The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Engine swap in a 1960 P-20 Van

I will have to find the Build sheet for the "327" to remember the details...I am not hip with the 'SBC's to have it all in the front of my mind.

But, 10-to-1, I am pretty sure...Powerpack Heads and all Chambers made to match for their volume...Hydraulic lifters, some sort of Cam or other for better torque at lower speeds...slightly larger exhaust Valves I think...

No Carb or intake Manifold yet...thgose are to be decided.

I had planned to run Headers.

With the 350 Crank fitted, and .060 over, likley CID I guess would be around 360 something or maybe 370-ish ( I have not tried doing the math ).

The Van is a light one Ton or a Heavy Duty 3/4 Ton, and I do not think I have any higher Gear Options for the Differential, than the 4-11s it came with.

Years ago I had a 1959 Dodge Pick up, which had a factory 318 V-8 and 4-11s far as I knew, and I would go from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and back, usually doing 85 and the Truck was happy to do it.

Miliage never seemed bad enough to bother noticing...whatever it was.

The Step Van of course has a BIG tall front and it has to push a lot of Air out of the way...much worse aerodynamically, than a pick Up Truck.

I know years ago guys would modify the ( or one of the ) 3/4 Ton Ford Rear Ends into a 'Quick Change' type. One can choose the final drive ratio one wants with that.

But, I do not know of anyone ever doing that with the Chevrolet 3/4 Ton Rear End.

The Machine Shop Engine Builder people who re-built my '327' said I would have no problem holding 80 with it in the Van...but, they might have been fibbing.

I do not really recall what RPM such an Engine is comfortable holding, on a Highway, and or with the vehicle weighing 5,100 lbs or so, and pushing all that wind in front of it!

I am sure that would take a lot of Horsepower though.

I will see if I can calculate Tire diameter with revolutions per Mile and that then with MPH and relate that to my 1-to-1 final drive, to see what RPM the Engine would be doing at various Highway type speeds.