The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 to 350 conversion

I'm contemplating putting a new crate 350 in my 62 C10 Stepside with a 235 and 3 on the tree manual transmission.

Does anybody have a good outline for this conversion with a parts list and suggestions for where to get these parts? I'm not a junk-yard scavenger. I'm more of an internet credit-card bandit :-)

What 3 speed manual do I have (original 62 1/2 ton)? Is it a popular transmission to rebuild? Will a local tranny shop know what to do with it? Can it handle 250-300 HP?

Thanks in advance
Greg in Texas

WHich one of the following most likely describes my motor?

58-62
Hydraulic Lifters, Center Mount

OR

60-62
Single Bolt Front Motor Mount

Again, thanks for any info.

A buddy of mine did a swap like yours 10 years back or so. Dropped a 350 in where a 235 used to be.......on a '62 C-30, SM-420 4 spd.
He used Ram's horn manifolds for the exhaust; which had the mounting for the Alternator (the 235 had a generator).
Motor mount was center, front. So, went to P-n-P and found a "horse-shoe" mount from another '62 Chevy truck. This bolts to the front mount bosses on a SBC and bolts down to the crossmember.......no mods, no drilling required.
The '63 and up models have the coil spring suspension and a different crossmember.........which uses side motor mounts and is drilled for either a six or a V-8.
I know, I had one.....'63 C10.........283, 4 spd.

Does this help?

A '62 truck had a 283 available as an option. I would just gather the mounts and related parts to fit it. As far as the trans., it could be one of three. A Muncie, a Warner Gear or a Saginaw (you probably have a Saginaw if I were to bet). As far as a 3 speed handling a V-8, I don't think you'll have the traction to tear one up unless you really put a load on.
Just my take on it,
Scott

I just saw one of those $1200 GM crate motors dynoed the other day, and it made 259 hp with a small Holley. That motor is a smokin deal.
Something to think about is that a "rockcrusher" will bolt up to that motor/ bell housing and you probably will not even have to change the drive shaft for length or spline. I did this to a 63 chevy shorty that I had. I put a 327 in that truck, but I used the mounts out of another truck and the 6 bellhousing.

My 2 cents ....................................Larry

I guess the 283 is the same block/configuration as a 350?

Any reccomendations for find motor mounts, bell-housings online? I'm not a very good junk-yard bandit.

Any advice on how to ID the transmission?

As far as findig the mounts, just peruse the aftermarket web sites or go to your local parts house to find what you need. On I.D.ing your 3 speed, the number is located on the rear face of the case in the upper right hand corner. The heavy duty 3 numbers are located on the left side of the case rear of the cover. I think just about any bellhousing from the late 60's thru the 70's should work with a few exceptions. The really small 3 speed has a different size pilot hole and won't fit the Saginaw. Hope this helps,
Scott

gtex,
check chevyduty.com for the motor mounts. pretty sure they've got the ones for the 283. they've got good prices on lots of other stuff too.
as for the bellhousing, see 'em pretty regularly on ebay. there's alot to look at so you've got to nail down the key words when you're doing your search. could be wrong but, I think the 230-292's have the same bellhousing as the 8's which gives you a better shot at comin' up with something.

I'm betting your three speed has 4 bolts on the side cover. That would make it a Muncie with non syncroed first gear. This was the standard three speed for trucks until 1968 behind six cylinder motors. It was around 66 or 67 that The "Saginaw" with 7 bolts on the side cover came standard behind 8 cyl motors and standard on all 1969 and later. The Muncies were built to handle the HP output of the early small blocks of the day, like the 283. I dont think I would trust it to stand up to a 259 HP crate motor.