Welcome to the Stovebolt Page, Silvergirl! Be sure to check out the ret of the site, as well. In the Features section, we even have a piece on whether to restore or rod. In the Tech Tips, there's a piece on what to do once you get your dream truck home.
Woog, as always, has advice that's "spot on" as the Brits say. Get that original 216 running and have a little fun with the truck before you do anything drastic. As someone around here has said, "It's only original once." So at least see what that's like before you go somewhere you can't return from.
Besides, there's nothing inherently wrong with that motor -- lots of the guys here drive all over the place with their original six-powered trucks. Cosmo, for one.
And just so you understand -- it's not so simple as just removing the six and putting a 350 in it's place. The rear axle is still geared for the 90 hp six banger. You'll have to change it out along with the tranny. And, you'll have to fabricate new motor mounts and add in a new frame cross member because the 350 doesn't bolt up top the same mounts the six banger does. Okay, so now you have a new gofast motor, new tranny and new rear axle (and a new radiator!) -- you can go fast. But you still have that I-beam front axle and steering set up for 45 MPH -- so to be safe, and to keep your truck controllable at highway speeds, you should update them, too, with better brakes, power steering, etc.
With far more simpler mods, you can get the truck, in it's original configuration, to be a good distance driver and achieve cruising speeds of 50-60 MPH. The guys here can tell you all about it. So can the folks over at the Inliners' site (see out Links page).
But if you go the 350 route -- throw nothing away. Folks here need whatever you don't. And even that babbitt-pounding 216 is valuable to someone. They may not pay you much for it, but you'll be helping a fellow Bolter and you'll be keeping it out of the landfill (or Chinese smelter).
Welcome aboard and get a picture and your "story" to Peggy for the Gallery! (
[email protected]) Just posting it in here doesn't count
Regards,
John
