The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop SBC/manual in 51 3100

I bought a very original and complete 1951 chevy 3100 in May. Tried to rescue the 216, no luck. Bought a 235 for replacement, cracked head.
I have a good 350 with 3 speed manual tranny(Saginaw) from a 77 short-wide. It also has a good driveline and and rear end(3.07).
I would like to use this engine,transmission, and rear end.
1) will the stock radiator work in Texas?
2) can I keep the original pedals and link to the clutch and a better brake setup?
3) can I keep the original steering column, at least partially. I realize the usual approach is to go with power steering. Can I do this and use the original steering column at least partially?
I will install IFS and disc brakes in the front. Maybe one with rack and pinion.
I also have a 350 tranny but would like to keep the truck manual.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I hope to God this has not been previously covered somewhere. I tried to search, honest.
Thanks!

you'll find lots of discussion of similar things scattered in the HiPo forum, check subject titles for those that apply to different areas you're dealing with .... you're looking at a lot of work, some of it DIY custom, like adapting the original pedals, but it's all do-able if you've got enough time, money, and skill

Bill

that is more a topic for the HiPo forum, And yes it has been discussed at least once a week. I personally would go to great extremes to use ANYTHING other than a 350. Not that it is a bad engine, it just seems like sacrilege to cut up one more collector vehicle, to put one more cookie cutter engine where it should never go. When the correct engines are cheap and readily available. Realizing that once the cutting begins, any intrinsic value will be immediately lost. Not that this hobby is a money making venture to begin with. But it is your truck, so do with it as you please.

I agree, it is always a good idea to make an informed decision before the cutting and fabrication begins, especially on trucks that have weathered the test of time and still managed to keep intact after 60 years. When I started looking for my 47-55 I wanted to do a hot rod truck, because I found and bought what I did (an old original farm truck) it changed the entire course and direction on my project. It will now stay the way it was in 1953.

Yeah, I did not buy this truck to hotrod. I already have a couple of those.
"I don't know why I am in a hurry to get things done, I rush and rush until life's. No fun".
I need to adjust my attitude on this project.
I will now circle back and try to get the original 216 rebuilt. It was never frozen but I removed at least an inch of rusty sludge from the crankcase. I checked a couple of rod bearing and all had Babbitt missing. Some as much as a half inch. The only thing about the compression test was that it was a consistent
30-40 pounds.
I will take the head to the machine shop and see if it can be rebuilt and go from there.
Thanks, I needed that!