The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Engine Swap Recommendations for '53 3100

I am thinking about swapping out the engine and transmission when I restore my '53 3100 to something modern.

I'm not so much interested in making it a hot rod with lots of power and speed...perhaps just a modern 6-cylinder. A good reliable runner.

Any recommendations of what engines/transmissions fit well?

Anyone ever done a new engine with fuel injection?

I'm at the point where I am thinking out loud, so any comments, suggestions and recommendation are very much appreciated.

Thank You
TimH

If you change to anything other than 235 or 261, you will have some motor mount fabs to make, and you will need to get an open driveshaft rearend, as well as many other mods to make it work. You can make anything that will physically fit in the engine bay work with enough fabrication.
Carl

Hi Tim,

Here is the most important question. How do you plan to use the truck? Will it be a daily driver, garage queen, sunny day cruiser? Do you want to drive it on the freeway or stick to back roads? Are you taking it to car shows or mostly to Home Depot? These details will help the experts on the site give you informed suggestions.

That being said, you don't need fuel injection to have reliability. Any of the typical engine choices, including the 235/261, can be a reliable runner. A 3 speed plus overdrive or T5 5 speed will allow you to cruise the freeway if needed. If you want more modern, the next step is a 250 or 292 straight 6. Both great engines, very smooth with tons of torque. If i were you, these are worth a serious look. Jumping to a V8, there are nearly unlimited choices from 150 HP on up to ridiculous. V8 engines in these trucks are a dime a dozen (including mine). They are a cheap way to get power and reliability but not much originality.

This is a fun part of projects - deciding what you want and envisioning the final outcome.

I don't plan for it to be a daily driver, but it will be driven on a regular basis (weekends). It needs to be reliable enough to make weekend getaway runs out of state. It will need to be capable of 75mph on the highway.

An automatic transmission is almost going to me a must, I have an issue with my left knee that makes a clutch difficult, not impossible, but not comfortable.

I managed a farm repair shop for a number of years, so I know my way around trucks and truck repair...yet I do not go so far as to claim to be a mechanic.

While I would prefer a 6 cylinder, I have not ruled out a V8. I know a guy who has a '55 with a 350 engine in his. It was in the truck when he bought it, whoever put it in did a lot of cutting and fabrication to the firewall, fenders and radiator mount...it's kind of FrankenFab under the hood. I don't know how much of that was necessary, so that's one reason I am asking about fit.

Anything other than a 216/235/261 will require some significant fabrication. Adding automatic transmission adds more fabrication into the mix.

Just to throw an option out there for you, and this will require just as much fabrication as any other non 216/235/261 swap, you might consider the Atlas 4.2 liter 6 from the Chevrolet Trailblazer/GMC Envoy. It's physically the same dimensions as the original 216, has plenty of power, and if you can fins one from a 2wd, you might also be able to snag the matching 4L60e/4l65E transmission as well, along with all the control modules that go with it.
Alternatively, a 235 or 261 can be easily swapped in, and there are several companies that have an adapter to allow for a later model automatic (TH700R4 would be my choice) and still keep the stock mounting for the engine.
Either way, you would be looking at an open driveline conversion, which has been covered many times on this site for the assorted ways to do it. I believe that there are a couple of active threads on that very subject at this time.

Reliability will be fine with any of the engines mentioned. 75 mph for long distances has more to do with the transmission and/or differential gearing. The easiest answer is an overdrive automatic like Bill suggested. You can keep the low rear end gearing to help perk up acceleration with a small 6.

Let us know what you decide!

I have a 261 bored .030, split exhaust manifold, a 4 speed manual overdrive (MYA6), and 3.50 gears in a Ford 9" diff. I am running a Carter Yf carb from a 235, which need to be bigger. This combo will run as fast as I want to drive (80+), although the carb needs to be bigger. The engine turns around 2000 rpm at 65 mph and I never have to downshift in normal highway operation.

This was a pretty straightforward swap and works well.

Thank You to everyone who has offered opinions and suggestions here. I really appreciate the good info everyone shares here.

I have heard a lot of good points from friends and family for both using a straight 6 or a small block V8, so the jury is still out on that right now.

As far as transmission, I am pretty sure the TH700R4 is going to be my choice.

After talking to a family member who has an engine machine shop, I am leaning toward a V8 283 or 350. Those are his preferred GM engines and if he is going to help with the rebuild and installation, it might be to my benefit to go with what he knows and likes.

So, I guess my questions has now turned to this.

Who here has put a small block V8 (283 or 350) in an Chevy 3100 AD truck? ...and what modifications did you do to the truck (aside from motor mounts) to make it fit and work well?

Thanks again,
Tim

You can get the motor mount from Jegs,and the trans mount.They are for a SBC and is a universal style.My Cousin and I just installed a 383 SBC,700R4, in his 55 first. No other mods were done.Everything fit in there no problem.No floor or firewall mods were done.We also installed power steering and disc brakes.


Pete

One thing you need to consider is going faster means the need for better braking and possibly handling too.....

John