The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Newbie here- V8 and 5spd? S10 frame? Swinger site?

Hi folks. Brand new feller here. I've just picked up a '39 pickup truck. It's rusty as all get out, but It's got potenial. The drive train is gonna hafta go, cause the motor is DOA. I'm thinkin' a 302 V8 (chevy of course)with a 5 speed behind it, and the appropriate stuff behind. What's it take for this? Also, what's with the rumor that an S10 frame/suspension will slide right under and give you a factory base for the previously mentioned drive train? I tried a search on this site (stovebolt only) and ended up with swinger sites?! I'm doin' something wrong! -Thanks!!

Welcome to the Stovebolt.

Foregive me for responding with attitude, but the first thing it takes is a 302, 5-speed and the appropriate stuff to go behind...

On a more serious note, if you are choosing a Chevy 302 and 5-speed that suggests a high revving performance approach. So you want a lower geared rear and running gear strong enough to support some serioius speed?

A frame swap will never be as easy as slide right under, but the S-10 is probably as close as you will get. You don't say what model truck yours is, so I don't know wheelbase. S-10s come in three or four different lengths. Changing the length of the S-10 or perhaps of the pickup bed, are both ways to can deal with a difference, but that's different than just slide in.

Tell us a little more about what you want to accomplish and maybe others will share more ideas.

Will a 302 fit in a '39?

I am correct in thinking that that's a big block, right?

I'm not trying to discourage the idea (because it'd make a sweet hotrod), but I'm not sure it'll fit in the engine compartment.

Truckedup put a 302 in a '39-ish Chebby...

Thanks for the response folks. What I have is a short bed step side 1939 pickup in ruff shape. I know the better the body, the easier the job, but bucks prevail. It was cheap. Along with this pickup I got a 1939 1 1/2 ton flat bed parts truck. The parts truck don't look no ruffer than the pickup, so we'll be doing that one too later. I'm not looking at all for speed or racing or any of that. I just want a truck that looks original, but is a little more up to date otherwise. The 302 (small block) came about because I have a 283 block that needs cleaning up, so I thought about a 302. I've never had one before. I also have at my disposal (laying around the neighborhood) 2 S10's. Long bed and short bed versions. The long bed had the big V6 in it. The short bed has the 5 speed set up. See where I'm going here? Put them all in a bag, shakem' up and there you have it. It's that easy, ain't it? Ya know, "It's shake and bake! And I hailpt!" Seriously, I've read of the "weak" 6 and it's low top speed, so I thought I'd put together a version to drive to shows and such. If I want to race, I've got 2 corvettes sitting in the garage. I'm seriously thinking of throwing them over for these trucks and you folks. Better company. I just wondered if the S10 is a viable option, or "update" as much of the original as needed. Thanks again for all your help. Ya seem like real good folk.

D-Tape,

A 302 should drop into your 39. You probably know, but GMC made a 302 straight 6, so when you start talking 302...some folks think your talking a 6. I love the 302 V8...along with a 5 speed and a "modern" rear end, you should have quite the truck. If I were you, I would keep the 39 frame and mount the V-8 in it. Why? Because I don't have the patience to fit the cab mounts and everything else on an S-10. New spring perches on a modern rear end has the rear taken care of. There are V-8 engine mount kits around for reasonable if you want to keep the front leaf springs.

With all of that HP, I would change out the brakes as well and go to discs...A mustang II front end might serve you well too. There is lots of info on here ref. front end swaps...but as with everything regarding these old trucks...it's all in what you want to spend and how much work you want to do.

Actually, I forgot about the 302 6cyl. Where do you get one of those V8 engine mount kits? The thing that worries me about keeping the front suspension the same is the lack of power steering. I haven't seen anything to remedy that. The wife will need it. I get skeered of the search feature. That's how I got the swinger site!

howdee ductape...
there is a streetrod site (H.A.M.B.) that deals with vintage styled street rods... i was looking through their archives yesterday and a came upon a couple of guys who were specializing in the early chevy/s10 idea... they had built several real nice trucks and furnished pics and quite a bit of info on their work including which frame to use and why they use them... i'm working on a '35 chevy pickup but i plan to keep my stock frame and straight front axle... i'll be using a 350 w/tripower and a 4 speed... good luck with your project... it sounds neat... bill w.

Whoops...I was thinking of the 302 GMC engine. I didn't know GM ever made a 302 V8 - I knew they made 305s...

Welcom Mr. Ductape,
I'm trying to picture the 39. I have a 46 1 ton panel that required lengthening of the S10 longbed frame. I bought the 46 as a rough project that the previous owner started with a '78 full size 3/4 ton chev C/K frame. The full size frame's tires stuck out too far for my tastes, so I went to the S10. Using an inexpensive S10 donor, one fairly big swap nets you much newer tech brakes, steering, suspension, etc. And the aftermarket support for S10s is very strong. The 46 is narrow at the front of the engine bay when compared to later trucks. The engine location of the S10 was about a foot too far forward for the 46 truck body. I had to swap from a 2wd rear end to a 4wd rear to gain 4 more inches in width because the tires were rubbing on the inside of the wheel wells. My 1-ton has a longer wheelbase than lighter duty trucks. I think *you* can use the s10 long-bed frame without cutting. After putting an S10 frame under an old truck, I'm sold. It's no small job, but niether is setting out to upgrade the rearend, brakes, steering and engine. See the truck project in my tagline. Oh, we need peeektures!! All the best - Mike

Not every 283 will bore to four inches so you might not want to go that far. A common step back when 283s were common was to go to 292 ci.

And generally a 283 punched out to four inches was called a 301.

The '302' was the 327/350 bore block with a 283 length stroke that was used in the first Z-28 Camaro. You say small block 302 and that specific motor is what I think of. In the Stovebolt community 302 is most often associated with a big GMC six.

And of course other people think about five litre Fords...

ah ah ah! No F word. The only 302 V8 I knew of was the Z28 model. No rustang stuff. Actually, I found an old bus in a junk yard here that reopened. In that old bus are several 283 and 327 blocks. I also found a caprice in the back of the lot with a 400 Small block V8 and auto tranny. I ain't a big fan of autos unless it's a grocery getter. I felt the 400 was too much. Just not necessary for my application. For those of you wondering about the '39 looks, it's just like a '40, similar to a '38, and kind like the older ones. Just before all those teeth in the 40's showed up. Thanks for the other site suggestions folks. I'll check'em out. Still, all in all, I think I'll settle here. Just feels good. Thanks for the welcome. Soon as I figure out how to put pics in here, I will.

brendanm-the 302 Chevy is a smallblock. You're probably thinking of the 402 Chevy bigblock,basically a bored out 396. Good engines!
Speed

ductape,

A 327 sounds fun too. I would not mind one of those! They are getting sort of rare. If you have a good one, hang on to it.

as far as how to post pics, you need a server (main computer)that will host your pictures. My internet provider, Charter, gives me 20 MB of space to put my stuff just for paying my bill. I put my pics there. Once you load them on a server, you link to them by using the full form option below. You will notice some pics pop up when you hit a topic and some you have to click to a link. If you link to the photos, it is better for the dial up folks. It does not take so long to load up the topic.

Click on the FAQ section. There should be a topic on there. If you are still having problems or have questions, folks in the greasy spoon should be able to help you out.