The Stovebolt Site Forums Project Journals Completed Journals 1966 Chevy C-10 Short Stepside -- Step by Step

Once I had the 454 out & cleaned up, I had to figure out how to make it fit the C 10.The goal was to do it as close as possible to how we would have done it in the "old" days.

That meant using as many existing parts & or donor vehicle parts as possible. In typical Chevy fashion (in my experience) the bell housing from the '66 6 cyl bolted up to the 454 just fine which gave me the ability to use the stock rear motor mounts along with the stock clutch linkage(With one exception) However, once Chevy enlarged the BBC to 454 cu in., it began externally balancing the crankshaft assembly via the harmonic balancer & the flywheel. When searching online, I found lots of confusing info regarding which flywheel had the correct balance factor for which crankshaft assembly. But I found no definite answer for my combo. I finally decided to use the KISS method. Since I had what was a '92 one ton engine, I checked on a '92 454 one ton aftermarket flywheel. It was a 168 tooth ring gear as was the 6 cyl flywheel that formerly fit inside my bell housing & after receiving it I saw it had the balance weight in oz stamped on it as the flex plate for the auto trans that came on the 454. I ordered a complete '66 11" clutch kit including pilot bearing & throwout bearing at the same time. It all fit together perfectly.

I had earlier, via CL again, found a good condition mid '60's M20 Muncie 4 spd trans with older, original style Hurst shifter. Since they were about the same yr, the front bearing retainer on the transmission & clutch spline fit perfectly into my bellhousing & clutch. Things were coming together nicely, but I still had a couple hurtles to overcome.

If you recall, I mentioned in the last post that the Gen V did not come with the typical Chevy clutch linkage boss cast in the block. I found another hi performance Chevy dealer in Tx that sold a stainless steel bracket for mid '60s Corvettes that allowed them to use the Gen V or VI engine & retain the stock clutch linkage . I made the correct guess that bracket would work on my mid '60's truck as well. Some minor grinding of excess material & slightly reworking one bolt hole & it fit perfectly.

My next problem was exhaust. The truck manifolds that were on the RV weren't going to work. The left side exited right where my newly figured out clutch linkage had to reside. I reasoned that if mid 60's Corvettes clutch linkage & left side exhaust manifolds co-existed on Vette's, then they would do the same on my C10. I found a pair of mid '60's 427 Vette manifolds on AutoZone for cheap. I knew the top of the frame would need a little clearancing, but so would just about any exhaust I came up with.

Again, sorry. Not many photos of this phase of the project.