The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 54' 4400 drivetrain options

My wonderful find of a running 4400 is now not so wonderful. While taking everything off the engine to detail and paint I found wasp nests in the valve train and oil pan, and then after pulling the exhaust and intake found a nice long crack in the block. No wonder I was loosing coolant. Every book or resource I've read implies that these blocks are "easy to find,a dime a dozen" yet I find that not only is a 235 block hard to find but rediculously expensive to rebuild. Since the motor is gone and I have no fear of custom engine/tranny mounts. What would be a good junkyard vehicle to scavenge a v8 and driveline components from. I do intend to use this truck on a daily basis, so even the diff has to go. Ideally I'd also find someone who needs everything that's going to be left over.

My own experience is that 235's are hard to give away...

If you go V-8 you will also need to address steering interference. Exhaust manifold will be right up next to the steering box. If converting to power steering is part of your plan, its not a big deal, you can take care of the problem at the same time.

Another option to consider is a 292 six. You have some of the same issues you'd ahve with a V-8, but steering, which I think is the most serious, won't be one of them.

I looked at a 6400 over the weekend that has a 350 chevy in it. The swap was ugly. If you do a V-8 swap spend a lot of time here asking questions. It can be done so it works.

I just put a 292 in a 6100 and it was relatively easy. The 292 with just a little attention will give performance equal to a 350 V8. I have great power and I get better gas mileage. For more performance I would raise the compression ratio a little, go with a bigger cam and a four barrel carburetor with headers.

My volvo experience has made me make a few custom headers so that won't be problem, however I am probably going to go with power steering in the process. I'd like to go with as new an engine as possible that's still smog exempt, i.e. 74 or earlier. This truck is going all the way down to the frame to clean it up and give me easy access. I also have in my spares collection an electric fan and water pump to give me more working room. I'm trying to find a combination that I could reasonably find in a junkyard car that could be rebuilt very cheaply. I realize I'm going to need a custom driveshaft at somepoint and some machining is going to be involved to transplant a highway friendly rear end and yet keep the huge dually wheels. I will however keep my eyes out for a 292 it might be an faster route.

Wow! It's like someone is reading my mind. I've been pondering the same thing for the last year or so. My 54/4400 is a pretty good smoker.

First, thought was to find running 235 and do a weekend swap so I could put some miles on this "new to me" truck. Running 235/261's are pretty scarce around here.

Second,I also have a great donor truck that has to go, but has good drive line. 1972 c/40 with 292/4-speed/2-speed rear.

Third, A friend called a couple months ago and tells me I can have that 454/auto. in the old town ambulance if I want to pull it out. Its a 1977 454 with 30,000 miles. I drove it a few miles before we yanked it and its a good one.

So I have some choices but hate to lose that foot starter.

I know their are some opinons out there, lets hear them. thanks to all and I hope this helps phantom2012 also.

I don't post alot, but I'm always reading. Love the Big Bolts!

The foot starter bolts to the bellhousing, and any opton that uses a V-8 type bellhousing, in other words any V-8, and the 200/230/250/292 sixes, will mean you no longer have mounting pads for the foot starter.

But why not take the foot pedal and use it to operate a switch that then operates the seleniod on the later starter? It will require a little engineering, but shouldn't be too difficult.

Hey JD49,

Sounds like you have the perfect donor with the '72. The engine and trans should slip right in and the 2-speed rear should give you hi-way speeds and great pulling power.

bet the rear gear ratio is not much difrence in the 72 than your old truck

I there a master list of rear end information out there, like a book or web site. I'm hoping one exists that would allow me with not too much fiddling to find a couple of junkyard axles and have some flexiblity in rear end ratios.
I just read timmer's posting of using a dana 70 rear end which sounds like it's the closest option to perfect for me.
I just got donated to me a dodge 4x4 which has a 360 engine and dana 60 rear end. All the hot rod magazines show the dana 60 able to handle lots of power. I might follow timmer's example only with a bigger motor.
I'm going to be repairing vehicles full time soon and will be using my chevy as either a car carrier or tow vehicle.
I'm taking the shell off, but leaving the engine and drive train in. Then I'm measuring everything I can think of front to back. I'm putting this into a freebie cad program and printing out a diagram of all the critical dimensions. That way when I find engine x and tranny y, I'll know early it won't fit or will with minor adjustments.
I really don't like the look of poorly done conversions and although I never intend to take this truck to shows(unless it's towing) I want this to look right.

Another rear end thought. I picked up a 52 Chev 5000
that the guy swapped a rearend out of a school bus to get better highway speed. It's a parts truck for me as a buddy got the 292 and tranny for one of his big bolts..I put a 4spd o.d. brownie in my 49 4400 as I learned to drive with 2 trannies and enjoy it..
The school bus rearend uses the same axles and wheels so would look stock although a single speed rear...

Geoff
49 Chev 4400
59 Apache 32
52 GMC 350 fb dump (waiting it's turn)

I'm looking to do the same as phantom but as a dump/tow vehicle with my 54 6400.What are good swaps for the power steering box? Has any one tried a 5 speed w/ OD and use the stock rear?