Stovebolt.com Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 283/302 small block installation

Have a possibility of replacing the 235 with an early small block, W/700R4 trans.
Who has experience with this installation?
I'm doing a cost/effort evaluation of the project. Looking for interference problems like distributor to firewall (move engine forward?), steering column, etc.
Any information would be appreciated.
The other option would be a late model 261 as a second choice.
This will be in a 51 2 ton, but most things will be the same as a smaller truck.

I have done a 1949 and am in the process of doing a 1952.
I used a motor mount kit from Chassis Engineering Inc. Item # CP-1160. $120.00
It is a well made kit with good instructions as to where to locate the mounts on AD frames to provide distributor clearance at the firewall.
I used the original rear cross member (which is bolted on and originally supported the torque tube ball) by moving it rearward until it lined up with the rear transmission mounting pad.
I cut out the middle of the center, riveted-on cross member, then fabricated lowering brackets out of plate steel to reattach the section back in 2 inches lower. I would recommend cutting the crossmember on a 90 degree angle. (My angled cuts in the photo caused the need to weld metal onto the cutout section for it to fit.)

Thanks Carl, really great information.
The 48 2 ton had no rear ctossmember to set the rear mount for the automatic on, so I made one. It is bolted to the frame so I can move it forward easily enough. The original cross member for the bell housing mounts (which go away with the automatic) just clears the trans housing/torque convertor by fractions.
I am already sure the 261 just won't be enough of a power increase. So the answer will be a 250hp 283 or 302.
I will probably have other questions, but thanks for now.

Jim, put a small block in my panel. Used the mounts from JCarter but was made by CPP and traded for a cross member. I'm running 700r4 behind the 305. As Carl mentioned the kits usually have instructions as to how far to go back, and the distance between mount holes center to center. I saved mine and can email them to you if you like.......Some places were a little close but I've had no problems and driven the panel a lot.

EDIT: Jim, I emailed you a sheet of how the mounts went in my 1/2 ton panel. May help? May not, but use as info.

If you have a 302 small block (a DZ engine # suffix) you can sell it for enough to cover your conversion---several times over.

If considering a 302, why not a 302 GMC six cylinder?
Then if so... it doesn’t take much over bore to make a 261 into a 302, and a 261 bolts in no trouble at all.

OK, sorry to muddy the field with the mention of the 302 (or the 307).
I was thinking of 225 - 250 Hp. Easily done in a 283. But not knowing the condition of the cylinders in this old block, an overbore could be required. Moving up to a 302 vs a 327 seemed more likely.

Can anyone tell me if the steering column has to be moved in a 2 ton to fit a small block? When I was looking for manifold and carb options for the 48 2 ton I found some had problems with the steering column, which I don't think they had in pickups.

Don't know about a 2 ton but the box DOES NOT have to be moved on a 1/2 ton if one uses a 265 exhaust manifold.

Thanks.
I was thinking about block hugging headers, but knowing that something stock fits is a big help.