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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,014 Posts1,055,327 Members48,419 | | Most Online14,466
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| | | | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 12 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 12 | hi,
ive got a 1955 chevy 2nd series. i would like to replace the I6 with a 350. where would you recomend locating one at a reasonably cheap price? what transmission would you recomend? (perferably with overdrive). also does anyone know if i any other rear ends from more modern vehicles fit? what gearing should i look for for both speed and highway driving? thanks for the advice, i appreciate it.
clark | | | | | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 328 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2003 Posts: 328 | For engine, transmission, and maybe rear end, the most cost effective thing to do is to buy a running truck or car that is beat up. I have found that it is cheaper to buy a running vehicle and strip the usable parts off of it than to buy all of the parts seperate.
Phil
Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine and into your brain...that is where crappy ideas come from.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,554 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,554 | The idea of buying a running vehicle with a 350 engine sounds like a good one,course you could always buy a GM crate engine,but that would be quite costly.Probably a couple grand.I have a 700R4 in my 55 2nd series and really like it.I am still running the 3:90 stock rear.A small Chevy Blazer rear should fit right in,but measure it first.3:73 gearing should work real nice with the 700R4 I am planning on switching rearends in mine in the near future. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,067 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,067 | Yeah, the 3.73 would almost make 1st gear a granny gear in the 700R4, and downshifts on the highway would really buzz the engine. I wouldn't go any steeper than a 3.73.
I have a 700R4 in my IROC Camaro with a 3.42 rear end and that's about perfect for a street car. I cruise at high speed at around 2000 rpm and it has plenty of get up and go in first gear to make a 3200 pound car feel light. So you could even go taller in your gearing.
Perhaps you can emulate that with taller tires on your 3.73. Or put the short tires on it and have one helluva quick little truck.
52 GMC 3/4 ton pickup
68 Big Block Vette
68 455 Firebird
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 66 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 66 | Here's a link with lots of information about rear end,and suspension dimensions that may be of interest. CLICK HERE
Joe - (Buckeye Bowtie)
"Remember it takes about 2850 bolts to built a Chevy Truck and only 1 NUT to scatter them all over the highway"
1950 3100
1971 C-10
1939 Buick Century
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,554 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,554 | I decided to stay with the stock rear,3.90 gears.I am having the axles and drums plugged and redrilled for 5 bolt Chevy car wheels.5X 4 3/4 pattern.The 3.90 gears work great with a 350 engine and 700R4 tranny.Good performance and 20 MPG. | | |
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