The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop v8 conversion for my 59 will it fit?

I am putting together the parts to put a v8 in my 59 and wonder if a later model HEI will fit? Is there room with out modifying the firewall? And I am using the stock bellhousing and wonder if a bolt to block starter will fit with that bellhousing. Looks like it will be a late 70s motor and I would like to use the stock front motor mounts. A235 is coming out so probably everything will have to be replaced. Anything else I should look at?

Do a search here...you'll find hours of reading...

You'll need to get a V8 truck bell housing, V8 throttle linkage and you'll need to make sure your late 70's engine has the front motor mount bracket holes drilled and tapped...I think Chevrolet stopped drilling then in the early 70's, but I could be wrong. The Rams Horn cast iron exhaust manifolds work great. You'll need to find or make a fan shroud, the 6-cylinder one will be to short.

I think that covers the major stuff...

Mike B

Yes it will fit, they came with V8's. I would not dwell on the front motor mounts. Universal side mount cross members are available. Buy a motor with a bell housing, clutch (or auto), trans from a running vehicle and get all the linkages and all drivetrain parts. I usually buy a donor vehicle and sell the body and frame after using lots of stuff including drive shaft and differential sometimes. I've put SBC and BBC in TF. With HEI. Manual and auto. You Need to mock up the whole drive train. No firewall mod necessary. There are headers that fit also, as well as Ram Horns. It's a fun project if the body is off.

What do you mean "later model HEI"? Do you just mean HEI? Not ECM/PCM, right? GM HEI's fit most Chevy V8's. You only need 1/2 inch clearance to firewall and be sure Dizzy cap lifts off.

If you are going to use the stock front mounts and the stock type bellhousing with the mount pads on the cross member a Large Cap HEI will not clear the firewall without some serious modification. (Such as a BFH). The stock type bellhousing uses the 3 bolt starter. I have seen some that use the block mounted starter by removing part of the lower starter mount area on the bellhousing.
Fred

Thanks for the ideas.I am hoping to keep the old sm420 trans. I located the v8 bellhousing with a clutch and fly wheel. Looked at the motor today and it appears to be a 69 350 . the front is drilled for the mounts.The cab is at the body shop so I will have room to set this up without space issues. I liked the hei because there was one in the leftover parts locker. But the body guy has done a nice job on the firewall that a BFH mod is out of the question. Scrounged some rams horn headers .

1969 350 had 4 versions. Two were very high HP.

What bell housing do you have ? The 68 and after will not work with the 420.

Now you know just one of a dozen reasons I buy "all together" running, driving, drive train. Searching for all those various parts, cost more, takes time and mistakes are made. No adapters, no screwing around and ready to mock up right away.

I looked up the block casting and the # on the front pad. looks like a 300 hp 350. Head marks look like that also. hope to get it home tomorrow if the weather holds. will ck the head casting #. I have not had much luck finding a driver /doner in this area and am on a fixed income. Buy my buddy works at pick and pay and a walk in the fla sun is always fun.

Understood. Any pre 1973 Chevy V8 is money.

I have an early (60's) V8 bell housing that bolts up to the SM420 and is set up for the mechanical clutch linkage. This was in my '62 C10 when I bought it, but the engine had been updated to a '67 250 straight six, same pattern as the SBC. I converted the truck back to the factory hydraulic clutch when I put the 327 in so I had to swap out the bell housing for the hydraulic set up.

I don't remember the casting number on the spare bell housing, but I'll look at it in the morning and post it for you.

The bellhousing I have is 8815891,came out of a 56 cameo with a 327/3spd overdrive.Tried to get the package but the eng went quick, I also found a 3738365 which is suppose to fit but has 2 holes drilled in the pad.

Here are photos of the bell housing I have, Casting number is 3738373.

It has the 2 mounts on the bottom of the bell housing for the cross member mounts. Also, the transmission mounts are correct for the SM420, top 2 holes are threaded, bottom 2 holes are pass through holes and the bolts thread into the transmission. Block bolt pattern matches the SBC V8's and later straight sixes (230/250), and possibly 292? This bell housing uses the mechanical clutch linkage from the driver side.

I looked at the housings and the 3738365 has two holes in the pad where the bellhousing sits on the crossmember and all four holes for the trans are taped. someone said this was for a v8 in a pass car not truck. the 8815891 has a single hole where the cover sits on the crossmember and the lower trans mount holes are passthru. . that's the one I plan to use. hope to get the engine tomorrow and check the casting # to see what I got.

Your "someone" was correct, the cars use two small bolts on each side mount and trucks had one large bolt...sounds like you have what you need!

Also, they make small cap HEI distributors that look stock...check with Summit, Speedway or Jegs...I think mine is made by MSD.

Mike B

Well I got the engine home,the block casting # 3932388 this looks like a 69 350 . The clock on the back points to 6 and 19-8 is below it . is that the date code. on the pad in front shows IIHV. It has a small damper pully.Will check the head castings also. any ideas on how to see if its a 2 or 4 bolt crank. once on the engine stand I can pull the pan.
Looked at the heads 333882 with a triangle cast mark camaro guys say 74-82 76cc heads may be 194 but could be 182 has a cast qj intake with egr valve so I wonder if the top end has been swapped.
also has a cast aluminum oil pan and timing chain cover. more to wonder about.

I just recently traded for a 69 350. It too is the 300hp version per the block codes. The stamped block codes in front of the passenger side head and on the rear where the tranny/bellhousing bolts will tell you it's manuf date, plant and what vehicle series it came in.

re. 2 or 4 bolt. Theres only one sure fire way to know, you gotta drop the pan. You could try to run a scope up the oil drain but if it has an oil deflector/baffle that'll not help. Since my engine runs good and doesn't show any leaks that mystery will have to wait.

I mentioned the small diameter Dizzy in my post. Looked up MSD, remote coil, small diameter cap, at Jegs/Summit and saw they were for 87-95??? So I took it out.

I thought I had seen a small dist on one of the sites but searched last nite and nothing I think I will follow Volfandt's advise and leave the mystery till later. Thanks for all the info I am armed with enough info to be dangerous . Will up when it lives. Enjoy the holiday.

Here's what I used...I guess it's really not a true HEI, but it is pointless...

https://www.msdperformance.com/prod...uQ6iKlXxjwZnsvipYV00ZrZQA8UaAgr0EALw_wcB

Mike B