The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop V8 in a stock 1/2 ton 45

Hey all- I'm sure this question has been asked and answered a thousand times but for some reason I can't find it, so I'll ask again.I have a 1945 half ton Chevy and is missing the engine. My goal for the truck is to make a nice driver than I can take on long road trips at highway speeds. So my question is, is the stock frame strong enough to do a v-8 (350) about 300-350 hp with an automatic, power steering and brakes etc. thanks in advance and apologies for the repeat questions.

Bob

Bob, how is the engine mounted. Did you put in a strong cross member?
Been running a stout 350/700R4 with power steering and brakes for over 10 years now. I burn the tires fairly often, have driven it on long trips and its still in great shape. Last time I looked no stress cracks ect. I did weld in a strong cross member to hand the Stang II front end on and I have a good rear cross member.
Hope this helps in your decision.....

I have not done anything yet. Right now it's just a rolling chassis but I'd like to start buying thing for it so I can work on it this winter. I would prefer to keep the stock frame (keep it a bit more original) but I'm not completely opposed to going to an s-10 frame. Just don't want to do it twice.

A few gussets here and there and as Alvin mentioned a couple of good strong cross members and you should be well on your way.

Read this Tech Tip - http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/engine_swap2_302.htm

Hi Bob and welcome to the forum. Nice area where you live, by the way. At least I think so. Since you mentioned you're open to new ideas, here's one I've wondered about: Why not find a used 2011 or up Subaru Outback and spend the winter adapting your truck to that platform? I'm not sure it has been done and I'm not certain how you'd title/insure it, but it would be an interesting mix and I think it might work. The Outback certainly doesn't lack for power and pickup, so I'd bet the overall weight to power ratio would remain fairly favorable. If you get the 2015 Subaru model, you would get the added benefit of the constantly variable transmission.

Don't think the Subaru idea will work. Wheelbase / width is way off, and has no independent frame.
My 40 has frame boxed thru to the trans. cross-member to stiffen things up. Mustang 2 front end, 327 SB, TH 350 trans. Setup works fine.

Thanks for the info guys, greatly appreciated. I wouldn't do the Subaru swap even if it would work, I need a v8. I know you can get plenty of power out of other engines but in my opinion nothing sounds as good.

nothing ruins a good collector vehicle as quickly either. I went to a car show a little while ago, and there was almost nothing but a small block chevys in EVERYTHING. Don't get me wrong it is very effective, and was probably the premier successes of its time, but it shows absolutely no creativity, and was extremely boring. Try a 348/409, a nailhead buick, a 302 GMC with one of sissels 12 port heads, an old 426 hemi would liven things right up, anything but a 350, I would even prefer a flathead ford for that matter. I mean it is your truck, and you can do whatever you want. But a little imagination goes a long way. When I first bought my truck in 1984, I bought a "TRUCKIN" magazine, and there is where I first heard of the wayne 12 port, the article told of how they were getting 900 horsepower out of a 302 GMC. But to be fair, it had the 12 port head using hilborn injection on alcohol. But the potential is there. And I would have to disagree about the sound, If you have ever heard a full tilt 6 going full out. yeah baby. This is only my opinion, meant to give you some food for thought on other possible alternatives.

Well brokenhead.... I agree with you that there are a lot of small blocks out there. Not many of us can afford 15 or 20k to pop in some exotic beast of a motor. I know a guy who has a totally built, blown 454 in his '57 truck. An amazing motor that blows you off your feet ! He doesn't drive it much because a tank full of gas lasts an afternoon. Original poster was looking for a reliable daily driver - not a trailer queen.

Thank you.

All due respect brokenhead- Im not building a truck to make it as valuable as possible. I am building one to get the most enjoyment out of it that I can. I may not do a basic 350, Im also considering a 5.3. As I said I am looking to have a truck that I can drive all spring, summer, and fall not something that will just sit in the garage and be worth more in your opinion.

So, I get the irrelevance of what I am about to say, but to me its sort of how I think.

In the 1970s/80s, I was in the Air Force and all of my friends had a Federal Firearms License. We spent alot of time in our down time reading Shotgun News and lusting over the newest, best gun. I too got my firearms license, spent all kinds of money on reloading equipment and just had a great time with my friends. We would go out to the West Mesa in Albuquerque, which at the time was an untouched area where we could shoot.

