The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Easy/Cheap Horsepower

wow thanks for all the info. this is really confusing cause all you guys have different views about the subject, but there certainly is plenty of info to make my decision. can you guys explain the work involved with changing the rear gears?

O.K. I tried to stay out of it but can't anymore. 1st thing, like someone else said and I am sure you will agree, get the truck road worthy and safe.Period.
Next I would just add a small 4bbl carb and intake, leave the exhaust alone, I think you are covered there for now. I would add a pertronix electronic ignition ( wont win a race but reliability for sure). Most important point we all ( I think) want to make to you is ENJOY your truck, do little things as you go, save or plan for the larger things. I have had my 65 SWB for 16 years and went from a non running(blown 230ci) to what I have now. 3274BBl, 400 trans, PWR disc brakes,A/C, this truck is exactly what I wanted when I first started but couldn't afford. So, with all that said, enjoy your truck, use others as your idea men and then make your own mind up as to what you want your truck to be.

This is one of the best sites for instructions on swapping rear ends (center sections and gears):
http://www.2quicknovas.com/happyrearends.html

It's not a job I'd recommend for a novice.

I have transplanted 455 olds engines into 2 old stove bolts a 63 chevy and 66 GMC using 1970 olds big car (delta 88/98 )motor mounts you need to enlarge the holes in the frame pads to bolt it right in then fabricate a cross member for what ever tranny you have.you can pick up a big oldsmobile boat cheap and most of them will have a 400 turbo tranny.these motors make upwards of 500 pnd/ft of torque and are capable of 18to19 mpg with the stock Qjet carb.73to77 cutlass headers will fit with minimum modification.stick a 750 Holley on top and you got a tire frying hot rod.

I guess Hot Rod Dad doesn't know a lot about 6 cyls. The 235 is completely different from the 194 - 230 - 250, and the 292 is different from them with the 6" side cover plates. I'm in the Inliners club and we specialize in 6 cyl. engines as well as all other inliners. I know smallblocks too, having a couple 400 smallblocks, good for about 450 ft.lbs. torque, and 400 to 500 H.P. in very streeetable trim.

You're right. I don't know enough about stovebolts to tell which generation is which. In fact, I, like MOST people, wouldn't be able to tell which stovebolt a person has. So what are you insinuating? This is literally the first stovebolt vehicle I have ever owned, and finding technical information on them is not easy. That's why I joined this site, which is not without its snobs as I'm discovering.

Tell you what, since you're so darn knowledgeable, I would appreciate it if you recommend a good book I could go buy to learn more about the stovebolts and their history, along with how to tell them apart.

:confused:

I am much more knowledgeable about V8's.
575 lb-ft, 485 hp Pontiac 465 cube 455. Drag racer '68 Firebird.
609 lb-ft, 629 hp Chevy 433 cube 427. Open road racer '68 Corvette.
405 lb-ft, 345 hp Chevy 355 cube TPI 350. Sleeper IROC-Z daily driver (when I'm not driving my '52 Jimmy).

Insults aside, and to go back to the point I was making, I challenge anyone to be able to take one glance at a SBC and tell if it's a "pedestrian 350". With almost no external differences, almost all small block Chevy's looked alike.
Can YOU tell the difference between a 327 and a 350 just at first glance?

I'm waiting for that stovebolt book recommendation. I'll go out and buy it tomorrow!

Hot rod dad. No need to get insulting, not knowing about some subject is no crime, everyone is not a fountain of knowledge on all subjects. I happen to have a lot of experience with 6 cyl. engines, no reflection on your lack in that area. I also have done a lot of drag racing, had a 11 second El Camino in 1972 running a 400 smallblock before hardly anybody knew about them. As to 350's there is no distinguishing marks on the outside, but the 400's are easily picked out due to 3 sand casting holes on each side. There are many books on Chev history you might want to go to VCCA.org for the restorers view of Chevys from 1911 to 1972. Be cool hot rod dad, we're all friends here, only want to help each other when we can.

Dad, don't paint us all w/ the broad brush!!
if you're looking for info about the 216/235 6's, there are few books [none current I know of] specifically aimed at them, but Peg\'s lit list is a good start to find something that'd be useful for ya - Brownell's and Gunnell's history books are both good for general info on the old trucks

there's lots of info on the net, especially here, where lots of us enjoy passing on our knowledge [ocassionally w/ some attitude] and yes, also the the inliner site , and the vintage Chevy club can be useful - and here\'s a little history on the "real" stovebolt 6, before it got confused w/ all the later CI 6's

Bill

Thanks very much for the book recommendations.
Chevman, I was the one who felt insulted by your comment that I don't know as much about sixes as I apparently come across. At least that's how I took it.

I joined this site in an effort to LEARN more about this family of engines that I know so little about. But I too get turned off by attitude.

Anyway thanks for the comment.
I'll be cool if others be cool.