Haven't been here in a while. I have been thinking about an engine swap for my '53 Chev 3/4 ton. I restored this a few years back and there are photos on this site. I have a rebuilt 235 with a 1 bbl and 4-speed Saginaw tranny and the stock rear end. It just doesn't have the power to get it beyond 50 mph downhill and is frustrating. As a result the darned thing sits in the garage. It has a linkage problem or something that causes it to rev way too high when I try to drive it. Also has the flat back 216 cooling fan since the 235 fan won't fit and it overheats. After I spent a lot of $ and had a 235 block reworked for it, I found out the block is actually from a '61 Biscayne and isn't a truck 235 at all. Don't know if that matters. At any rate, I've got to do something to soup it up so it is drivable. Have been thinking about a 350, but I don't know what all will be involved. Probably a new rear end to get away from the 8-lug two-piece wheels and an automatic tranny like maybe a turbo 350. If anyone out there has done something like this, I'd be interested in some ideas and what all might be involved. I wanted to keep it original except for the 12-volt conversion, but it isn't doing any good sitting in the garage and my kids don't want me to sell it either. Ideas or suggestions would be welcome.
