I'm in the process of doing a frame up restoration of a 1946 GMC 1/2 ton. The truck was originally equipped with a GMC 228. I bought it with a Chevy 235 with a Saginaw SM420 4 speed transmission. I've now torn the truck down to the frame and pulled the engine and transmission and notices that the front engine mount was moved forward about an 1" by welding a "gusset" on the front cross member. I'm sure this was done to create space for the water pump/fan blade. I'm assuming that like the 216 - 235 switch, that there is a fit problem between the fan and the radiator. Another modifcation was the removal of the bolted in frame cross member that holds the rear transmission support. It was recmoved entirely and the ransmission simply hung off the back of the engine unsupported. It have the original cross member and in trying to refit it I discovvered that there is not enough clearance for the support due to the fact that the engine was moved backwrds about an inch with the modification of the front mount. My plan is to go with the shorter water pump and return to the original front mount and then the cross member with the transmission support should fit. The puzzle for me is the rear side engine mounts. They seem to fit and the mounts look stock. If I move the engine forward an inch to its original position then I think that the side engine mounts wont align. Just to complicate things a little more, it looks like the transmission and/or bell housing is not original based on some home made brackets that are welded to the bell housing to support the brake/clutch peddle assembly. Does any one have any experience retro fitting a 235 in to a GMC? Is the frame the same as a Chevy. Are the mounts the same? My big concern at this point are the rear engine mounts. HELP! Any thoughts or idea would be appreciated.
