I have a Chevy 235 Casting # 3769716, according to all the sites I've visited so far it was built between 1958 and 1962. I am trying to put a turbo 350 behind it. (i know there are some purists out there that are cringing at the thought ), but the truck (59 Chevy Apache 3200) is for my 16 yo daughter and she will have enough on her plate without power steering and drum brakes all the way around without trying to figure out what gear she needs while texting on her way to school, but I digress. I am keeping the three speed to put in later, for now auto it is. I understand an adapter plate is necessary to do the install and I can fabricate one without any trouble, but i cannot find a flex plate. Am i overthinking this? Can I just get one that is close and drill it out to the correct pattern or do i need to keep looking for one. I did fire off an e-mail to the Stovebolt Engine Co. to see if he'd sell me just the flexplate , but haven't heard anything yet. If there were auto trans as an option for this motor why no flexplates to be had? Has any one done this swap successfully on this forum? Perhaps you could share your experience with me, sadly my screen name fits when it comes to engines and transmissions. Also i thought i read somewhere that after 1960 the flexplate for this motor was the same as all small block Chevy's. Now for the torque converter are there any modifications necessary to get it to mate with the motor? Some say I need to machine the end so it fits in the centering bushing. And there is a brass doodly in the end of the crank where the torque converter mates, does this need to be removed or can it just stay for the ride. I would appreciate any info you can pass along to me I know it has been discussed a million times before, but the info (at least some of it) seems conflicting (at least to me.)
Some pics of the truck and progress.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessicas-59-Apache-Page/130140737020875?v=photos&ref=ts
