My '37 is a hybrid of parts, 250 engine, T350 automatic, GM 10 bolt rear, aftermarket radiator, and home made firewall. The 250 is longer, so moving the radiator forward is a must, you also have to lower it or the mechanical fan will hang below the core about 1/2 way. 216/235 must have a much higher water pump. The 292 would help as far water pump hight, but you still have the length, probably even longer due to the balancer with extra pulley grooves.
I replaced the stock firewall on mine due to someone before me with a torch and drill. I recessed the center for the 250 to gain some room, but in-turn got rid of much needed leg room ( wish I had it back ).
Motor mounts and crossmembers were easy, remove the stock trans mount, add new one under engine, and add second new one for transmission. Fabricate mounting plates for rubber mounts.
Radiator support ( dog house ) had to be modified to move radiator, and the mounts on the aluminum radiator had to be removed and relocated also. My lower radiator hose is a combination of steel pipe and hoses. It runs under the oil filter, then loops back over the top and turns into the water pump. I gained about a gallon of coolant just in the hose, there was just no other way to get where it needed to go. Electric cooling fan may solve some fitment issues, but I don't like to see them or hear them.
You have a bunch of clearance above the engine before hitting the hood, where you don't is the floor board. If you raise the tunnel, you loose the throttle pedal location, now you are crowding the brake and clutch. Mine was missing all the pedals so I used aftermarket pieces. The brake is to the left of the steering column, throttle to the right, I drive two footed, getting off the throttle and on the brake is too hard with just my right foot. Its just one of the other things I wish I had thought out better. I use a Lokar floor shifter.
The 250 runs great, its a good engine and parts are easy to come by, they are not cheap like a SBC, but you can get anything you need. There is plenty of exhaust clearance at the steering box with a single pipe, headers maybe not. I added A/C, so more work in the dog house, custom made brackets, and work under the dash was needed.
Don't think the 250 needs low rpm to safely run the speed limit. I have a 3.08 gear ratio with 28" tall tires, 1:1 final drive in the trans, mine is happiest at 2400 - 2500 rpm. 70 mph is easy and it can run it all day long, it will run faster, I just don't like to go that fast. You won't have enough torque to pull if you lower the rpm unless you are on level ground with a tail wind. Mine does not like strong head winds, the big fenders and flat windshield are not aerodynamic at all, just ask all the bugs it kills! It's still plenty peppy around town with the 3.08, I didn't notice much difference when I swapped out the 3.42 for the 3.08. 3.42 was just a bit much at 65-70 mph. Most of my driving involves a highway, so I give up stop light acceleration for highway easy. I can average 20 - 21 mpg at 65-70 mph, never really checked it just around town.
I also have disk brakes on the stock axle up front, drums in the rear, master cylinder under the cab, no power assist. Pedal is stiff, but I'am used to it and it stops good. You will need an adjustable proportioning valve to dial in the rear brakes. They tend to lock up easy due to the lack of weight over the axle. I used a large parking lot and made numerous high speed stops till I was happy with the way worked. One needs to know how its going to act in an emergency situation!
Think about what whees are going to be needed with mismatched axles, will a spare fit both axles?
My whole drivetrain is from a '70 - '79 Camaro/Firebird, the engine, ignition, transmission, rear axle, wheels, and brakes all came standard on these cars, so any parts store will have or can get any part needed to keep it on the road. The only part not GM is the Ford Master cylinder, its from an early Mustang so it too is easy to get.
Plan ahead at least three steps, tack weld, and study on it before committing to final assembly.
Last edited by Joe H; 10/12/2023 2:04 PM.
