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So I have been giving many thoughts to the 54 and her future. I have decided to go to the dark side. I have a 76 chevy 350 motor I modified to 383 balanced with old school performer 2101 mainfold and Edlbrock carb. I am getting a 700r4 trans and new 9 inch for the rear, The reason I am making this choice is as I enter retirement I plan on making the drive to Texas from Washington state to visit my son and just drive the truck. I have found trouble getting parts for the 292 when needed. I will post pictures but this truck has been with the family since late 60's. PS I have had medical issues including brain surgery and I am noticing things medically I do not like so please do not tear me apart for changing to dark side. I want to enjoy what I have left in life and I think a 400hp motor in the truck is the best route. Any advice from other is always welcome. Respectfully Kurt G.
Sorry for your medical issues. Your truck, your build. I personally don't like SBC's in our trucks but who cares what I like. A running and driving truck is better than a sitting one. Get it done, enjoy your trip, visit, and retirement.
Best of luck to you.
Sorry for your medical issues. Your truck, your build. I personally don't like SBC's in our trucks but who cares what I like. A running and driving truck is better than a sitting one. Get it done, enjoy your trip, visit, and retirement.
Best of luck to you.
Thank you, yes I know my truck my thing but I had gone through great strides to keep 292 in it but simple things like water pump replacement can be rough if on cross country trip.I use to think I had many years ahead of me but the truth is even if I do they will not be so good for me and I want to have this fun while I can.
a lot of time and money will be spent in doing the swap. The money spent could be spent on a spare water pump, carburetor, distributor, fuel pump. Etc.
Currently, it's fully operational? A few extra parts and you can be down the road immediately.
stuff breaks every day, being retired if something breaks, a couple days to get fixed isn't the end of the world.
one must remember that the small block platform and 700r4 is 35 years old already. 700r4 parts can be obsolete at this point. I don't know this to be fact but I wouldn't be surprised.
I like Kevin's advice. If your truck is running and driving now, I'd go for it. Being out on a cross country adventure with your old truck will be an experience you'll long remember and savor when you are too old and limited to do it anymore. I'd do it as soon as you can. If your health holds--plan some more adventures.
I built Willard my 49 with the same basic combination and have no regrets. I built the sbc as a clone to the GM performance 383HT crate motor. It was not expensive. I built it to the 383HT specs since I tow a loaded car trailer. It dyno tested at 340 HP and 440 torque with a nice fairly flat torque curve. I wanted the driveability and the lower rpm torque.
I built Willard my 49 with the same basic combination and have no regrets. I built the sbc as a clone to the GM performance 383HT crate motor. It was not expensive. I built it to the 383HT specs since I tow a loaded car trailer. It dyno tested at 340 HP and 440 torque with a nice fairly flat torque curve. I wanted the driveability and the lower rpm torque.
The swap will not be that difficult for me. I had built a 383 stroker about 24 yrs ago and sold the chevy truck to my dad but he oldy put on 3 dump runs so the whole motor has less than 5,000 miles on it. I have a friend with the transmission so I feel more comfortable with this change than running the old Y block that far.
Life is to short to be concerned about a ford, Chrysler or a chevy drivetrain. It is your truck and if you are satisfied with your choice than go for it, the only person you have to satisfy is yourself and the wife of course. You will stand a much better chance getting parts for the SBC at the parts store immediately than the 292. Have fun on your trip, get to wrenching that is half the fun
The swap will not be that difficult for me. I had built a 383 stroker about 24 yrs ago and sold the chevy truck to my dad but he oldy put on 3 dump runs so the whole motor has less than 5,000 miles on it. I have a friend with the transmission so I feel more comfortable with this change than running the old Y block that far.
There you go, already have the motor and access to the tranny. That makes that decision a no brainer IMHO
I have a 350/700R4 in my truck and love it. Some poke at me for it but it is my money/time and if I wanted to build it for someone else I would ask them. I would do that swap all day.
[QUOTE=Marten;21105776]I have a 350/700R4 in my truck and love it. Some poke at me for it but it is my money/time and if I wanted to build it for someone else I would ask them. I would do that swap aIl day.[/QUOTE
i am a Ford Enthusiast BUT my son is in the Air Force and this truck has been in family for 50+ yrs, now the cross member for Chev motor should still allow the 292 cross member so long story short I will keep the 292 incase son wants to go back to Ford. I might look for the T5 but I don't know what is to come.
I wish you the best in your retirement and with your medical issues.
There is no right or wrong answer on what to do with your truck as long as it is safe to drive.
Chevy power is usually less expensive per horsepower than Ford power. Some folks do not like Chevy power in a Ford, but it is your truck and as I said there is no right or wrong way to go.
I would suggest that if you are going over 300-350 horsepower that you may want to box part of your frame to hold that much power. These old frames were not made for 400 hp. If you box the frame, it MUST be perfectly straight before being boxed, because it will not move afterwards. Also, a boxed frame will not flex much. That flexing was part of the suspension that was used with the solid front axle.
My frame had a big block FE engine in it, that was not running when I bought my truck. The frame was broke almost half way through, just behind the right forward cab mount. It is a common place to break.
Many modern engine and transmission combinations will not work with the original transmission crossmember that attached to the bell housing. Mine had been cut away and a cheap crossmember was installed under the newer transmission. It was not adequate. That original crossmember was in that particular location for a reason. There needs to be a crossmember close to the front cab mounts to reinforce the cantilevered cab mounts.
I wish you the best in your retirement and with your medical issues.
There is no right or wrong answer on what to do with your truck as long as it is safe to drive.
Chevy power is usually less expensive per horsepower than Ford power. Some folks do not like Chevy power in a Ford, but it is your truck and as I said there is no right or wrong way to go.
I would suggest that if you are going over 300-350 horsepower that you may want to box part of your frame to hold that much power. These old frames were not made for 400 hp. If you box the frame, it MUST be perfectly straight before being boxed, because it will not move afterwards. Also, a boxed frame will not flex much. That flexing was part of the suspension that was used with the solid front axle.
My frame had a big block FE engine in it, that was not running when I bought my truck. The frame was broke almost half way through, just behind the right forward cab mount. It is a common place to break.
Many modern engine and transmission combinations will not work with the original transmission crossmember that attached to the bell housing. Mine had been cut away and a cheap crossmember was installed under the newer transmission. It was not adequate. That original crossmember was in that particular location for a reason. There needs to be a crossmember close to the front cab mounts to reinforce the cantilevered cab mounts.
I will make sure that support on frame is where you stated. I got a good deal on an arc welder and have a wire feed for any matters I need. I am looking forward to this build up since the wife walked out on me I have been in a bad place and brain surgery did not help. I want to enjoy what I have left and plan on putting my truck the way I want, if anybody wants to see as I go I will figure out how to post as I go.
I most certainly would like to follow along with you on your journey and of course feel a certain amount of embarrassment at my own lack of progress . ps my 35 dodge coupe has a 350 - 350 chev drivetrain a m2 front and ford rear .
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