So on page 20 (I have no idea but follow anyway) was the AR-15 Assault weapon. You guys mostly understand it as the Military M-16 that was used for a few generations as the US military's primary infantry rifle. Vietnam right thru Grenada and beyond, it was the master. On page 21 was the AR-15 Auto Sear. This made the AR-15 which as shipped was a Semi Automatic rifle, FULLY automatic and makes it a true M-16.

We would go out on the West Mesa and expend 1000's of rounds on a single Saturday just having a literal blast on targets! Then spend the entire week reloading all the brass which we had to painstakingly pick up off the ground to be able to afford this.

AND FOR WHAT?

The three words above are very very powerful. Something that should be really carefully examined. How about we stick a V8 in an old vintage truck that was never designed for it. The frame needs to be boxed in order to safely do it. Then, lets do a bunch of unorthodox stuff with the steering, front end, etc. This way we can boast about our expertise and now we have a very heavy, UN-aerodynamic vehicle that will not measure up on the track, the road, anywhere, but it HAS A V8 in it! WOOHOO!

AND FOR WHAT?

Its one thing to get an Art Morrison Chassis or an S10 and do it. But I am reminded of a good friend's comment about "Lipstick on a Pig" when it comes to using the stock chassis. I know, I will hear about this, but if you do this really questionable thing, BOX the frame, make sure you understand the math behind the chassis and dont think putting an AUTO SEAR on an AR-15 is going to make you feel good. Yes?, No?

Deve- makes sense. The only reason I wanted to use the original frame was so that one day if I could no longer keep it and the new owner wanted to make it back to a close to stock truck it could be done. I already have a s-10 that could be used for the donor.

Bob, honestly, use the S10 frame and just quietly save the old frame. My reasoning is this: When its all said and done, you will have welded new perches for the motor, boxed in the frame rails, completely changed the dynamics of the steering and front end, and then there is the associated braking system, etc. To the point where nobody will want to go to the trouble of putting it back to original.

On the other hand, and this is really a sincere comment.. this is YOUR project and your money. Its nobody elses business what you do in ANY case. I am just helping with reasoning. I totally understand both ways.

I agree it is very effective, but it is so BORING. I looked at Sissels website, and it seems they only are making heads for 250/292's at this time, but they are only $3500, which when figured into the whole picture, isn't really all that much. Now that would be something different. I wasn't so concerned with actual dollar value, more intrinsic value, something that would catch your eye. Something to actually be proud of, rather than some cookie cutter mass produced replica of what everyone else is doing. But like we always say, it is your truck...

in my 46 1/2 ton I removed the 216 splash motor and went with a 1956 235 6 cylinder and bored it .30 over and bought a new 848 hi performance head with a big cam and a clifford dual 2 barrel setup and I now have as much horsepower as a stock v-8 coupled with a t-5 tranny and a chevy nova rear i have already given a couple guys a run for they're money

It's your truck and you know your budget so go with what YOU want and forget the naysayers. If it is a 350/350 combo and it does what you want your a winner. There is a reason for boredom; it's called price and availability. From NASCAR to dirt tracks to drag strips nearly every car will have a 9" Ford rear even though a Dana 60 is tougher and the reason; price and availability. I can afford difference so my 34 Chevy 5W coupe has a FORD DOHC 4V Modular engine with electronic stack injectors. The reason---the Mod engine is beautiful with it's huge smooth Hemi heads and integrated brackets while the LS engine is a knobby looking engine that can undoubtly kick a Mod engines [censored] but I'm building for looks and that is what I WANT. You stated you want to go for long cruises so lets see who can walk into any parts store and get cheap parts: you with a 350 or the "originality" guy who went with a 308 Hudson Hornet 6 with Twin H-Power.

Brokenhead...I have a 350 with tri-power in my 49 - not unique, but I figured I did something really different by putting a 5 Sped Tremec TKO behind it instead of the usual automatic...(nice to see Hoozat's modified 6 with a T5 - almost went that route).

BTW...if money/other issues were not a concern - I would have loved a 348/409