The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 250 engine swap into a 1959 apache

Thinking about swapping a 250 into my 59 apache, currently has 261. I have the proper bell housing and know that I will need a aftermarket engine mount for the center mounts. I do know the ignition switch and starter will have to be changed and surely some other minor issues will pop up. Anyone ever done this swap and have some info? I could put a small block in it, but would rather the 6 cylinder.
Anyone have any input? Thanks.

Why take a giant leap backwards in performance from the 261? The 250 will fit the V8 front motor mount position for the 59 frame- - - -just use the OEM V8 bellhousing and starter for the conversion. You're going to miss the torque of the 261 since the 250 is designed for higher RPM operation and has a shorter stroke. Swapping to a 292 instead of a 250 would take about the same amount of effort, and that would make a lot more sense.
Jerry

The only skinny block six I've done is a 292 into a 57 1/2T. I allowed one day to mount the engine in place and hook up everything but the exhaust---big mistake because it's not a quickie swap. Have done one other old six to new six in a TF but it was the much superior 300 Ford into a 56 GMC. The owner of the GMC will have to die before he parts with his truck. One other footnote; neither one can pass a gas station.

Jerry and Evan,
Thanks for the comments, life got in the way this passed week so I haven't been here. The 261 has been in the truck and on the road for 10 yrs. I'm kind of tired of it, travel a lot on the highway and the 250 would be more highway friendly. I have an 82 chevy 1/2tn for a donor it is rusty and the 250 runs like a top only has 85,000 original miles. I don't have a 292 handy. The 250 is a couple hundred lbs. less in weight than the 261 also. Was just a passing thought as I will be removing it and getting rid of the 82 rust bucket. I have the bell housing for a small block to mount in the 59 so I could go with a small block easy. Just wondering if anyone had done a 250 in a task force truck and could comment on it.

Thanks for your input.

And there is a way to install that center mount cross member without welding or drilling a hole in the trucks original frame. Its not easy but very doable.

I just put a 68 camaro 250 into my 59 GMC 100. I fabricated an engine stand mount that uses the 68 camaro motor mounts and also fabricated a crossmember mount for the rear trans mount. Being it is a GMc and I replaced a 270 I had ample room to move the engine forward or backwards. I could have used any v8 auto trans but I elected to keep the clutch and floor pedals. I was fortunate that my placement of the engine and trans allowed me to reuse the driveshaft even after replacing the dana spicer 45 (3.07) with a 67 12 bolt rear (3.73). I will post some pics.


Being the 270 had a taller deck required making sure my 250 fan blades were in near correct position on the radiator. You may not have this issue. I do recommend changing the valve seals in your 250 unless newly rebuilt.

DLBrooks,

Thanks for responding. Your pictures are interesting, the center mount looks like 2"square tubing? The ends maybe cut in half and that would rest on the bottom frame rail?
Would you happen to know the dimension of the thru bolt on the frame and motor mount? From side to side maybe 15-18 inches? What starter will you be using the one that bolt to the block or the bell housing mount? Looks like a Doug Nash 4+3 transmission that should work well with the rear.

I have a Borg Warner world class T5 in mine with a 3.90 rear, the fifth gear makes a world of difference.

Truckrolet,

Thanks for responding. I am assuming you are talking about the after market tubular cross member? Could you elaborate on that.

Thanks for any input.

Yes on 2" and I welded a flat on the bottom of the cuts that rest on the bottom frame rail.. I used block mount starter with a 153 flywheel lopping off a bolt mount on the cast iron truck bell housing. Bolts I used are 2" grade 8 with flat and lock washers.

An after market tubular or such will work but I like free or near free if I can. I used a trans crossmember from a 75 4wd, a 2wd square body will work maybe with modification. The one in your donor would be a start. Use all from donor you can.


I kept everything high so the 4+3 competition plus shifter would only require a small as hole in trans cover as I could.


If you are retaining your trans then a sbc cast iron bellhousing with side mounts might be used with mods unless you are using a 168 tooth flywheel for bell housing mount starter.


If you are going to use the 250 block mount starter then it would need to be a 153 tooth flywheel --use everything from your donor and determine from there. You can use a cast iron bell housing - bell housing starter mount --- with a 250 block mount starter 153 tooth flywheel if you lop off the remotess bolt hole on the bell housing. You may not need to consider this at all.

If your 82 and 59 are both sticks you may have all you need.

Tommy, also do you have 6 lug front disk brakes on your 59?

DL, no I still have the drum brakes. I think about them some times but the drums work fine just have to keep them adjusted. I'm old enough to know what it's like to drive a vehicle with out disc brakes.

OK, I am putting disc on mine as I already have setup a dual master cylinder and will add a proportioning valve. I will make my own caliper mouting bracket and will trace it after completion using 78 4wd 12" rotors and 72 calipers and hoses.

That 82 250 from a pickup is an intregal intake manifold cyl. head. It is not a good setup. You will need to get a different cyl. head with a separate manifolds.
Other then that I think it will be a good swap.
George

Yes George, I have an older 230 engine that I will use the head and manifolds from if I do the swap.

Hi Tommy

I'm kinda a 250 Chevy - Six "Fan" . I really like 'em . With that being said - - - I'm running my 69 Nova with the "stock original 250 motor" ; and, had the P/G trans. Then, I went to the w/c T 5 (93 GMC S-15 version - tag # 1352 - 222 , with electric speedo) ; and, it fit very well into my Nova , using the stock (T 5) "input shaft" (14 spline input, with 21 teeth ) . here's my question ; with that 14 spline input shaft - - I used a 10 1/2" dia clutch disc in my set-up. - - - WHAT Is Your Input splines ?

Then, use a 'block mounted starter' for a 153 flywheel' ; 'a stock SBC Flywheel (153 teeth) ; and all stock clutch parts (pertaining to my car). I even used the Powerglide crossmember with a slight mod in the center (you may not need ,
because of your higher floor) .

If, your T 5 has " the 14 spline input shaft" - - - I have those 'Part numbers' .

If I can Help . . . jim

ps. - - I'm also running that "VSS electric speedo drive with my stock Mech. speedo dash . Works great !

Hey Jim, My world class t-5 was from a Camaro and had a fine spline input shaft. I don't remember the spline count maybe 21? Right now I have a s-10 trans in the truck with a 14 spline input shaft, used the original clutch disk from the 59 truck.

Tommy

I also had the original S 15 clutch disc (was about 9 & 1/8" dia) but the disc I used was from 'SUMMIT : for a V 8 up-grade into an S-10 truck. Summit Part # ADD - 716104 (1" dia 'input shaft with 14 spline" - 10 1/2" dia).

The Camaro T 5 maybe like 26 spline count . . . just FYI.

Then, the "10 spline Jeep T 5 input shaft (that "Luntznuts65" ) talks about on his T5 Page . . Summit also has those (or on E-BAY) part # is 1351085008 R - - - I bought mine from Summit for $ 36.00. - - but, at that time did - not use it

Sometimes the Part Numbers are hard to FIND .

I'm just talking . . . jim

Jim yep I new the spline count was in the twenties, that trans is a world class out of a camaro. I did do the jeep input swap on another t-5 just haven't used it yet.
I also have one from an Astro van, with a 3.50 first gear. It has an input shaft that is the right length, no cutting, or grinding. The trans has the ford bolt pattern, so I had to get the bell housing off of the Astro van, it was on a 4.3 engine so it will bolt up to just about any chevy block after 1963.