The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop time to make a decision

I have my 52 chevy 1/2 ton apart and frame painted. I have a 235 almost ready and I also have a freshly built 350 and 350th trans ready to go. how hard is it to put in the v/8 and do I have to modify the cab firewall at all to make the v/8 and automatic fit in.
Paul

Paul, I won't make your decision for you but I will comment on the V8.... this is MY experience.
First off I AM running the big distributor with the top mounted coil. At first I thought I would not have enough room. I had put the engine on the chassis while the body was in the shop for paint. Well, when we set the body on I had "just enough" room to get the distributor out if needed UNTIL I raised up the back of the engine/tranny to get the intake base for the carb as level as I could. After doing this I found I could actually wrap my h and around the distributor with no problem.
I also bought a new radiator (original design) with the tranny cooler in the bottom.
I almost went V-belts and think I would have had room but in all honesty I don't believe I could have ran much bigger fan than a 14/13" flex fan so I opted to go the Serpentine route and it is nice! My set up came off an 1989 V-6 S-10. The brackets bolted right to my head and engine. The brackets also came with the power steering pump and an A/C compressor....all for $50. I did have to buy an alternator and also change the water pump to a reversed one. I think it cost $25 and will bolt right on the V8 block. (I had my brackets powdercoated)
Soo, with the "fan issue" I decided to go with a large electric fan. My neighbor gave me one off his 350 Blown pickup. I made some nice brackets out of a 1/8 X 3/4" aluminum and bolted it on with the radiator. It fits nice and the fan motor fits just above the water pump pulley. It really worked well.

I was also wondering about the tranny dip stick to but after raising up the engine/tranny I think a regular one will fit down in there. I just can't see about $75 for a flexible one from the rod shop.
I'm using a set of ram horn headers off a 283 engine that an old buddy gave me.
I put my power steering box (1974 C-10 pickup) outside the chassis and to the front with a kit from Classic Parts. The instructions are pretty straight forward.

Now, all this may depend on how you make your engine mounts. For me I bought a set from JimCarter (they were Chassis Engineering's) and followed their instructions for placing them in the frame rails. I really like these mounts.

The rear cross mount IS giving me problems. I traded for a fabricated cross member from another bolter that bolts exactly in the place of the original using the original holes and with the "drop" built in. Well, all was going well installing my pedal,booster/MC set up until I started to bolt the MC to the booster.... and discovered I couldn't as the crossmember was to high. So, I plan to weld a piece on the crossmember at an angle from the bottom of the drop to the edge of the chassis and after I get it welded I'll cut out a small section or the cross member. Doing it this way will insure I can bolt it right back in the same place.....or you can modify the crossmember like Jock did by making a sort of a "saddle" for it to sit down in. I got my kit from PirateJacks out of Asheville,N.C. and I'm truly satisfied with it. The brake pedal went right in and I only had to enlarge the original hole about 1/2" at the very top of the hole. I'll fix the crossmember this week.
***Since a 700R4 is about 4" longer than a 350 turbo tranny it may not be a prolem as the mount sits farther back...or did on my 37 pickup.
I may add that I also had a rebuilt 235, or low mileage one, but decided to go V8 which in my case was a low mileage reman 305 that I bought from a friend.
I may also add that by raising up the rear of the engine/tranny that I trimmed about 3/4" at the top of the floorboard where the tranny raised up against it. I do mean only a 3/4" at the most.

I hope this helps. I think you know how the 6 cyl will work so I figure you needed the info for the V8. All this is what ACTUALLY happend to me. Others experiences may be different. If you look at my photobucket pics you will see pics of the motor mounts, serpentine brakets, radiator brackets and even a shot of why the M/C didn't bolt up to the booster. If its not there then I can send you a pic if needed.

Paul, why don't you just take a short road trip and drive down here to the house. I'll treat you to a couple dogs and Pepsi to.

Thanks for the info, i would love to come back to the spartanburg area been awhile. can I have beer instead of pepsi??I am off for the next 8 days if I get enough chores done I will give you a shout. Thanks

If it turns out yer done with that 235, I'll take it off yer hands! Good luck on getting a V-8 in place, have fun!