The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 350 V8 and TH350 tranny in a 63 HELP!!!!

Ok, so this is my first venture into "classic" vehicles, so please bear with me. I just picked up a 1963 Chevy truck. It is a long bed stepside. Now, it has no motor, but does have a 4 speed manual on the floor. :rolleyes:

Here is my plan:

Drop a hot 350 V8 in it, and mate it to a TH375 (inside it is a 400, but it has the output shafts of a 350).

:confused: What forseeable problems am I going to have? Any issues with this tranny mated with the stock rear end?
:confused: Any help would be great. Thank you all so much, I plan on using this site as a reference for this project.

You may be able to use motor mounts for a V8 if it was an option for your truck. You may have to look at the location of steering box, brake booster, pedal linkages or front suspension components to make it clear the 350. Some massaging of firewall and tranny tunnel may be needed. You may also have to use V8 springs & rebuild front suspension to hold the motor weight up. Dont know about the tranny X-member, you might could use one for the tranny in a similar chassis, or weld up a custom x-member unit, drill the holes in the frame and bolt it in. You'll have to do that, then measure for a custom driveshaft.
Definitly rebuilt the rear axle, as a hot V8 can bust a 40 year old rear quicklike. You can change gears at the same time. You may also want to look at using an OD tranny like a 700-R4 for an extra gear. You'll have to add an auto floor shifter, or change the column out for a column-shift automatic. Engine gauges in dash for oil pressure, temp, alternator may need to be rebuilt or modified to work with a later model engine and retain stock appearance.
Post some pics! We like pics!

welcome to ze board

chip

Teknick- Welcome to the 'Bolt!
You have exactly what I have, except with out the motor, but that may soon change. I have a t350 behind a 250-6 right now and am seriously considering changing to a 350 since I doubt my 283 will ever get rebuilt. The small block was an option in that year so the 350 will bolt in. Many have done it. The key thing seems to be the clearance at the firewall, it may be a bit tight for the dist.
On the tranny end of things you will have to take out the front crossmember, the one holding the 4 speed so you can get the auto in place. Best is to grind out the rivets so you can replace the crossmember later. Do the same with the one at the back that has the e-brake stuff on it. You will then have to weld on a mount for the tranny. E-mail me and I'll send you a pic of what I did. Everything then will fit back in place at that end. The output shaft on the trans will be fine splined, while the 4 speed should have more course splines. You'll have to swap that short little piece on the front of the driveshaft for one with the proper splines to fit. Not a biggy.
As for the rear-end. It depends. I have to double check my rear ratio, but I think it's 4-11 or so. With a 350, or any 8, you'll be a rocket off the line, but hiway milage, more than speed will be the downfall. If your truck previously had a 283 you may have better hiway gears. Someone here would know the ratio better. If it came with the 230 6 it's probably like mine and lower geared. I expect the 235's on the back of my truck won't last long if I go ahead with the 350 swap. Getting traction in the wet can be a problem even now!
Good luck with the project.
BTW- '63 was the last year with the 'kneebuster' cab (wraparound windshield) and it has a unique grill, round headlight bezels. And Fleetsides are MUCH better looking than stepsides!!

thanks for that info. I am planning on rebuilding the rear end. What gears would you recommend? I want a good balance of off-the-line and hiway (65-70). Also, maybe a posi unit would be a nice choice?

I have that basic setup in my '65. Mine is a 3/4 ton though. It has a 307 V8, TH350, and original rearend with 4.11 gears. I am running 31" tires to help keep rpm's down a little, but higher gears would definitely would be an advantage. I get approximately 12 miles per gallon with my setup. I know it could do better than that, but right now I don't have the money to do the things that need to be done. When I can finally afford to start rebuilding the truck I am planning on getting a rearend with 3.50 to 3.73 gears or somewhere in that area. Otherwise you will be very happy with the V8 and auto tranny.

Aaron

Since you're going with an auto tranny you might as well go ahead and get the 700R4. Though it usually costs a little more to build, it's usually not much more work to install than the TH350 or TH400.

You'll kill 2 birds with one "install"

Ftylers right. If you're doing a swap anyway go for the OD. Then use 4.11-3.55 gears and you'll have grunt and cruising speed too. The 700R4 is a good unit & properly prepared can take the power of a hot street 350. Heck they were used in stock trucks with big engines for years.

If using the TH-375, check into it, because there was a 375 and 375B which are different internally.

good luck

chip