The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk My plans for my 57 3100

I have a 57 3100 that is running and licensed, it currently has a 327 with the old GM truck 3 speed. I also have an 87 chevy van that only has 86k miles on it. It has a nice 350 and the 700 R4 auto tranny, tilt steering, etc... I plan to use the van as my donor. I want to use as many things as I can from the van (Master brake cylinder and power brake parts, whatever else). The van of course has the computer controlled emissions crap on it so how can I make the 350 work in my 57? Do I have to change the intake manifold and carb or can I just remove it from the van and put it in the 57 with all the emissions stuff removed? I havent swapped a motor since the early 70's.....back then we didnt have to be concerned with emissions and computers. I have a 73 Buick Gransport posi rearend (3.03 ratio)that I want to install, I also have a front clip from a 78 camaro but I want to do that job after everything else.

Certainly sounds intense. The easiest way to stuff that motor in is of course to drag the electronics with it. However, a 350 is a 350 more or less so you could change the whole induction system back to something out of the 70s. bow tie overdrives makes a harness to use the 700r4's lockup torque converter. About to do one on my 72.

Does the van have carb. or fuel injection? The change was made right around that era. :confused:

What year is the 327? I didn't think the 327 came out until '62. You said the truck is in running condition, why do you want to get rid of the 327? If I were puting the 350 in, I'd get an Edelbrock intake and 600cfm carb w/electric choke. Makes a nice clean set-up. (unless you are putting a throttle body or something on)

And another one bites the dust.

whaddaya mean another one bites the dust? The 327 is of course not original but its what is in the truck. I wouldnt mind keeping the 327 in there and just putting the 700R4 behind it, but I thought since I have the 350 why not. I havent even checked to see if it is fuel injected or not, I'll open the hood today and have a looksee. I dont know much about lockup torque converters, I dont remember having those back in the 70's. I am reserved about the front clip grafting because I see so many of these trucks with the front clip conversion and really would like to see more straight axles out there with disc brakes and power steering. I realize they handle better with the camaro clip but I dont plan on doing any rally races, I just want to cruise the strip on a saturday night with my honeybunch.

I used to go to Langley speedway a lot to watch the oval raceing and the 327's usually were faster than the 350,s .So it depends what you want.I've taken motors out of newer cars('80) and switched over the battle ships and shed all the emision junk just cause I like the cleaner look.It worked well for me. Every thin lines up and fits easy.
Lothar

no gain by changing to a 350 for a 'hobby driver', and not nearly as much cool factor as the 327 - I'd vote for keepin the 327, onea my 2 favs, and a buddy of mine up here put front disks and power steering on his 56 panel straight axle w/ no problems - no need to subframe

Bill

what I like best about keeping the straight axle is the engine sits up nice and high and it keeps things light in the front end. I think thats what I'll do, I'll just hide the front clip behind the garage just in case. So if I keep the 327 and mate it up with the 700R4, what is this lockup torque converter business? and what about the electronic speedo/mechanical speedo fiasco? Is there such a thing as a stupid question when it comes to putting new life in an old truck?

As far as your speedo is concerned you can buy some autometer gauges that are electronic. The speedo kit comes with a special sending unit that goes right into the transmisson where the original mechanical speedo cable went. All you have to do after its running again is set up a mile marker then hit the button on the speedo then drive one mile stop then hit the button again then your speedo is calibrated. Thats the good thing about the electronic speedos their work in any car or truck. They have aluminum insterts that fit right into your gauge cluster bezel. Of course if you want to keep the original guages then they have adapters for the 700R for mechanical.