The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Installing a 1961 235 motor in a 1953 series 6400

I have almost finished rebuilding a 235 motor with a serial number that indicates it was built in august of 1961. I want to put it in a 1953 6400 series 2 ton truck. I have a set of rear motor mounts that I ordered from Jim Carter which look just like the mounts that came off the 1953 with a different motor. I didn't take the old motor out of the truck, so I don't know how they fit. I have turned them every way I can think of, and I don't know how they fit that motor. Do I need different mounts? If the 1961 motor won't fit in my truck, I have just spent a lot of money rebuilding a motor I can't use. Help. Allen

Chevy changed the design of the rear motor mounts in '54, along with the rear engine mount frame crossmember and the bell housing (the mounts attach to the bell housing, not the engine). You can use the later engine in your '53 if you use a bell housing from a '48-'53 truck.

Xram53. Thanks for the information. I was sure someone out there would have the answer. Does anyone have more to add? Allen

You'll have to shorten the shaft on your waterpump and get another pulley. A 292 Ford, among others, works. The pulley from a '53 motor is too small and will turn the pump too fast, causing overheating.

Many of the vendors sell the shortened pumps at exorbitant prices but you can do it yourself with a press and cut-off tool.

Cletus: What's a ford 292? When I go to the local junk yard, I would like to have more info. Is it a 6 or 8 cylinder. What years did Ford use this motor? Sorry to be so dense? Allen

The 272/292/312 Ford V8 was used in the '50s. It may be hard to find in a local junk yard. But don't dispair. That's not the only thing that will work. The bolt pattern is pretty standard. You need a pulley about 2" tall and 6" to 7" in diameter. There are more recent ones out there, I just don't know what to look on.

At swap meets there's usually someone who has a whole mess of pulleys to choose from.

I was reading several posts and now I find out how to do what I already did when putting a '61' 235ci into 48 Chevy 3t Dump. I had to change the bell housing back to the original. Changed the flywheel to a 6 bolt pressure plat pattern because the 8 bolt was too costly. The foot starter gear would only match up to the old flywheel which had 39 less teeth . I found out the starter would not engage after the motor was installed so I had to pull the motor and put the old flywheel in with a new clutch disc and the expensive pressure plate. And I went to put in the radiator and had to cut of the water pump shaft and press the collar closer to the pump. I used a 2 inch deep pully off a older 350 ci which some are the same diameter as the original '61'. After a couple of changes in the accelerater linkage length I was on the road.

As long as you keep everything from flywheel, starter, bellhousing back you won't have any trouble. I'm running a 1961 six in my old 46 and even kept the foot starter, no sweat. I'd even keep the original style water pump, possible by using an adaptor plate, available on ebay, that allows the old pump to mount to the late block. This is important as you want your fan up on the radiator vs down to low by shortening the shaft etc.

Glad to find this post!My boy and I found out we are going to have to do this to our 49 2ton 6400.
So,anymore info our tips,send em to us.Thanks

Does your 53 have a single mount in the front? You may need to use an old style back timing gear plate to accomodate the single mount. I think you can drill holes in your existing plate and file them square for the (2) carriage bolts as an alternative to find an old style. This needs to go on before your timing gears. I can send a pic if needed, I've got one sitting on the engine stand today.