The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Loaded question!!

Hi Everyone, I'm a new guy to this forum as well as Chevy trucks in general. I've only owned mopar pruducts up to this points. My first car was a "civilinized" police car that was 1980 Dodge St Regis. She had a 360 with a thermoquad carb on her. My second car was 1965 Plymouth Barracuda with the 273 v8 2b. carb. I'm now the proud owner of my current project a 1960 k10.
Now over the years I've become somewhat acquainted with the pro's and con's of many of the mopar engines in regards to performance, efficiency, reliability, etc. However, I'm starting out totally new in regards to Chevy's.
My Dad had the truck before me and pulled the 235 out of it and put in a 400 v8.
She has the standard corporate 4-11 diffs. She has HUGE 35x12.5 tires. Her top speed is about 60 miles per hour, but that doesn't matter to me as her purpose will be what she was originally manufactured to be.
Now to my loaded question. I say it's loaded because as I read the forums I see a lot of guys who love the stock 6's that came with the trucks and then there are those that love the v8's, but here we go.

What is the best Chevy engine to put in this truck for the purposes of hauling, torque, pulling, and general all around oomph? What is the history in regards to reliability of various Chevy engines? I hear alot about the 350. What are your thoughts?

[img]http://www.ThePixPlace.com/is17880.jpg[/img]

If you can keep it cool, (and that's a big IF) your 400 smallblock will out-torque a 350. The 400 has a 3 3/4" stroke, as opposed to the 350's 3.48" stroke. It also has a 4 1/8" bore, bigger than the 350's 4" bore. Be sure to use the biggest radiator that will fit, and keep it clean. A 7-blade flex fan and a good shroud should be included, and if you're running an automatic transmission, use a big cooler on it, also. The 400's worst enemy is heat that cracks cylinder heads and causes pistons to tighten up and score.
Jerry

That new 572 big block crate motor is probably going to provide the most power and all-around torque.

The 388 stroker small block might be the easier and more versitile swap.

You probably want to think through what you're willing to spend on the motor, and how much you'll have available to replace broken drive train parts.

If your requirements statement had been cheap and reliable I'd have suggested the 350.

I have had good luck with the 350s,both my 55 and 72 pickups have late 70s 350 truck motors,4 bolt mains.Just my 2 cents worth.

Seems to me that you answered your own question. If it was originally a 235 then put one back in it.

Jerry, I'll take to heart what you are saying about the engine running hot. It has always run hot, but I attributed that to the fact that my Dad told me the heat sender unit on the head is off of a 350. I just bought the correct one (right amperage for the guage and such) and will install it when I drain the radiator to install my new heat shutoff valve to my heater core. I'll see how hot it runs then. I do know that my Dad had the original 2 core radiator rebuilt into a 4 core. There is currently a five blade fan on it with a deep pitch to the blades. I'll look into the 7 blade. Thanks

I'm running a 454 in my 63 4X4. There isn't anything that truck can't pull, except away from a gas station,
Scott

Whoops, the picture of my truck disappeared, Here she is again.

From my gallery page

Shane -- Sorry that I missed the pix on your gallery page. Got it up there now, so it won't disappear from the other web address. So I fixed it here on this link since this image is a better size.

Peg