebody , me , that has a chevy street rod with a 350 crate engine and auto overdrive, 
. I almost put a 302 ford in it but got a better deal on the 350. I have had good luck with both brands.
. I almost put a 302 ford in it but got a better deal on the 350. I have had good luck with both brands.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 542
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From: Dixon, IL
my buddy swapped a 5.3/th400 into a 4x4 80s suburban on 38" tires and gets 14-15 mpg with a custom tune. That is amazing. With an OD trans he'd be in 12V Cummins area.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,339
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From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
Good luck with the swap!
Jameson
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 124
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I'm hoping to do a 6.0 if I can find one at the right price. If not I'll start with the 5.3 and swap it out later. Definitely going with the overdrive transmission. Reliable daily driver with double the fuel economy of the 390 it had