300 strait 6 question

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Jan 30, 2017 | 07:54 AM

83sd

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Tuned

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 479

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From: Mesa AZ

300 strait 6 question

Found a guy locally that has a good running 300 in a 78 custom. He is parting the truck out. Guy wants $450 if I pull it. Engine is still in the truck and able to be test run. I was thinking of hearing it run and once warm, doing a quick compression test. If its in as good of shape as he says, it should save me some $$$ over rebuilding mine.

Main question is, did anything change between 76 and 78? It currently has an auto bolted to it and I will need to bolt my 4 speed up. Were there any differences besides the bell housing and a flex plate on the autos? I should be able to install my flywheel and clutch assembly with no issue, correct?

Thanks in advance, hopefully going to look at it this week and possibly talk him down a little.

Jan 30, 2017 | 01:19 PM

meangreen92

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Joined: Jul 2005

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It should be compatible. Keep your truck's original shim-plate between the engine and bellhousing. That piece always goes with the transmission. There might be a different EGR/carb spacer, but you can just swap everything, or anything different, over from your original engine. Also look to see if the donor has a smog pump. If it does and yours doesn't, then it's still not a big deal, but could require a threaded plug somewhere - although I must state that I'm not familiar with the smog pump/Thermactor setup on the 300s, but if we were talking about a 302, then you would need two bolts or plugs to thread into the back of each cylinder head...

Pics of the two engines would be good.